Results-based Action Plan - Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act 2008-2009

Mandate of the Federal Agency:

CIDA's mandate is to reduce poverty, to promote human rights and to support sustainable development. The purpose of Canadian assistance is to support sustainable development in developing countries, in order to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world.

Summary of Key Expected Results

I Overview of CIDA

CIDA's purpose is to reduce poverty and to contribute to a more secure, equitable, and prosperous world. CIDA works with development partners, fragile states and countries in crisis, selected countries and regions, institutions, and Canadians. CIDA's partners also include multilateral and international organizations. In Canada, CIDA carries out its mandate in partnership with various levels of government, institutions such as non-governmental organizations and private businesses, universities and colleges, labour unions, professional associations, youth and churches.

II Linkages with the Horizontal Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework for Canada's Official Languages Program

CIDA is a "federal institution" as defined in Part VII of the Official Languages Act, particularly Section 41. Through the services and programs offered in fulfilment of its mandate, CIDA actively contributes to two of the Government's "horizontal results" for the Official Languages Program:

1. Linguistic duality is reinforced in the institutions of Canadian society and reflected abroad.
2. As part of its mandate, CIDA continues to reinforce linguistic duality in Canada by making services and programs available to Canadians in both official languages, and by promoting Canada's linguistic duality abroad.
3. Federal institutions' respect for and compliance with the Official Languages Act (OLA) and the Constitution

As a federal agency responsible for managing programs and services that have a direct and indirect impact on Canadians, CIDA aims to implement Section 41 of the OLA in fulfilling its mandate. One of the principles to which CIDA subscribes, is to make its programs and services available to Canadians and to Canadian organizations, including Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) with an interest in international development activities.

III CIDA and OLA s. 41: Key activities and expected results - FY 2008-2009

SUMMARY

Awareness

Throughout FY 2008-2009, the National Coordinator responsible for Section 41 and the Official Languages Advisory Committee will continue to raise awareness among CIDA employees - including managers - concerning their responsibilities under Part VII of the Official Languages Act, particularly Section 41. The National Coordinator plans to use various means to heighten awareness of Section 41 within CIDA. This will include the use of electronic media and print media, such as Bulletin 41-42 and other Canadian Heritage publications. Other means will include "brown bag lunches" on matters relating to Section 41, posters and information booths. CIDA will also take advantage of national and international forums, such as the Rendez-vous de la francophonie, or the next Francophone Summit, to be held in Quebec City on October 17-19, 2008, to promote Canada's linguistic duality.

Consultation

CIDA is in contact with representatives from OLMC networks to collect information on their international development visions and strategies, which would allow them to evaluate the validity of developing a three-year action plan. This year, the exchange of information has expanded to include communities in Yukon and the Northwest Territories (the Association franco-yukonaise and the Fédération franco-ténoise) and in Prince Edward Island (Société St-Thomas d'Aquin of Prince Edward Island). Special attention will also be paid to organizations wishing to internationalize their activities. These include the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française and the Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne (AUFC). CIDA's regional offices will continue to be clearinghouses for OLMCs active in the different regions of Canada. Finally, special events will allow the sharing of international development information with Canadian organizations, including OLMCs. These events include International Cooperation Days (November 17-19, 2008), International Development Week (February 1-7, 2009), and International Development Days in Vancouver (May 20-22, 2008).

Communication

Information about CIDA will remain available to OLMCs through various means, particularly CIDA's website, regional offices, Speakers Program and Youth Awareness Program, as well as the posting of business opportunities (MERX). In its 2008-2009 action plan, for example, the Atlantic regional office proposes to encourage representatives of CIDA Headquarters to meet with Francophone organizations during their visits to the region.

Coordination and Liaison

In 2008-2009, the Official Languages Champion and the National Coordinator responsible for the implementation of OLA Section 41 will continue to coordinate and to liaise through meetings with Canadian Heritage. As members of CIDA's Official Languages Advisory Committee, they will also be the contacts in matters relating to official languages within CIDA, and will liaise with the other federal departments and agencies. Within this framework, meetings are scheduled with other institutions with an international component, like the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Department of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Program Funding and Delivery

CIDA will maintain its policy of transparency in providing information about the programs and services it manages. CIDA will ensure that individuals and organizations interested in international development, including those associated with OLMCs, are able to access this information and to offer their services where appropriate.

Accountability

This year's record of achievements and the 2008-2009 action plan, will be used as benchmarks to evaluate results and explore other ways to integrate Section 41 in CIDA's policies and programs. Data will systematically be compiled on the OLA Section 41 activities of regional offices, and reports will be provided on forums between CIDA and OLMCs. This will improve prospects for integrating OLA Section 41 in CIDA policies.

DETAILED ACTIVITIES

A. Awareness

In the coming year, CIDA employees and senior management will strengthen their awareness of Section 41.

Awareness activities will be organized in part by the National Coordinator responsible for the implementation of OLA Section 41 and the Official Languages Champion. These activities will include:

• January-March 2009: Organizing "brown bag lunches" on matters relating to Section 41. At this time of year, many events are held that bring together CIDA and various Canadian organizations. These events include International Development Week and the Rendez-Vous de la Francophonie. There are plans to invite one or more people from Canadian Heritage to give a presentation on OLMC development.
• March 2009: Putting up posters and setting up information booths on OLA Section 41.
• Systematically distributing Bulletin 41-42 (electronic or print) within CIDA and at regional offices.
• Evaluating the newsletter's impact on employee awareness of OLA Section 41 by requesting feedback. This step could serve as an indicator of OLA Section 41 awareness among CIDA employees.

B. Consultation

As it did last year, CIDA initiated exchanges of information with ten key OLMCs across Canada to identify their development priorities and how OLMCs can cooperate with CIDA*. The conclusions to date are that CIDA's international development activities are accessible to organizations that show an interest in international cooperation. However, many OLMCs place more emphasis on their own development.

This year, exchanges of information will include organizations in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island, as well as specialized organizations such as the Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne (AUFC) and the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française (FJCF). Note that, in its 2007-2012 action plan, the AUFC seeks to expand its activities on an international scale, while the FJCF has an international networking project for youth interested in community projects in member countries of La Francophonie.

Finally, in 2008-2009, CIDA will organize special events that will continue to be accessible to OLMCs. In cooperation with Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, for example, CIDA will hold International Development Days in Vancouver, British Columbia (May 20-22, 2008). This meeting will be an opportunity to present the Canadian Awards for International Cooperation, to honour successful Canadian businesses and other organizations that support sustainable economic growth and social programs in developing countries. CIDA also plans to organize International Cooperation Days (November 17-19, 2008) and International Development Week 2009. These events will provide opportunities to discuss international cooperation with Canadian organizations.

Role of CIDA's Regional Offices:

Regional offices will continue to publicize Canada's involvement in international development. In the coming year, CIDA's regional offices will maintain ties with OLMCs through ad hoc meetings and information sessions with representatives of organizations with ties to OLMCs. Contact will also be maintained via bilingual monthly newsletters published for regional community organizations.

C. Communications

In 2008-2009, CIDA will communicate with Canadians by various means: CIDA's website, the contribution of CIDA's regional offices across Canada, the Speakers Program, the Youth Awareness Program, and the posting of opportunities to do business with CIDA through the MERX tendering service. Each regional office will also continue to publish electronic newsletters for OLMCs. This is an effective way to publicize CIDA's mandate. As always, in their 2008-2009 action plan, the regional offices plan to encourage representatives from CIDA Headquarters to meet with OLMC-affiliated organizations during visits to their region.

D. Coordination and Liaison

The National Coordinator and the Official Languages Champion will continue to play a role in coordination and liaison. They will actively take part in various meetings organized by Canadian Heritage and other events relating to the official languages. The National Coordinator will liaise with other federal government departments with international mandates, to discuss best practices. These primarily include the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Department of National Defence and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

CIDA's Official Languages Champion will actively take part in meetings of the National Network of Official Languages Champions.

As in previous years, CIDA Headquarters will coordinate communications with regional offices. Regional offices will also have the opportunity to cooperate with provincial, territorial and municipal partners to benefit OLMCs.

E. Funding and Program Delivery

With regard to funding and program delivery, CIDA supports international development initiatives based on specific criteria and conditions. If they wish, and if they meet the program's eligibility criteria, including those relating to OLMCs, individuals and organizations can continue to have access to CIDA's programs.

F. Accountability

In 2008-2009, in addition to preparing an action plan for the next few years, the National Coordinator will compile various contributions that could promote the development of linguistic duality and the development of OLMCs.

IV. Communication Plan

Distribution List

CIDA will advise the following stakeholders once this action plan is posted on the Internet:

• Clerk of the Standing Committee on Official Languages of the House of Commons
• Clerk of the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages
• Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
• Umbrella organizations:
• • Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne (AUFC)
  • Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC)
  • Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC)
  • Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA)
  • Québec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
  • Canada Manufacturers & Exporters

* The organizations in question are:

1. The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada (FCFA)
2. The Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE)
3. The Association des francophones de Nunavut (AFN)
4. The Société des Acadiens et Acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick (SAANB)
5. The Association canadienne-française de l'Alberta (ACFA)
6. The Société franco-manitobaine (SFM)
7. The Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB)
8. The Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise (ACF)
9. The Assemblée de la francophonie de L'Ontario (AFO)
10. Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)