TORONTO, November 26, 2014 – Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Graham Fraser, Ontario French Language Services Commissioner François Boileau and Toronto 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games Organizing Committee CEO Saäd Rafi signed an agreement today to ensure that both Canada’s and Ontario’s linguistic duality is well represented and promoted before, during and after these highly anticipated Games.
“Important national celebrations, like the Pan American and Parapan American Games, should all serve as springboards for a new leap forward, so that linguistic duality can be firmly established as a Canadian value as we head toward our nation’s 150th anniversary in 2017,” said Commissioner Fraser.
The Memorandum of Understanding reflects the participants’ commitment to ensuring that services are provided to the public in English and in French before, during and after the Games, and to taking the needs of Ontario’s Francophone community into account in both the planning and delivery of the programs and services associated with the Games.
“The year 2015 will mark the 400th anniversary of Francophone presence in Ontario, so it is important to reflect and celebrate our rich Francophone heritage. The Pan American and Parapan American Games represent a golden opportunity for the Francophone community to play an active role in delivering a world‑class sporting event while showcasing the rich contributions of the Franco‑Ontarian community, Canada’s largest Francophone population outside of Quebec, to the world,” added Commissioner Boileau.
The Pan American Games are the world’s third largest international multi‑sport games and will be the largest multi‑sport eventever to be held in Canada, double the size of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Canada has had the honour of hosting them twice before, in 1967 and 1999, both times in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
“TO2015 is committed to engaging Francophone communities across the country, including Franco‑Ontarians, as we work together to plan and stage, in both official languages, the best Pan Am and Parapan Am Games ever held,” said CEO Rafi. “The Games are all about building a sense of connection and community, and valuing diversity. Linguistic accessibility promotes inclusion and ensures all visitors have a great experience at the Games.”
The Pan Am Games will take place from July 10 to 26, 2015, and the Parapan Am Games will be held from August 7 to 15, 2015, in Toronto, Ontario.
The participants also agreed to put a complaints‑processing mechanism in place, in the spirit of the November 26, 2012, memorandum of understanding signed by commissioners Fraser and Boileau, in order to resolve complaints that arise before and during the Games.
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For more information, please contact:
Nelson Kalil
Manager, Strategic Communications and Media Relations
OTTAWA – TORONTO – November 18, 2014 – The Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada, Graham Fraser, and Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner, François Boileau, today issued a joint report highlighting the need for the federal and provincial governments to include a Francophone perspective in their immigration policies and programs.
“We hope to see tangible actions and a commitment by the governments to ensure that, in Francophone communities, immigration becomes the powerful development tool that it already is in the two majority language communities,” said Commissioner Fraser.
Titled Time to Act for the Future of Francophone Communities: Redressing the Immigration Imbalance, the report paints a picture of immigration to Francophone communities, examines the current situation and presents a pan-Canadian analysis. The report also provides a series of recommendations for both levels of government.
“The Government of Ontario has set a 5% target for Francophone immigration. To achieve that goal, the federal and provincial governments must take meaningful steps to increase Francophone immigration to Ontario so that newcomers can contribute to the vitality and the social, economic and cultural development of the Franco-Ontarian community,” indicated Commissioner Boileau.
According to the commissioners, Francophone community representatives are concerned about the impact of changes to Canada’s immigration system. Consequently, they are urging the federal government and its provincial and territorial partners to take advantage of the opportunities created by the new federal immigration system, including “Express Entry,” in order to transform immigration into a truly positive force for Francophone communities.
In the commissioners’ view, Francophone immigration programs must be flexible and take into account the unique characteristics of the various Francophone communities and the needs of the provinces. The various players must step up their efforts and take targeted measures to ensure that Francophone minority communities truly benefit from immigration.
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For more information or to schedule an interview with the commissioners, please contact:
Kim Bergeron
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
TORONTO, November 17, 2014 – The French Language Services Commissioner is launching an investigation into the announced closure of Penetanguishene General Hospital, an agency in which some services are partially designated. Even though they are protected by the French Language Services Act (FLSA), a quasi-constitutional law, these services are currently in danger of being eliminated without due process under the Act.
The Commissioner is urging the government to postpone the elimination of the French-language services provided at the former Penetanguishene General Hospital until the FLSA process has run its course, to ensure compliance with the letter and the spirit of the Act. “The initial response of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care appears to be the right one, since it is impressive in its clarity, its rapidity and its willingness to properly remedy this unacceptable situation. We will now have to observe in the field what is being done with services that are currently designated and protected.” Commissioner Boileau explained.
“The designation of an agency, even if it is only partial, reflects a commitment and official recognition of its capacity to provide services in French. That is not an end in itself, but rather a means of guaranteeing the active, continuing delivery of French-language services in the field, to meet the particular needs of the population being served,” added the Commissioner. “Designation is granted following a complex, rigorous process, and any change of status, especially revocation of a designation, should be made with equal rigour, in keeping with the Act and with the population concerned having an opportunity to make its views known.”
In his investigation, the Commissioner will examine the planning, the process and the public consultations that took place before the decision was made to close this partially designated hospital. The Commissioner’s investigation will focus on the Office of Francophone Affairs, which is responsible for managing the process of revoking the designation of a public service agency, or for amending a regulation designating a public service agency so as to exclude or remove a service from the designation. The investigation will also involve the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN, which oversee the delivery of high-quality health care services in the region.
The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner reports directly to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
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Kim Bergeron, Public Relations and Communications Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
Phone: (416) 314-8247 or 1-866-246-5262 (toll free)
OTTAWA – FREDERICTON – TORONTO – OCTOBER 30, 2014 – The Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada, Graham Fraser, his New Brunswick counterpart Katherine d’Entremont and Ontario’s French Language Services Commissioner François Boileau are pressing the federal and provincial governments to step up their efforts to increase immigration in Francophone communities outside Quebec. They are also pushing for the adoption of four guiding principles to ensure immigration contributes to the development and vitality of these communities.
“Immigration is crucial to the vitality, indeed the future, of official language minority communities,” said Commissioner Fraser. To benefit from immigration, Francophone and Acadian communities must attract immigrants in proportions equal to or greater than their demographic weight. But these communities are the big losers in terms of immigration, because only 2% of immigrants who settle outside Quebec are French-speaking, whereas these communities make up 4% of the population, or approximately 1 million Canadians. The commissioners see this situation as worrisome.
The federal government is currently making several changes to Canada’s immigration system, focusing on the economy, quicker labour market entry and recruitment of immigrants with skills in demand in Canada. “We’ve reached a turning point. In the past year, the federal government has renewed its commitment to addressing the shortage of Francophone immigrants. Meanwhile, we are just months away from one of the most substantial immigration system reforms in our history. Right now, we have an opportunity to transform immigration into a truly positive force for Francophone communities outside Quebec. We cannot let it pass us by,” explained Commissioner Fraser.
The three language ombudsmen believe that the federal immigration framework should be tailored to the specific objectives of the provincial and territorial governments for the selection, recruitment, integration and retention of Francophone immigrants. Such measures would help address the different socioeconomic contexts of minority communities.
“Ontario has led the way by setting a 5% target for Francophone immigration. The government must now make sure it has all the necessary tools, including a pan-governmental-community approach and cooperation with the federal government, to reach that target and address the needs and priorities of not only Francophone newcomers, but also those of the host communities in Ontario,” said Commissioner Boileau.
Commissioner of Official Languages Katherine d’Entremont welcomes the Government of New Brunswick’s commitment to ensuring 33% of the province’s immigrants are Francophone by 2020. Commissioner d’Entremont urges the two levels of government to work closely together to preserve the vitality of the province’s Francophone community. “Immigration is a shared jurisdiction. For Francophones in New Brunswick to maintain their 33% share of the population, the federal and provincial governments must adopt a long-term concerted approach.”
While acknowledging government efforts with regard to Francophone immigration in Canada, the commissioners feel that results have been slow in coming. Consequently, they believe it is imperative that the following four guiding principles be adopted:
Immigration must help maintain, and even increase, the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities in Canada.
Federal and provincial immigration policies and programs must be designed and tailored to address Francophone immigrant recruitment, integration and retention needs specific to the different contexts of Francophone minority communities across Canada.
Strong federal-provincial-community partnerships, long-term strategies for the selection, recruitment, welcoming, education, integration and retention of immigrants, and sufficient resources are needed to ensure that immigration supports the development and vitality of Francophone minority communities.
Governments must develop an evaluation and accountability framework to measure progress achieved and ensure attainment of immigration objectives in Francophone minority communities.
In 2012 and 2013, the three commissioners signed agreements to, among other things, increase cooperation and discussion among their respective offices. It is in that spirit that the three commissioners are tackling the immigration issue.
For more information or to schedule an interview with the Commissioner, please contact:
Kim Bergeron
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
Telephone: 416-314-8247
Toll-free: 1-866-246-5262
E-mail: kim.bergeron@ontario.ca
Follow us @FLSCOntario
Nelson Kalil
Manager, Strategic Communications and Media Relations
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Telephone: 819-420-4714
Cellular: 613-324-0999
Toll-free: 1-877-996-6368
E-mail: nelson.kalil@clo-ocol.gc.ca
Follow us @OCOLCanada
Patricia Parent
Manager
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick
SUDBURY, October 4, 2014 – The Law Society of Upper Canada and the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner are pleased to announce the establishment of a protocol to address complaints received about the Law Society’s French language services.
This is an important access to justice initiative, as it will allow the Law Society to address complaints about our French language services in a timely, open and efficient manner. The protocol will encourage enhanced opportunities to collaborate with the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner.
The Law Society has acknowledged that persons have the right to communicate in French with the organization, and to receive in French available services from the Law Society. “This is an important confirmation of the rights of Ontarians, as well as a confirmation of the Law Society’s continuing commitment to access to justice in French,” said Treasurer Janet Minor.
“I am very pleased to have achieved this important protocol with the Law Society,” said French Language Services Commissioner François Boileau. “It gives me confidence that anyone wishing to communicate with the Law Society or to benefit from their services, will be able to do so in French.”
The protocol lists the terms and conditions under which the Commissioner may refer a complaint to the Law Society for investigation, and details the process by which the complaint will be investigated, which will promote equitable access to services in French to the Francophone community.
The Law Society will investigate every complaint received from the Commissioner in a timely, efficient and fair manner. A report will be made by the Law Society to the Commissioner with the outcome of the investigation of each complaint, including any action taken by the Law Society to resolve or address the complaint.
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For further information, please contact:
Kim Bergeron, FLSC
Communications and Public Relations Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
TORONTO, September 29, 2014 – The French Language Services Commissioner is launching a new source of information about the investigations conducted by the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner. In the “Investigations Unit” section of its website, the Commissioner’s Office will report on the government’s progress in delivering French-language services, provide information about the Office’s ongoing projects and follow up on cases involving systemic problems. These information bulletins will provide citizens, community members and government officials with a unique opportunity to learn about a wide range of subjects in every sphere of the Office’s activities.
“I am very proud to be able to offer a new platform for keeping the public informed of the work of the Commissioner’s Office. This effort reflects a commitment by our team to hold the government accountable and will serve as a communication vehicle to boost Francophones’ confidence in the work of their language ombudsman,” said the Commissioner.
With his publications, the Commissioner will report on the advances made since the establishment of the Commissioner’s Office in 2006 in a variety of fields, including justice, postsecondary education, immigration and health. While the Commissioner’s annual report provides an annual summary of his Office’s work, it does not present all the details on the scope of the work and the diversity of the complaints that the Office receives. Over the years, the Commissioner has observed cases in which the government has been unable to make progress or slow to respond or failed to comply with the requirements of the French Language Services Act. This project highlights these problems and will provide citizens with updates on these cases and areas.
The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner reports directly to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Its principal mandate is to ensure compliance with the French Language Services Act in the delivery of government services.
LEARN MORE
You can view these articles at flscontario.ca in the “Investigations Unit” section.
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.
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Kim Bergeron, Public Relations and Communications Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
Phone: (416) 314-8247 or 1-866-246-5262 (toll free)
