Community Capacity-Building: The continuous process required to foster the pride and appropriate local leadership that allows communities, through their members, to take responsibility for their own development.

Community Economic Development and Employability Committees (CEDECs): These regionally based, volunteer committees represent the National Committee (NHRDC) at the local level. They act as community facilitators by creating opportunities for the communities to come together, recognize their existing assets, develop a common vision, and gain access to the public and private-sector partners who can help them realize their vision.

Community Table: A federally incorporated not-for-profit organization that is funded by Human Resources Development Canada. The Community Table currently is composed of 16 members, representing the different regions of Quebec with English-speaking communities. The Community Table represents the English linguistic minority on the National Committee (NHRDC).

Government Table: Led by Human Resources Development Canada, the Government Table regroups the various federal departments and agencies who are partners with the Community Table in the National Committee (NHRDC).

National Committee (NHRDC): The National Human Resources Development Committee for the English Linguistic Minority was created in May 1998 as a partnership between the Government of Canada and the English-speaking minority in Quebec. Through the close cooperation of the Government and Community Tables, the National Committee (NHRDC) is working to revitalize the English linguistic minority through long-term community economic development.

CEDEC Directors: These eleven community-based individuals are engaged full-time in spearheading and coordinating the initiatives of the CEDECs, particularly in the area of community capacity-building.

Needs Assessment: A comprehensive region-by-region study of Quebec's English-speaking communities undertaken by the National Committee (NHRDC). Its findings reveal each region's strengths, weaknesses and ongoing requirements within the context of sustainable community economic development. Released publicly in May 2000, the study is entitled Community Economic Development Perspectives.

Strategic Orientations: Four key areas of challenge and opportunity, identified in the needs assessment process, that English-speaking communities in every region consider essential to their long-term viability. The four strategic orientations are: community capacity-building and culture, communications, youth, job creation and economic diversification.