Bulletin: The Commissioner Publishes the Government’s Responses to the Recommendations of his 2011-2012 Annual Report
TORONTO, May 27, 2013 – French Language Services Commissioner François Boileau today published the government’s responses to the recommendations of his 2011-2012 Annual Report, Straight Forward, as well as his comments and analysis.
In his 2011-2012 Annual Report, the Commissioner made six recommendations to the Ontario government on subjects as varied as the Commissioner’s independence, a mandatory directive on the designation process for agencies under the French Language Services Act, an independent and interministerial assessment of government structures and processes designed to support the implementation of French-language services within the government, the establishment of an advisory committee on Francophone immigration in Ontario, public-private partnerships and delegated administrative authorities.
With respect to the Commissioner’s independence, the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs stated that she appreciates the points raised both by the private member’s bills introduced in the Legislative Assembly in May 2011 and March 2012, and the Commissioner’s recommendation. For this reason, as she mentioned at the Standing Committee on Estimates on July 23 and 24, she will be looking further into potential options.
“I am hopeful that the arguments presented to the government in my 2011-2012 Annual Report with regard to the Commissioner’s independence will persuade the new premier and her government to go ahead and introduce a government bill in the Legislative Assembly on this matter,” added the Commissioner.
QUICK FACTS
- In its responses to the recommendations of the 2011-2012 Annual Report, the government stated that in managing the current economic challenges facing the province, it will not lose sight of its commitments to the Franco-Ontarian community and its obligations toward the French Language Services Act.
- It is the first time that the Commissioner publishes the government’s official responses to the recommendations in his previous annual report in their entirety before the publication of his subsequent annual report.
- The Commissioner’s 2012-2013 Annual Report, entitled A New Approach, will be officially published on June 5, 2013.
LEARN MORE
You can view the Government of Ontario’s responses to the recommendations of the French Language Services Commissioner’s 2011-2012 Annual Report at http://ontario.ca/bfrr as well as the Commissioner’s comments and analysis at http://ontario.ca/bfrs.
The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner works to ensure active, integrated delivery of French-language services in support of the development of the Francophone community and Ontarian society.
Simon Côté, Public Relations and Communications Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
Phone: (416) 314-8247 or 1-866-246-5262 (toll free)
E-mail: communications.flscCSF@ontario.ca