Published plans and annual reports 2017-2018: Ministry of Francophone Affairs

Ministry Overview

Mandate

The Office of Francophone Affairs’ mandate is to 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 French Language Services Act (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 (FLS) are available to the public in designated areas of the province;
• Coordinates the implementation of FLS 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 their efforts to deliver accessible, high-quality FLS;
• Promotes Francophone affairs inside government and partners with key ministries on policy and program initiatives to contribute to a stronger Francophone community;
• Reaches out to the Francophone community and facilitates government initiatives that improve the lives of Francophone citizens; and
• Works with other jurisdictions to promote Ontario’s Francophonie and enhances the province’s profile at both the national and international levels.Here’s some paragraph text.

Legislation

French Language Services Act

Franco-Ontarian Day Act

Ministry Organizational Chart

• Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs - Marie-France Lalonde
  • Deputy Minister of Francophone Affairs – Marie-Lison Fougère
    • Assistant Deputy Minister of Francophone Affairs – Kelly Burke
      • Director - Carl Bouchard
      • Director - Charles Jean Sucsan

Ministry Contribution to Priority Outcomes

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 the “active offer” of French language services).
• Promote the use of the Francophone Lens tool to ensure that French language services are considered by ministries and government agencies from early stages of policy and program development.
• 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 designation of areas under the French Language Services Act.
• Coordinate projects funded under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French language services.
• Maintain the statistical profiles on the Province’s Franco-Ontarian population 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).

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 Ontario Public Service (OPS) French Language Services Awards of Excellence and through professional development opportunities for bilingual professionals.

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

Provincial and national 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, hosted by the Government of Canada in June 2017.
• Continue to support Ontario’s strong partnership with Québec, and to work with government ministries in order to coordinate and implement the joint Ontario-Québec Statement on the Canadian Francophonie.
• Support the promotion of Franco-Ontarian culture in the celebrations of Ontario’s 150^th anniversary.

International Organization of La Francophonie (IOF)

• Support Ontario’s new role as an Observer member in the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF), including Ontario’s participation in the IOF governing bodies and events (Permanent Council of La Francophonie, Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie, Francophonie Summit, and International Francophonie Games, etc.).
• Suport partnerships with member jurisdictions and organizations from Franco-Ontarian civil society;

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 care providers to deliver FLS.
• Advanced Education and Skills Development (AESD) – Work with AESD to improve postsecondary opportunities in French across the province and support the planning council responsible for advising the government on cost and design elements for the French language University in Central and Southwestern Ontario.
• 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 of the Franco-Ontarian community.
• Status of Women – Work with the Ministry of the Status of Women (MSW) to support the implementation of services for Francophone women and children under the Government’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan.
• Immigration – Work with the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) to support the implementation of Ontario’s immigration strategy, with a particular focus on the achievement of the government 5% Francophone immigration goal.
• Tourism – Work with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) on the development of the provincial Champlain tourism route.
• French Language Services Commissioner – Oversee the application of the French Language Services Act and collaborate with the French Language Services Commissioner in this regard.
• Justice – Support Ontario’s initiative to enhance access to justice in French.
  • Support the Pilot Project which aims to provide seamless French language services at the Ottawa Courthouse.
  • Continue to lead the Legal Community Engagement Committee.
  • As part of the Legal Community Engagement Committee, collaborate with stakeholders to explore options of enhancing access to professional development opportunities in French in the Justice sector.

Key Strategy 4: 400^th anniversary of Francophone presence in Ontario

• Lead the legacy phase of the Province’s strategic three-year implementation plan to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the Francophone presence in Ontario, including:
  • The first provincial monument dedicated to Franco-Ontarians at Queen’s Park; and.
  • Promote Franco-Ontarian participation in Ontario’s 150^th anniversary in partnership with the Ontario French Language Educational Communications Authority (“Groupe Média TFO”) and the Ontario Heritage Trust with regard to educational programming and outreach activities.

Ministry Programs

Francophone Affairs Coordination 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;
• 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 legacy phase of Ontario’s commemoration of the 400 years of Francophone presence across the province; and
• Overseeing Ontario’s participation in national and international governing bodies, including the 2017 Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie in the National Capital Region in June 2017 and the International Organization of la Francophonie (IOF).

Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABC)

Provincial Advisory Committe 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

The Office of Francophone Affairs oversees the application of the French Language Services Act (FLSA), works 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.

Table 1: Ministry Planned Expenditures 2017-18 ($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 changes in ministry organization and/or program structure. Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2017 Ontario Budget.

Appendix: 2016-17 Annual Report

2016-17 Achievements

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

Key Strategy 1: Strengthening French-language services

• The following designations were approved in 2016-17 and will take effect in 2017-18:

  • Sudbury Maison McCulloch Hospice: full designation of services provided on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC);
  • Algonquin Child and Family Services: name change from Nipissing Children’s Mental Health Services, expansion of a full designation to include programs provided on behalf of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) and identification of the specific geographical area in which the designation will apply.

• In addition, Pavillon Women’s Centre was granted a name change from Pavillon Family Resource Centre on March 6, 2017.
• The designation of the City of Markham was approved by Cabinet in June 2015. This designation will become effective on July 1, 2018, in order to allow ministries sufficient time for French language services capacity building in this area.
• A committee was put in place to coordinate the implementation of the designation of Markham. The committee met several times in 2016 and 2017.
• Launched an “FLS Lens” online resource within the OPS, in collaboration with key ministry partners, with the aim to help ministries integrate the requirements of the FLSA into new policies and programs.
• Established and led an interministerial working group that assists the Office of Francophone Affairs in recommending improvements to government-wide French language proficiency testing and training processes.
• Received and reviewed the French Language Services Commissioner’s ninth annual report and worked with cluster leads to provide information to the Commissioner related to FLS best practices across the Ontario government.
• 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, 31 projects were supported in 2016-17, as part of the 2013-18 agreement.
• The OFA also partnered with the Federal government on two additional special projects: Parc Huron-Wendat of the City of Penetanguishene and Visual and Media Arts of the Ontario Arts Council.

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, including the establishment of the Ontario-Québec Student Exchange program.
• Supported Ontario’s participation at the 21^st Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie held in St. John’s (Newfoundland and Labrador) in June 2016, and raised Ontario’s profile as former host and co-president of the 20^th conference and as lead on key initiatives including Francophone tourism and access to justice in French.
• Raised the profile of Ontario-France relations by coordinating the participation of the Town of Honfleur (port of sail of early French explorers) in the official closing event of the Commemoration of 400 years of French Presence, which took place in Penetanguishene.
• Secured through a official application dossier Ontario’s observer member status within the IOF.

Key Strategy 3: Contributing to a stronger Franco-Ontarian community by ensuring that policies, programs and services are designed and delivered in accordance to the FLSA

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 University – Continued to support the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development towards the establishment of a planning board plan for the creation of a French language University in the Central and Southwestern regions of the province.
• Immigration – Continued to provide advice regarding new legislation on the Ontario Immigration Act, and the province’s Immigration Strategy which sets a five 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 with Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration MCI to coordinate Ontario’s participation at the March 2017 Forum on Francophone Immigration in Moncton, New-Brunswick.
• 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)<|abbr> and Vanier Community Service Centre to: organise consultation sessions with the Francophone community in the Ottawa region; provide an update on changes implemented at the Ottawa courthouse as part of the pilot project; and discuss how to encourage Francophones to access French language services.
• Status of Women – 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

• In 2016-17, the Office of Francophone Affairs continued to lead the legacy phase of the Province’s three-year strategic plan to commemorate 400 years of French presence in Ontario. This included:
  • Supporting the final stages of the Champlain-Wendat commemorative park construction project in partnership with the Town of Penetanguishene and the federal government;
  • Leading the ongoing implementation of the project to erect a provincial monument dedicated to Franco-Ontarians at Queen’s Park, in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario (to be unveiled in early 2018);
  • Partnering with the Ontario Heritage Trust, Groupe Média TFO, and the Ontario 150 Secretariat to develop educational programming and community outreach in support of the monument project and develop the linkage with the sesquicentennial year; and

* Interim actuals reflect the numbers presented in the 2016 Ontario Budget.
** Ontario Public Service Full-Time Equivalent positions.