Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner and Canadian Parents for French (Ontario)

Icône PDF — Petit PDF Version

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Between the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner, an agency of the Government of Ontario, having its office at 700 Bay Street, Suite 2401, Toronto, Ontario, M7A 2H8, represented by the Commissioner, François Boileau, as he declares,

And

Canadian Parents for French (Ontario), a legally constituted, non-profit charitable organization having its office at 103-2055 Dundas St. East, Mississauga, Ontario, L4X 1M2, represented by Mary Cruden, President, duly authorized for the purposes of this Memorandum, as she declares.

______________________________________________________________________

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS French, while being one of the two official languages in Canada, is also an important part of Ontario’s heritage. The two parties outlined in this Memorandum of understanding wish to foster the vitality of the Francophone community in Ontario and value the supportive role that French Second Language learning provides to that end. It is partly through the effective delivery of quality French Second Language education that the continued growth of the Francophone community will continue.

WHEREAS both parties outlined in this Memorandum of understanding wish to ensure and respect the continued usage of the French language;

WHEREAS Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) is the provincial branch of “a national network of volunteers which values French as an integral part of Canada and  is dedicated to the promotion and creation of French second language learning opportunities for all Canadians”1

WHEAREAS Canadian Parents for French (Ontario)’s primary roles are:

  • To increase the public’s awareness of the opportunities and benefits of learning French;
  • To support parents and children in French Second Language programs;
  • To influence decision makers to adopt policies in support of equitable access to French Second Language education.

WHEREAS 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.

WHEREAS the French Language Services Commissioner has a mandate to conduct independent investigations under the French Language Services Act, either in response to complaints or on his own initiative, to prepare reports on his investigations, and to monitor the progress made by government agencies in the delivery of French-language services in Ontario2.

_____________________________________________

1 Source: Website of Canadian Parents for French (Ontario), visited on September 27, 2013

2 Source: Website of the French Language Services Commissioner, visited on September 27, 2013

WHEREAS the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner listens as much to the Francophone community as those who support its development, its primary roles are:

  • To receive and handle complaints and to follow up on them;
  • To increase the public service’s awareness of the public’s expectations;
  • To exercise its powers of investigation and to make recommendations with respect to the delivery of French-language services;
  • To advise the Minister and make recommendations to her.

WHEREAS the two parties outlined in this Memorandum of understanding have the desire and the will to develop closer ties in order to promote the value of the French language, Franco-Ontarian culture and the benefits of official language bilingualism. Both parties agree that it is in the best interest of Ontario’s society if Francophones and Francophiles work together in this pursuit.

THEREFORE,

The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner undertakes

To provide Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) with promotional information on its initiatives for dissemination within the CPF network;

Canadian Parents for French (Ontario) undertakes

To provide the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner with promotional information on its organization and initiatives for dissemination within the network of the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner;

The two parties equally undertake

To work collaboratively to explore opportunities for developing common initiatives in order to advance the objectives set out in this Memorandum.

___________________________________________________________________________

DESIGNATION OF REPRESENTATIVES

            For the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner:

François Boileau

Commissioner

For Canadian Parents for French (Ontario):

Mary Cruden

President

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

This agreement shall have a term of five (5) years. It shall commence on the date on which it is has been signed by both parties.

LIABILITIES

No liability will accrue as a result of this partnership. Neither association has the authority under this agreement to commit to obligations on behalf of or otherwise legally bind the other association.

REVIEW AND DURATION OF PARTNERSHIP

It is agreed that the partnership agreement will be reviewed on an annual basis. The partnership will remain in place for the next five (5) years, with either party having the right to withdraw on three (3) months’ notice. The partnership may be extended or the agreement expanded as a result of the annual review or by mutual agreement between the two parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties entrust the signature of this Memorandum of Understanding to their duly authorized representatives on October 26, 2013.

For Canadian Parents for French (Ontario)

_______________________________

Mary Cruden

President

For the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner

_______________________________

François Boileau

Commissioner