Annual Report on Results — Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act 2010-2011

Federal department/agency: Canadian International Development Agency
Address: 200 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0G4

Minister responsible: Hon. Beverley J. Oda

Senior official responsible for the implementation of Section 41 of Act:

• Vincent Rigby, Vice-President
  Strategic Policy and Performance Branch

General mandate of the federal department/agency:

• Mission: Lead Canada's international effort to help people living in poverty.
• Mandate: Manage Canada's support and resources, effectively and accountably, to achieve meaningful, sustainable results and engage in policy development in Canada and internationally, enabling Canada's efforts to realize its development objectives.

National coordinator for the implementation of Section 41 of the Act:

• François Turgeon, Manager,
  Strategic Planning and Performance Reporting Directorate,
  Strategic Policy and Performance Branch
  E-mail: francois.turgeon@acdi-cida.gc.ca

Summary of CIDA's main achievements during 2010-2011

During 2010-2011, CIDA continued to make significant progress on promoting linguistic duality and raising the profile of Official Language Minority Communities (OLMCs) within CIDA, Canada and abroad.

CIDA engaged and promoted OLMCs across Canada through events on development and initiatives such as the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program (CFSP). Throughout 2010-2011, senior CIDA officials made bilingual presentations to OLMC audiences on CIDA programs, such as Haiti and Afghanistan, and on CIDA's new approach to partnerships at several universities and colleges, including in Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. The CFSP continued to distribute scholarships to Francophone universities and colleges across Canada, including 24 percent to institutions outside of Quebec. In 2010-2011, through CFSP, 20 students were admitted to Université de Moncton, in New Brunswick, two to Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, in Manitoba, and two to Université d'Ottawa and Université Saint-Paul, in Ottawa. In addition, Francophone institutions, such as Collège de Dieppe and Savoir Sphère Canada in New Brunswick, benefited from CIDA's Central Africa and West Africa regional programs and Anglophone institutions, such as McGill University in Montréal, received support from CIDA's geographic programs for Eastern Europe, North Africa and Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

CIDA promoted both official languages at home and abroad in several ways, including through continuing support to the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) and through its Francophonie Unit. The Montréal-based CCODP implements projects in Latin America, Asia and Africa and has offices, members, and partnerships with communities throughout Canada. CCODP is committed to linguistic duality in Canada and abroad and proactively maintains an environment conducive to both official languages in all its administration, contracting, policy dialogue and public engagement activities. Over the past year, CIDA's Francophonie Unit contributed to bilateral and multilateral meetings with the governments of Quebec and New Brunswick and civil society organizations to share ideas and information on French language and culture in Canada and abroad. In October 2010, the program coordinator participated in consultations and policy dialogue at the Sommet de la Francophonie in Montreux, Switzerland. Canadian linguistic duality and the importance of including OLMCs in international development and cooperation was promoted at the summit. In addition, CIDA's International Youth Internship Program (IYIP), which actively promotes cultural exchange and Canada's linguistic duality globally, supported the internship programs of Canadian universities, colleges and organizations such as Comité de solidarité/Trois Rivières, Centre de solidarité international du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Oxfam-Québec.

CIDA engaged OLMCs at regional levels in Canada throughout 2010-2011. For International Development Week 2011, CIDA contracted the seven regional and provincial councils for international cooperation to organize a youth campaign, with the requirement that special effort be made to reach out to linguistic minority groups. The youth campaign allowed the councils to focus on strategies and target activities to reach linguistic minority groups within their regions.

Some achievements from the youth campaign:

• The Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale posted a banner on the website of the Montréal-based
• English-language newspaper Hour Community and involved the metropolitan Montréal YMCAs in promoting the campaign to young Anglophones.
• The British Columbia Council for International Cooperation prepared eight bilingual youth profiles and a youth podcast interview in French, which was downloaded 3,065 times.
• The Manitoba Council for International Cooperation published an article on the campaign in La Liberté, Manitoba's only weekly French-language magazine, and prepared a youth video profile and radio interview in French, reaching 26,400 listeners.

A. Raising awareness (in-house activities)

Activities carried out to achieve the targeted outcome	Outputs	Progress made in achieving the targeted outcome	Expected result
The Official Languages Champion has established an Official Languages Advisory Committee (OLAC) and has developed a work plan to promote official languages at CIDA.	In 2010-2011, the terms of reference for the OLAC were revised to reflect Section 41 commitments. The committee is now composed of interested volunteers from across the Agency, and the terms and conditions of the committee include Section 41 initiatives.  The CIDA Official Languages Strategic Action Plan&|8213;April 2010-March 2013 was formally approved by Management Board in January 2011. The Action plan includes Section 41 commitments.   A strategic communications plan to raise the profile of official languages, including Section 41 of the Act, at CIDA was drafted in March 2011.	The work plan ensures CIDA systematically carries out initiatives that build staff awareness of CIDA's responsibilities under Section 41 of the Act.	Creation of lasting changes in federal institutional organizational culture; employees and management are aware of and understand their responsibilities regarding Section 41 of the Act.
Internal awareness building and familiarization initiatives were undertaken with key individuals across the Agency regarding understanding of OLMCs and the implementation of Section 41 of the Act.	During 2010-2011, an Official Languages Award was created and launched in September at the Linguistic Duality Day celebration. The award is to be presented annually in June during National Public Service Week. CIDA regional staff collected OLMC information on participating francophone non-governmental organizations and government organizations from federal, provincial and municipal levels. The OLAC held a meeting, which included a presentation on Section 41 of the Act, and an information pamphlet on Section 41 of the Act was prepared and distributed to the committee members. The national coordinator participated in meetings on official languages and engaged in communications with CIDA headquarters and regional staff on Section 41 matters.	Key Agency influencers have a better understanding of their responsibilities regarding the implementation of Section 41 of the Act.
Internal communication channels, such as the Entre Nous intranet site, were used in to disseminate messages of interest about Section 41 of the Act.	In 2010-2011, a CIDA internal website on official languages was completed and launched. The website contains a link to Section 41 of the Act and to Bulletin 41-2. The official languages intranet site has its own icon on the Entre Nous home page to allow for easier and quicker access to information on official languages.   A glossary of official languages terminology was developed and distributed at a CIDA kiosk during a National Public Service Week event in June 2010 and was posted on the official languages intranet site in February 2011. A suggestion box was launched on Entre Nous in April 2010.  The Official Languages Champion posted a message on Entre Nous, inviting employees to the Linguistic Duality Day celebration held in September 2010.	CIDA staff has ongoing access to information about CIDA's responsibilities under Section 41 of the Act and CIDA activities that promote OLMCs.
Distributed and disseminated media, such as Bulletin 41-42, to provide a forum for implementing Section 41 of the Act.	The Official Languages Champion and the CIDA President spoke on the importance of linguistic duality and on creation of the Official Languages Award at the Linguistic Duality Day celebration in September 2010. A video on linguistic duality―Dare! Osez!―was presented at the Linguistic Duality Day celebration and the OLAC members and Section 41 representative shared information on their respective mandates.	Managers and employees better know and understand their responsibilities with regard to Section 41 of the Act and the OLMCs.

B. Consultation

Activities carried out to achieve the targeted outcome	Outputs	Progress made in achieving the targeted outcome	Expected result
Consulted with and solicited feedback from OLMCs that have an international interest, especially the media and professional and academic institutions.	Organizations involved in international development improved their understanding of OLMC needs through participation in the International Development Week 2011 event in February 2011. CIDA contracted the seven regional and provincial councils for international cooperation to organize a youth campaign, with the requirement that a special effort be made to reach out to linguistic minority groups within their regions. The youth campaign allowed the councils to focus on strategies and target activities to reach linguistic minority groups. The following outputs were obtained through the youth campaign activities: The Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale  posted a banner on the website of the Montréal-based English-language newspaper Hour Community. It generated close to a hundred clicks, considered excellent for this kind of ad. The YMCAs of metropolitan Montréal were also involved in promoting the campaign to young Anglophones. The Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation placed an ad for the event in L'Eau Vive, Saskatchewan's only French-language newspaper, reaching 1,400 readers. The British Columbia Council for International Cooperation wrote eight youth profiles, which were translated into French and posted on its website. These profiles were accessed 40 times. A podcast interview, done in French with one of the profiled youth, was downloaded 3,065 times. The Ontario Council for International Cooperation  sent solicitation forms drawn up in French to members to nominate eight young Canadians; the nomination form was published online in both official languages, as was the public call to action. The Atlantic Council for International Cooperation ensured that all its promotional material for the youth campaign was available in both official languages. The Manitoba Council for International Cooperation prepared a youth video profile in French and had an article on the campaign published in La Liberté, Manitoba's only weekly French-language magazine, reaching 6,500 readers; an interview was conducted on a French radio station, L'Envol  91, reaching 26,400 listeners. The Alberta Council for Global Cooperation prepared youth nomination forms, youth profiles, youth action resources and media kits in both official languages. During International Development Week 2011, held in February, CIDA senior representatives made presentations at the Pavillon Jean-Cadieux, Université de Moncton, in New Brunswick, and at the Campus Saint-Jean, University of Alberta, on CIDA's role in international development. Bilingual presentations on CIDA's new approach to partnerships were made to audiences in Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Senior CIDA officials met with McGill University, in Montréal, and Equitas, an Anglophone-led Montréal based non-governmental organization.   A speakers program featured a representative from CIDA's Haiti program. The representative delivered a series of eight presentations in New Brunswick from March 11 to 15, 2011, four of which were delivered to a Francophone audience, reaching 100 individuals (Centre d'accueil multiculturel et des nouveaux arrivants de Saint John Inc., Université de Moncton, Polyvalente Mathieu-Martin et Riverview High School). CIDA presented an exhibit Program on February 3, 2011, at the Public Service Fair at McGill University, in Montréal, Quebec, attracting 300 Anglophone visitors at the exhibit kiosk. During 2010-2011, CIDA's Pacific regional office engaged in consultative meetings and will have follow-up discussions in the fall 2011 with British Columbia OLMC federal contact points and coordinators on level of local demand for bilingual services.	OLMCs know more about CIDA's programs, and employees have a better understanding of national OLMC needs;.programs were improved to enhance CIDA's relationship with OLMC groups.	Creation of lasting relationships between federal institutions and OLMCs; federal institutions and OLMCs understand each other's needs and mandates.
CIDA's regional offices participated in OLMC events. These events provide an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and information with OLMCs.	In January 2011, CIDA's Atlantic regional director participated in an Official Languages Week event organized by the New Brunswick Federal Council, providing information on CIDA's programs and services and seeking input from participants interested in international development.	Increased liaison between CIDA and organizations interested in international development.

C. Communication

Activities carried out to achieve the targeted outcome	Outputs	Progress made in achieving the targeted outcome	Expected result
CIDA's regional offices offered information sessions on CIDA's programs and informed OLMCs on how to apply for funding and identify appropriate programs and services.	During 2010-2011, CIDA regional representations made presentations and provided information to partners, including OLMC groups, on CIDA's programs and mandate. Regional representatives emphasized CIDA's Francophonie initiatives, including the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program, through leaflets, events, information sessions, career fairs, and other promotional tools. Targeted events in 2010-2011 included International Development Week 2011 presentations, and the speakers program and exhibit program on Haiti and Afghanistan. CIDA Pacific regional representatives met with two Francophone international development non-governmental organizations to provide information on CIDA's policies and programs.	OLMC members have access to information regarding CIDA's programs and better understand how to access them.
CIDA supported mass media initiatives that reached and engaged OLMCs.	During 2010-2011, CIDA's Development Information Program and Public Engagement Fund continued to support activities on raising Canadian public awareness of development by featuring 120 national and international projects. These awareness-raising sessions reached OLMC audiences in Canada and abroad. The summer 2010 edition of Bulletin 41-42 was used to publish an article on the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program. This program provides funding to Canadian universities and college s for student exchange placements. Seventy-six percent of recipients are in Quebec and 24 percent  are in the rest of Canada. In 2010-2011, 24 scholarships were awarded to students at OLMC universities and colleges (20 students were admitted to Université de Moncton, in New Brunswick, two to Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, in Manitoba, and two to Université d'Ottawa and Université Saint-Paul, in Ottawa).	OLMC members know more about international development issues.
Communicated business opportunities in both official languages.	CIDA's services are accessible through its website, through MERX, and through staff, in both official languages. Application forms and guidelines are also available in both official languages. Project agreements between CIDA and select implementing agencies (for example, Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, Association of Canadian Community Colleges and CIDA provincial councils) require those agencies to serve clients equally in both official languages. Their newsletters, websites and communications all respect linguistic requirements under the Act.	OLMCs have equal access to CIDA business opportunities.
Published official languages reports and plans on CIDA's website.	CIDA's Official Languages Strategic Plan and Section 41 reports are published in the publications section of the Agency's website.	OLMCs have ongoing access to information about CIDA activities, in both official languages.
Publication of bilingual newsletters by CIDA's regional offices.	During 2010-2011, the CIDA Atlantic regional representation developed and circulated a monthly bilingual newsletter  on international development issues and upcoming development-related events in Atlantic Canada. The CIDA Prairie regional representation periodically circulated a bilingual newsletter on international development events in the Prairie Region. The CIDA Pacific regional representation distributed a bilingual monthly regional e-newsletter to more than 2,000 recipients and organized a display, as one of 35 booths, on bilingual and Francophone  events and services in British Columbia. It also carried out ongoing information sharing through targeted events and visits between CIDA headquarters officials and OLMCs. CIDA's Atlantic regional office provided speakers to organizations interested in international development.	OLMCs are aware of CIDA activities and business opportunities.

D. Coordination and liaison-Internal coordination and liaison with other government institutions

Activities carried out to achieve the targeted outcome	Outputs	Progress made in achieving the targeted outcome	Expected result
CIDA participated in interdepartmental official languages meetings to share and implement best practices and to exchange ideas on opportunities for enhanced cooperation.	During 2010-2011, CIDA participated in four official-languages-related interdepartmental meetings, discussions and events organized through the Treasury Board Secretariat, the Translation Bureau, the Canada School of Public Service and the Department of Canadian Heritage.	CIDA is better informed of best practices regarding the implementation of Section 41 of the Act.	Co-operation with multiple partners to enhance OLMC development and vitality and to share best practices.
CIDA regional offices participated in meetings with other levels of government and federal organizations having an international component to exchange ideas.	The CIDA Atlantic regional representative participated as member of the New Brunswick Federal Council in Dialoguing with the Community Day on January 26, 2011, in Dieppe, New Brunswick, during Official Languages Week. The representative provided information on CIDA's priorities and on programs and services offered by the Atlantic regional office and sought input from the community on their interests in international development. The CIDA Pacific regional representative is a member of the Pacific Federal Council Official Languages Committee and Official Languages Interdepartmental Working Group in support of OLMCs and coordinators to implement Part VII of the Act within their organizations and in the region.	Improved cooperation between New Brunswick and British Columbian Francophone communities and federal and provincial institutions.
Cooperation between CIDA's regional representatives and regional federal councils.	The CIDA Pacific regional representation participated, on March 15, 2011, in Rendez-Vous de la Francophonie, a community outreach event organized in Vancouver by the Official Languages Sub-Committee of the Pacific Federal Council. A multiparty meeting is planned in 2011 with CIDA Pacific regional representation, Federal Council co-chairs of the Official Languages Committee, Heritage Canada's  liaison officer for the Commission of Official Languages in the Vancouver satellite office and La Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique to discuss outcomes of the recent report from the Official Languages Commissioner and CIDA's rating and action plan, as well as any additional efforts, beyond general awareness, to reach out to Francophone non-governmental organizations and OLMCs interested in international development. The CIDA Pacific regional representation is on the mailing list for Pacific Federal Council Official Languages Committee and Heritage Canada's OLMC sub-committee to share information and CIDA products on request.	Increased cooperation between CIDA and other levels of government.

E. Funding and program delivery

Activities carried out to achieve the targeted outcome	Outputs	Progress made in achieving the targeted outcome	Expected result
CIDA calls on various organizations, including OLMCs, to carry out its international development projects and programs. CIDA funds international development initiatives of organizations interested in international development, including OLMCs.	During 2010-2011, CIDA invited all Francophone schools in the Atlantic and Prairie regions to host the Kandahar Through Afghan Eyes photo exhibit. Two Francophone schools hosted the exhibit in the Atlantic region (École Marie-Gaétane, in Kedgwick, New Brunswick, in October 2010 and Centre scolaire de la Rive-Sud, in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, in January 2011) and one school requested to host in the Prairie region (Collège Jeanne-Sauvé, in Winnipeg, Manitoba). McGill University benefited from several of CIDA's programs, including funding from the Eastern Europe, North Africa and Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa geographic programs and the International Youth Internship Program. Le Collège de Dieppe and Savoir Sphère Canada, both New Brunswick institutions, benefited from funding support to their projects in Mali and Cameroun from CIDA's Central Africa and West Africa regional programs. The Montréal-based Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) is continuing to benefit from CIDA's Partnerships with Canadians Branch funding support to their projects in Latin America, Asia and Africa. CCODP is headquartered in Montréal and has offices, members, partnerships and close working relationships with communities throughout Canada, from St. John's in Newfoundland to Vancouver Island and from most Arctic villages to Toronto. CCODP is committed to linguistic duality and offers fully bilingual services in Canada and abroad. It proactively maintains an environment conducive to both official languages in all its administration, contracting, policy dialogue and public engagement activities. In March 2011, CIDA launched the pilot phase of its International School Twinning Initiative (ISTI) under the Partnerships with Canadians Branch Global Citizens Program. The initiative will provide funding support to connect teachers and students, grades 6-8, with counterparts in developing countries, through interactive social media. Classrooms will engage each other on a range of topics, including social and cultural exchange and international development issues and projects. ISTI has been widely promoted through all school boards across Canada in both official languages, through CIDA headquarters and regional offices. ISTI was also promoted by CIDA's Francophonie Unit during  consultations with partners in the education sector of the Government of New Brunswick.	Representatives of Francophone communities across Canada strengthened or established new international relationships and, in doing so, promoted their vitality and skills and expanded their influence.	OLMCs are part of CIDA's regular clientele and have adequate access to the Agency's programs and services; OLMC needs (for example, geographic dispersion and development opportunities) are taken into account.
Supported events that promote linguistic duality, raise awareness of OLMCs and their international development efforts in both Canada and Abroad.	In 2010-2011, CIDA's Francophonie Unit contributed to bilateral meetings with participating governments of Quebec and New Brunswick to establish common positions, and share information on linguistic duality and French culture and language in Canada as well as understanding of CIDA`s priorities on international development cooperation and promotion of linguistic communities at home and abroad.  CIDA's Francophonie Unit provided input to CIDA's participation in the Sommet de la Francophonie in Montreux, Switzerland, in October 2010, through consultations with other departments to prepare CIDA position papers. Interactions with other departments also permitted the Francophonie Unit to further raise awareness and deepen understanding of linguistic duality and issues of OLMCs across the Agency. The Unit also participated in consultations, organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, with La Francophonie partners and civil society groups in September 2010 before the summit and then again in January 2011 to share the results of the summit. The summit produced the Déclaration de Montreux, in which the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) committed to organize, jointly with the Government of Québec, a world forum on the French language in spring 2012. The Unit is participating in preparations for the forum. The first meeting was held in November 2010 and was attended by OIF, civil society organizations involved with La Francophonie and CIDA's Franchophonie Unit. The Francophonie Unit actively promoted inclusiveness of linguistic minorities and appreciation OLMCs efforts in development, in Canada and abroad. In February 2011, CIDA launched the International Aboriginal Youth Internships (IAYI) initiative to provide internship opportunities to 140 Aboriginal youth each year to work in developing countries. The initiative was widely promoted across Canada, including in key Aboriginal youth population areas of Quebec, Ontario and Yukon, with the cooperation of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, through all school boards and territorial band councils. The Initiative is open to applicants from 18 to 35 years of age and will offer internships with selected Canadian partners in four developing countries―three in the Caribbean plus Mali. During 2010-2011, CIDA's International Youth Internship Program (IYIP) was supporting the internship programs of 40 Canadian organizations, including Comité de solidarité/Trois Rivières, Centre de solidarité international du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Oxfam-Québec for its projects in Africa, Asia and Central America. IYIP  not only supports development initiatives but also builds global awareness of Canada's linguistic profile. Interns from across Canada, including OLMCs, share Canadian culture with local contacts and, in doing so, raise global awareness of Canada's linguistic profile.	Cultural linkages were established between Canadian and global Francophonie communities and there is increased awareness of the development contributions made by Francophone OLMCs.
CIDA's programs adopt an approach that accommodates the status of OLMCs.	In 2010-2011, the Canadian Francophonie Scholarship Program (CFSP) distributed scholarships to Francophone universities and colleges, 24 percent of which are located outside of Quebec. Recipient organizations were Université de Moncton, in New Brunswick, Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface, in Manitoba, and Université d'Ottawa and Université  Saint-Paul, in Ottawa. Students from 37 Francophone countries learned about life in OLMCs in Canada. Students in OLMCs learned about life in developing Francophone countries and increased their interest in international development.	Students from Francophone countries learned about life in OLMCs in Canada; students in OLMCs learned about life in developing Francophone countries and increased their interest in international development.

F. Accountability

Activities carried out to achieve the targeted outcome	Outputs	Progress made in achieving the targeted outcome	Expected result
Corporate planning and the accountability structure take into account the development of OLMCs.	In January 2011, CIDA's management board formally approved the CIDA Official Languages Strategic Action Plan―April 2010-March 2013. The plan commits CIDA to specific action items for official languages and Section 41 of the Act around leadership, communication awareness building, liaison and monitoring. During 2010-2011, quarterly progress reports were prepared and the first annual review report is in progress. CIDA is carrying out a three-year action plan (2009-2012) for implementation of Section 41 of the Act and has produced two annual progress and results reports against the plan. Official languages issues, including Section 41 of the Act, are raised and discussed at senior management committees and groups at the branch level on an ongoing basis. The OLAC provides advice to senior management on matters related to official languages. The CIDA general Terms and Conditions for International Development Aid document, including clauses relating to the implementation of official languages, is currently undergoing revision.	Better mainstreaming of OLMC views and of Section 41 of the Act in strategic planning.	Full integration of the OLMC perspective and Section 41 of the Act into the federal institution's policies, programs and services; the reporting structure and policy reviews determine how to better integrate the perspective of OLMCs.

Communication Plan

Distribution list

When this report is published on the Internet, CIDA will advise the following stakeholders:

• 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
• Provincial and territorial councils
• 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 acadiennes du Canada (FCFA)
  • Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
  • Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne française (FJCF)
  • Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada (ARC du Canada)
  • Association mondiale des médecins francophones (AMMF)
  • Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie (FICFA)
  • Réseau des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada (RCCFC)
  • Forum Francophone des Affaires (FFA)
  • Carrefour international de la Presse universitaire francophone (CUPUF)