Francophone Community Consultation Sessions

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Francophone Community Consultation Sessions

• Preliminary Results

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Historical overview

• From theory to practice
• 1963 The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and
  Biculturalism
• 1969 Official Languages Act (OLA)
• Consolidation and integration
• 1970 - The Treasury Board is responsible for the
  implementation of policies and information
  system
• 1982 - Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• 1984 - Standing Joint Committee on Official
  Languages
• 1988 OLA legislation update (key provisions
  are enforceable)

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Historical overview

• Implementation mechanisms
• 1997 - Independent Review Panel on Modernization
  of Comptrollership in the Government of
  Canada
• (annual OL management report)
• 1999 - Public Service 2000 Report, (new
  result-based service delivery models)
• 2001 - Task Force on Modernizing Human Resources
  Management in the Public Service
• 2003 - Official Languages Action Plan
• 2004 - Regulation on Official Languages
  (Communications with and Services to the
  Public (to verify the scope of their
  obligations)
• 2005 - Amendment of OLA (S-3), regarding
  positive measures.

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Official Languages Act (OLA)

• Section VII Advancement of French and English
• 41. (1) The Government of Canada is committed to
  
• a) enhancing the vitality of the English and
  French linguistic minority communities in
  Canada and supporting and assisting their
  development and
• b) fostering the full recognition and use of
  both English and French in Canadian society.
• (2) Every federal institution has the duty
  to ensure that positive measures are taken for
  the implementation of this commitment. For
  greater certainty, this implementation shall be
  carried out while respecting jurisdiction and
  powers of the provinces

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Principal means to do so

• Awareness
• Consultation
• Communication
• Coordination and liaison
• Program delivery

Reference Guide for implementation and
performance measurement tool , Section 41 of the
Official Languages Act (OLA)- http//www.pch.gc.ca
/progs/lo-ol/legislation/Guide_for_the_Implementat
ion_and_Performance_Measurement_Tool_April_2006.pd
f
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IC/FedNor Consultation process
Multi level approach

• Information
• Present IC/FedNor programs et services

• Consultation
• Identify OLMC needs and priorities

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Sequence of events

• Key elements of the consultation process
• Session format and working tools
• Execution (Phase 1 of the process)
• Preliminary results
• Obstacles
• Solutions
• Immediate needs
• Observations
• Follow-up

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Key elements of the consultation process
9
Session format and working tools

• Consultation sessions to gather information and
  opinions
• Part 1 Presentation / discussion on IC / FedNor
  programs and services (about 1 hour)
• Part 2 Consultation session with the official
  language minority community through brainstorming
  exercises aimed at identifying their needs and
  priorities (about 2 hours).
• Tools
• Various tools and templates were prepared to
  assist the consultation process a planning grid,
  a PowerPoint presentation, a participant
  information kit, a community-based approach
  facilitation module, etc.

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Execution (Phase I of the process)

• Nine consultation sessions were conducted with
  the following official language minority
  communities
• Renfrew County. (Pembroke)
• LaCloche-Manitoulin, (Espanola)
• Algoma-East, (Spanish)
• Superior-East, (Wawa)
• Sault Ste. Marie, (city of)
• Essex, (Windsor)
• Niagara, (Welland)
• Simcoe North, (Penetanguishene)
• Stormont, Dundas Glengarry. (Cornwall)
• Close to 150 participants attended these
  sessions.

Thanks to our partners The designated bilingual
CFDCs, RDÉE, IC - Ontario Region
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Preliminary results

• Obstacles
• Lack of funds, poor access to programs and
  complex application process
• Human resources shortage (issues with expertise
  and leadership)
• Difficulty to mobilize Francophones
  (assimilation, exodus, identity crisis,
  competition for funding)
• Varying regional economic realities.

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Preliminary results

• Solutions
• Strengthen partnerships, mobilising resources
• Build capacity for francophone institutions and
  organizations
• Develop adequate and targeted communication and
  marketing strategies
• Prepare community inventories leading to regional
  strategic planning (five-year period)
• Organize activities targeting specific segments
  of the population (the youth, the elderly).

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Preliminary results

• Immediate needs
• Increase regional OLMCs capacity to mobilize
  francophone resources
• Introduce regional consultation / dialogue
  mechanisms to respond more adequately to pressing
  needs
• Build capacity within institutions and
  organisations to assist with collaboration,
  communication and regional strategic planning.

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Observations

• Demographic (mobility)
• Assimilation and exodus are mainly responsible
  for the rapid degradation of isolated francophone
  communities
• Vulnerable sectors are
• Youth (linked to assimilation and exodus)
• Elderly (linked to communication and availability
  of health services.
• Identity
• Erroneous perception that it is difficult for
  many Francophone to display pride in their
  cultural heritage
• Regional economic impact
• Significant job lost in the North-western region
  
• IC/FedNor programs and services are virtually
  non-existent in Southern and Southwest regions.

Observations from consultation sessions
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Follow-up

• Phase II
• Complete OLMC consultation sessions
  (North-Eastern region)
• Regional Forum
• Organize a regional forum to present, discuss and
  validate final results of consultation process.
• Final report
• Distribute final report, inform managers and
  officers of needs and priorities of the OLMC.

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