Action Plan for Official Languages

Plans, Spending and Results

• 2007-2008

Name of lead department: Department of Canadian Heritage

Lead department program activity:  Corporate (internal) Services

Start Date: April 1, 2003

End Date: March 31, 2008

Total Federal Funding Allocation:  $787.3 M (In April 2005, a 3-year allocation (2005-08) in the amount of $36.0 M was added to the original amount of $751.3M, for the Enabling Fund, a program administered by the Department of Human Resources and Social Development.)

Description

The Action Plan is a policy statement of the Government of Canada that strengthens the implementation obligations under the Official Languages Act and includes a number of initiatives aimed at the enhancement and promotion of linguistic duality in Canadian society. Ten (10) federal institutions received funds for sectoral programs and activities related to official languages (OL). Another key component of the Action Plan is the implementation of an accountability framework and the establishment of overall coordination of government-wide processes relating to official languages.  The implementation of the Action Plan is a component of the wider Official Languages Program (OLP) as it has been defined and approved by the Committee of Deputy Ministers on Official Languages (CDMOL) in December 2004.

Shared Outcomes

Three levels of results have been identified for the Official Languages Program:

Ultimate Result

Canadians enjoy the benefit of linguistic duality; live and work in communities that reflect Canadian values with respect to the use of English and French, and have access to government services in the language of their choice.

Intermediate Results 

• Increased proportion of Canadians are aware of the benefit of linguistic duality and have access to the services that support it.
• Enhanced capacity of Canadians, English-speaking in Quebec and French-speaking across Canada to live and work in vibrant communities in their language of choice.

Immediate Results

• Improved access to justice in both languages.
• Increased participation in and improved access to education and learning in support of linguistic duality.
• Improved access to health and social services in the language of their choice.
• Enhanced cultural activities in support of Canadian identity.
• Strengthened community economic development and language industries.
• Enhanced community vitality.
• Linguistic duality is reinforced in the institutions of Canadian society and reflected abroad.
• Federal institutions respect the Official Languages Act (OLA) and the Constitution.

Governance Structure

The Minister responsible for Official Languages has specific responsibility for the implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages. The Official Languages Branch (OLB) of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) became the Official Languages Secretariat (OLS) when it was transferred to the Department of Canadian Heritage on February 6, 2006.  The OLS will continue to support the Minister responsible for Official Languages and the activities related to the horizontal coordination of the Official Languages Program, including implementation of the Action Plan.  OLS will also support the overall governance of the Official Languages Program through various mechanisms and committees.

Partners

• Public Service Human Resources Management Agency of Canada
• Canada School of Public Service
• Health Canada
• Human Resources and Social Development Canada
• Industry Canada
• National Research Council Canada
• Justice Canada
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Contact : Contact by email: olslo@pch.gc.ca