Published plans and annual reports 2016-2017: Office of Francophone Affairs

Ministry Overview

Mandate

The Office of Francophone Affairs’ mandate is to oversee the application of the French Language Services Act (FLSA), work with ministries and agencies to ensure that the needs and interests of the Franco-Ontarian community are taken into account in public policies and programs, and to facilitate the participation of the Franco-Ontarian community in government-related initiatives.

As steward of the FLSA and main advisor of the Government on Francophone Affairs and French-language services, the Office of Francophone Affairs:

• Oversees the application of the FLSA and works with ministries and agencies to ensure that French-language services are available to the public, specifically in designated areas of the province;
• Leads the French-language services implementation planning process in newly designated areas and makes recommendations with respect to the designation of new areas and agencies under the FLSA ;
• Provides expert strategic and operational advice to ministries and agencies and develops resources to support them in their efforts to offer and deliver accessible and high-quality services;
• Promotes Francophone affairs inside government and partners with key ministries on policy and program initiatives to foster the participation and added value of the Francophone community in the prosperity of the province;
• Reaches out to the Francophone community and raises the profile of government initiatives that improve the lives of Francophone citizens; and
• Liaises with other jurisdictions on matters relating to the Canadian Francophonie and enhances the profile of Franco-Ontarians, at both the national and international levels.

Ministry Organization Chart

• Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs - Honourable Marie-France Lalonde
  • Deputy Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs – Marie-Lison Fougère
    • Office of Francophone Affairs Assistant Deputy Minister - Kelly Burke
      • Policy Research and Ministry Services Branch Director - Carl Bouchard
      • Strategic Communications and Special Projects Branch Director - Charles Jean Sucsan

Ministry Contribution to Priority Outcomes

The following strategies outline the key activities of the Office of Francophone Affairs in 2016-17:

Key Strategy 1: Modernizing French-language services

Building capacity of French-language services

• Develop and share new resources to support the implementation of French-language services by ministries and agencies of the Government of Ontario (i.e. the integration of French-language services in policies, practices and directives strengthening “active offer” of French-language services).
• Launch and promote an “FLS Lens” on-line resource, and coordinate its implementation in collaboration with key ministry partners, to help ministries integrate the requirements of the FLSA into new policies and programs.
• Continue to coordinate the implementation of the regulation on third-parties that deliver services on behalf of government agencies.
• Work with Francophone community stakeholders to facilitate the process leading to potential designiations of areas under the French Language Services Act.
• Coordinate projects funded under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French-Language Services.
• Keep the statiscal profiles on the Province’s Franco-Ontarian population up-to-date using the Inclusive Definition of Francophone.

Accountability for results

• Oversee the application of the FLSA and continue to work with ministries to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach to the planning and delivery of quality French-language services on an “active offer” basis.
• Continue to work with central agencies to ensure that new and revised directives and policies take into account the needs of the Franco-Ontarian community and are in compliance with the FLSA.
• Support the work of the Minister’s Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs.
• Continue to work with ministries and other government agencies that submit reports on new agreements with third parties that deliver services on their behalf (Ontario Regulation 284/11).
• Coordinate the Ontario Government’s response to reports and recommendations of the French Language Services Commissioner and ensure appropriate follow-up.

Community of practice for excellence in French-language services

• Continue to support the growth of a community of practice for excellence in French-language services through the OPS French Language Services Awards of Excellence and professional development opportunities for bilingual professionals.

Key Strategy 2: Promoting Ontario’s visibility in Francophone affairs

Provincial and inter-provincial levels

• Continue to strengthen Ontario’s leadership role on Francophone affairs at the federal-provincial-territorial level through active participation in the activities leading up to the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie, which is being hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador in June 2016.
• Work with government ministries in order to coordinate and implement the joint Ontario-Québec Statement on the Canadian Francophonie.

National and international levels

• Liaise with other jurisdictions on matters relating to the Francophonie and enhance the profile of Franco-Ontarians, at both the national and international levels.

• Support Ontario’s participation at the 16^th Summit of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF) to be held in November 2016 in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Key Strategy 3: Contributing to a stronger Francophone community

Leverage key Government initiatives

Work with ministries and other government agencies on the development of French-language services (FLS) for the Franco-Ontarian community with a primary focus on areas such as health care, community and social services, immigration, economic development, education, justice, and children and youth initiatives:

• Health – Monitor the progress and involvement of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) and French-Language Health Planning Entities with a view to improve the capacity of health providers to deliver FLS.
• Training, Colleges and Universities (TCU) – Analyze designation requests from post-secondary institutions under the French Language Services Act (FLSA) and work with TCU to support the implementation of the government’s Action Plan for French-language Postsecondary Education in Central and Southwestern Ontario and improve postsecondary opportunities in French across the province.
• Children and Youth Services – Continue to work with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services on the Moving on Mental Health initiative to ensure that the program reflects the specific needs and reality of the Franco-Ontarian community.
• Ontario Women’s Directorate – Support the implementation of services for Francophone women and children under the Government’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan.
• Immigration – Support:
  • The implementation of Ontario’s immigration strategy, particularly the component targeting French-speaking newcomers and the achievement of the 5% Francophone immigration goal set by MCIIT.
  • Ontario’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis by participating in government-wide coordination initiatives and helping ensure that Syrian refugees who are more at ease in French, and/or those interested in integrating into the Franco-Ontarian community, have access to French-language services.
• Tourism – Ensure regional tourism organizations are inclusive of Francophones, and operate according to the FLS requirements contained in the transfer payment agreements; and collaborate with MTCS in the development of the provincial Champlain tourism route.
• Economic Development – Promote the value of the Francophone contribution to Ontario’s economic development, including the contribution of French-speaking economic immigrants.
• French Language Services Commissioner – Coordinate the Government’s responses to the Commissioner’s recommendations.
• Justice – Support the work of the FLS Bench and Bar Steering Committee to implement the recommendations of the “Access to Justice in French” 2012 report.
  • Ontario is implementing a pilot project that responds to a number of recommendations set out in this report. The pilot aims to provide seamless French-language services at the Ottawa courthouse.
  • The OFA supports the project team that has been created to implement the pilot by leading the Legal Community Engagement Committee.

Key Strategy 4: 400^th Anniversary of French Presence in Ontario

• Continue to implement the Province’s three-year plan to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the Francophone presence in Ontario, including legacy efforts that will take the form of
  • Plaques unveiling at the Rotary Champlain Wendat Park during a final tribute to Champlain’s legacy of bringing together Ontario’s diversity and leaving a significant mark on the course of Ontario’s history;
  • 400^th Commemorative book; and
  • Monument at Queen’s Park.

Ministry Programs

Francophone Affairs Co-ordination Program

The Office of Francophone Affairs (OFA) provides advice to the Ontario government on matters concerning Francophone affairs and the provision of French-language services.

The OFA’s primary program consists of:

• Partnering on cross-ministry transformation initiatives to enhance efficiency and effectiveness and ensure the integration of French-language services in those initiatives;
• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of French-language services by reporting on ministries’ achievements and corporate performance measures on an annual basis;
• Making recommendations with respect to the designation of new areas and agencies under the FLSA and coordinating the implementation of services in newly designated areas;
• Working with ministries and agencies to ensure a coordinated response to the French Language Services Commissioner’s (FLSC) annual report;
• Analyzing Census data and generating statistical profiles on the province’s Franco-Ontarian population;
• Coordinating the transfer of federal funding to other ministries and agencies for projects and initiatives funded under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French-language Services;
• Leading the planning and execution of the remaining projects of Ontario’s commemoration of the 400 years of Francophone presence across the province; and
• Participating to the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie (MCCF) to be held in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, in June 2016.

Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)

Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs

Provides advice to the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs on the development of strategies, priorities and programs which affect Ontario’s Francophone community, and on the planning and delivery of French-language services across the Government of Ontario.

Detailed Financial Information

Table 1: Ministry Planned Expenditures 2016-17 ($M)

Table 2: Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Vote

*Estimates, Interim Actuals and Actuals for prior fiscal years are re-stated to reflect any change in ministry or organization and/or program structure. Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2016 Ontario Budget.

Appendix: 2015-16 Annual Report

2015-16 Achievements

The following outlines the Office of Francophone Affairs’ major accomplishments in delivering on key priorities:

Key Strategy 1: Modernizing French-language services

• Partial designation of the University of Ottawa and York University (Glendon College) under the French Language Services Act. They are the fifth and sixth postsecondary institutions to be designated since 2008.
• In addition, the following designations were also approved in 2015-2016:
  • Catholic Family Services of Durham: full designation of services provided on behalf of MCSS and MCYS;
  • Cochrane Temiskaming Children’s Treatment Centre: full designation of services provided on behalf of MCYS;
  • Champlain Community Care Access Centre: full designation of services provided on behalf of MOHLTC;
  • North East Community Care Access Centre: full designation of services provided on behalf of MOHLTC;
  • North Bay Regional Health Centre: partial designation of services provided on behalf of MOHLTC;
  • Action Positive VIH - SIDA: full designation of services provided on behalf of MOHLTC;
  • Montfort Renaissance Inc.: full designation of services provided on behalf of MOHLTC;
  • The Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph of Cornwall, Ontario: expansion of a partial designation of services provided on behalf of MOHLTC.
• The designation of the City of Markham was approved by Cabinet in June 2015. This designation will come into force on July 1, 2018, in order to allow ministries sufficient time for French-language services capacity building in this area.
• Provided support to Francophone community stakeholders in Oshawa in the development of their requests for designation under the French Language Services Act.
• Analyzed ministry and other government agency final reports and compliance plans, for agreements entered into before July 1, 2011, with regard to Ontario Regulation 284/11 on third party service delivery on behalf of government agencies.
• Ongoing implementation of the third party regulation to ensure ministries and other government agencies (as defined by the FLSA), are in compliance with the FLSA when French-language services are delivered by third parties on their behalf.
• Launched an “FLS Lens” on-line resource, in collaboration with key ministry partners, with the aim to help ministries integrate the requirements of the FLSA into new policies and programs.
• Received the French Language Services Commissioner’s eighth annual report, which did not contain any new recommendations, and provided the FLS Commissioner with all information requested in the preparation of his ninth annual report.
• Continued to manage the Canada-Ontario Agreement on FLS on behalf of ministries. This entailed leading the project submission/selection process, coordinating ministries’ activities and funding transfers, and ongoing liaison with Canadian Heritage, to ensure reporting requirements were being met. In all, 46 projects were selected and will be supported for the remainder of the agreement (2013-2018).
• Two special projects are also being supported by the federal government: Parc Huron-Wendat of the City of Penetanguishene, and Visual and Media Arts, of the Ontario Arts Council.
• Continued to implement the new and more inclusive definition of “Francophone”.
• A special edition of the Ontario Francophonie Awards was held at a closing ceremony of the 400^th Commemoration in October 2015.

Key Strategy 2: Promoting Ontario’s visibility in Francophone affairs

• Continued to coordinate Ontario’s participation in the Francophone Affairs component of the Ontario-Québec Statement on the Canadian Francophonie.
• Supported Ontario’s participation as host and co-president of the 20^th Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie held in Toronto in June 2015.
• Coordinated an Inter-ministerial delegation to the 21^st Montreal Conference, an international forum on economic globalization.
• Organized an official Ministerial visit to France to promote the 400^th Commemoration in Honfleur and Paris, develop stronger ties between France and Ontario, boost tourism and increase Ontario’s visibility in France.

Key Strategy 3: Contributing to a stronger Franco-Ontarian community

Worked closely with ministries in support of key initiatives in education (elementary, secondary and postsecondary), health, immigration, justice, children and youth services and the prevention of violence against women:

• Children and Youth Services – Worked with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services on the Moving on Mental Health initiative to ensure that the program reflects the specific needs and challenges of the Franco-Ontarian community.
• French-language Postsecondary Education – Continued to support the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities with the implementation of the Action Plan for French-language post-secondary education in the Central and Southwestern regions.
• Immigration – Continued to provide advice regarding new legislation on the Ontario Immigration Act, and the province’s Immigration Strategy which sets a 5 per cent target for Francophone immigration; participated as an observer on the Group of Experts on Francophone Immigration assembled by the Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade; and collaborated on Ontario’s response to the Syrian refugee crisis by supporting the settlement and integration of Syrian refugees.
• Justice – Continued to lead the Legal Community Engagement Committee as part of the Pilot Project on Seamless Access to Justice in French in Ottawa. The Committee worked collaboratively with the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario (AJEFO), the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, the Association des communautés francophones d’Ottawa (ACFO Ottawa) and Vanier Community Service Centre to organise a consultation of the Francophone community in the Ottawa region on April 14, 2015, to discuss how to improve access to justice in French in Ontario and how to encourage Francophones to exercise their French-language services rights in the justice sector.
• Treasury Board Secretariat – Worked with central agencies to ensure that new and revised directives and policies take into account the needs of the Franco-Ontarian community and are in compliance with the French Language Services Act.
• Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Training, Colleges and Universities – Provided advice and collaborated with ministries regarding the need for access to post-secondary education in French in Eastern Ontario.
• Pan/Parapan American Games – Ensured the visibility of the Franco-Ontarian culture, as well as the integration of FLS, during the games.
• Ontario Women’s Directorate – Supported the implementation of services for Francophone women and children under the Government’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan.

Key Strategy 4: 400^th Anniversary of French Presence in Ontario

• The Office of Francophone Affairs consulted with over 200 stakeholders through 12 regional round tables, formed and led a 35-member 400^th Anniversary Provincial Steering Committee convened by the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs (key stakeholders included the educational/tourism sectors, the Métis Nation of Ontario, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, and municipal government associations), and partnered with more than 100 organizations to implement key initiatives taking place from May 2015 to early June2016 to coincide with the timing of when Champlain left Ontario and returned to Quebec to eventually make his way back to France in July of 1616.
• Over 60 projects were announced in April 2015 as part of a special, one-time funding program to support local community projects linked to the Commemoration and included notable initiatives taking place across the province, such as:
  • the The Rendez-vous Champlain festival in Penetanguishene which paid tribute to the historic relations between French European explorers and local First Nations;
  • the Windsor Symphony Orchestra that performed a concert with an emphasis on French culture; and
  • The Bata Show Museum that presented an original exhibit tied to the 400^th which featured, for the first time in its history, bilingual promotional material.
• In addition, a number of high-profile provincial, national and international events recognizing the 400^th anniversary of French presence in Ontario took place during the commemorative year, including:
  • A silver coin celebrating the 400^th anniversary of Champlain’s historic journey to Huronia unveiled by the Royal Canadian Mint on June 11, 2015, during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Festival Franco-Ontarien in Ottawa;
  • A video campaign featuring well-known artists, politicians, diplomats,  and popular culture and sports celebrities who conveyed their best wishes for the 400^th Anniversary;
  • A virtual exhibit of Franco-Ontarian artefacts produced and hosted by the Ontario Museum Association and its members;
  • The unveiling of an official provincial plaque from Ontario to France marking Champlain’s departure from the Port of Honfleur to Ontario; and
  • A cultural soirée dedicated to the 400^th Commemoration on October 30, 2015, in Québec City, during the inaugural event of the Réseau des villes francophones et francophiles d’Amérique.

Table 3: Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures 2015-16

* Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2016 Ontario Budget.

** Ontario Public Service Full-Time Equivalent positions.