ARCHIVED – Report on Results 2008-2009: Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act

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Table of Content

General Information
Summary of the Institution’s Contribution to Achieving the Expected Results
Methodology
Detailed Report of Achievements
Distribution List

General Information

Department	Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Web site	www.cic.gc.ca
Minister responsible	The Honourable Jason Kenney
Senior officials responsible for the implementation of Part VII of the Official Languages Act (OLA)	Deputy Minister Richard B. Fadden Champion Claudette Deschênes Assistant Deputy Minister Operations Co-Champion Diane Mikaelsson Director General Human Resources
Departmental mandate	Created in 1994, CIC brings together the government’s immigration and citizenship services in order to promote the ideals shared by all Canadians and help build a stronger Canada. CIC’s mandate is based on the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, enacted in 2002 as a result of major legislative reform, and on the Citizenship Act of 1977. Under the Constitution Act of 1867, immigration is an area of shared jurisdiction with the provinces. In October 2008, the Department received responsibility for implementation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act.
National Coordinator responsible for the implementation of Section 41 of the OLA	Christiane Desautels Manager, Performance Reporting 613‑957‑5932 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1 christiane.desautels@cic.gc.ca
Assistant National Coordinator	Danielle Gaeremynck Analyst, Performance Reporting 613‑957‑9729 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1 danielle.gaeremynck@cic.gc.ca
Regional Coordinators	Maryse O’Neill Regional Program Advisor Atlantic Region 506-452-4081 Maryse.O’Neill@cic.gc.ca Kathleen Hope Human Resources Advisor Ontario Region 416‑954‑7893 Hope.Kathleen@cic.gc.ca Lissette Bonilla Manager, Citizenship Quebec Region 514‑283‑4032 Lissette.Bonilla@cic.gc.ca Kyle Sundstrom Acting/Regional Program Advisor British Columbia and Yukon Region 604‑666‑8908 Kyle.Sundstrom@cic.gc.ca Lynne Belding Program Advisor Prairies and Northern Territories Region 204‑984‑7259 Lynne.Belding@cic.gc.ca

Summary of the Institution’s contribution to achieving the expected results

In 2008–2009, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) pursued its activities to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities (OLMCs) and to promote linguistic duality in Canada. This report describes CIC’s progress in implementing section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA). The progress is assessed against the principle measures identified in the Department’s 2006–2009 Action Plan for Implementing Section 41 [note 1] and against the Government of Canada’s Horizontal Results‑Based Management and Accountability Framework on Official Languages.

In the past year, CIC continued to support immigration to Francophone minority communities (FMCs) in Canada through diverse forums. The Implementation Committee and the economic working group derived from it met several times in 2008–2009 to pursue the implementation of the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities. Regional committees and networks continued to identify priorities and to implement regional action plans to further the Strategic Plan. This collaborative approach between CIC and its partners is essential to the development of FMCs and to achieving our objective of increasing the percentage of French‑speaking immigrants who settle in Canada’s FMCs. With the participation of key stakeholders, CIC continued to promote the recruitment and integration of French‑speaking newcomers into Canadian society. As in previous years, large promotional and recruitment events were held in Paris, Toulouse, Brussels and Tunis in November as part of Destination Canada. These events provided recruitment assistance to Canadian employers.

In light of CIC’s mandate, promoting awareness of the importance of linguistic duality and of OLMC priorities is an integral part of the Department’s work. Through events, discussions and publications, CIC promotes this awareness throughout the Department. An official languages champion was appointed in June 2008, and CIC continues to connect with FMCs and to communicate information and stories on these communities by supporting the publication of newsletters such as FOCUS, a bilingual newsletter in the Ontario Region, and by publishing articles in internal newsletters across the Department and in Bulletin 41‑42, a publication of Canadian Heritage.

Building on existing programming that supports immigrant needs, in 2008–2009, CIC renewed funding and entered into new contribution agreements with service providers that would directly support FMCs across Canada. The Department funded projects to improve Web sites and develop tools to support the integration of French‑speaking immigrants. It also continued to offer high levels of the French language training through the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program and to offer a broad range of immigrant services through the Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program (ISAP) and the Host Program. Also, the call for proposals for CIC’s Settlement Program was distributed through FMC networks. At the provincial/territorial level, negotiations on a first agreement with the Northwest Territories are under way, and official languages clauses will be negotiated.

In 2008–2009, CIC developed guidelines on the official languages complaints resolution process. It also worked to improve the integration of official languages considerations into the development and implementation of policies and programs.

Finally, CIC’s Quebec Region held consultations last year with representatives of English‑speaking communities to share ideas and information and to discuss possible initiatives.

Methodology

Canadian Heritage (PCH) has established the following categories of activity to standardize the structure for departmental action plans and results‑based status reports: awareness, consultation, communications, coordination and liaison, funding and program delivery, and accountability.

The following is a short description of the categories of intervention, along with the expected results:

Awareness: Internal activities aimed at making employees and managers aware of their responsibilities with regard to section 41 of the OLA
Expected result: All CIC employees and managers are aware of and understand their responsibilities with regard to section 41 of the OLA.
Consultation: Sharing of ideas and information with OLMCs to better understand respective priorities and mandates, and to identify areas for OLMC development
Expected result: Lasting relationships are formed between CIC and OLMCs.
Communications: Provision of information to OLMCs about CIC programs and policies that could support them; provision of information (externally) to promote the bilingual character of Canada
Expected result: OLMC culture reflects an up‑to‑date understanding of CIC’s mandate.
Coordination and liaison: Cooperation and liaison (joint research, meetings, etc.) within CIC, with other federal institutions, and with other levels of government
Expected result: CIC cooperates with multiple partners and shares best practices.
Funding and program delivery: Implementation of programs and policies (resources, in‑kind, funding, etc.) for OLMCs
Expected result: OLMCs are part of CIC’s regular clientele.
Accountability: Action plans, achievement reports, internal evaluations, policy reviews, etc.
Expected result: CIC fully incorporates section 41 into its programs and policies.

Detailed Report of Achievements

A. Awareness (internal activities)

[Training, information, orientation, awareness, communications activities, etc. conducted internally to raise awareness among employees and management of the federal institution (FI) regarding linguistic duality and the priorities of OLMCs; senior management performance contracts and incentive reward programs; OLMC perspective is taken into account in internal research, studies and investigations.]

Awareness

Expected result

Creates lasting changes in CIC organizational culture; all employees and managers are aware of and understand their responsibilities with regard to section 41 of the OLA and OLMCs.

Activity Carried Out to Achieve Targeted Result	Outputs	Progress Made in Achieving Expected Result
Awareness‑building among CIC staff about the importance of Francophone communities for Canada’s identity as a bilingual country.	CIC developed and implemented an integrated communications strategy for Parts IV, V, VI and VII of the OLA across the Department. The strategy aims to inform employees and managers about their obligations under Parts IV, V, VI and VII and about the tools available to support their work in that regard. Employees and managers were informed about the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities.	Increased awareness and understanding among employees and managers of their responsibilities with regard to section 41 of the OLA and FMCs.
	Managers and employees participated in the Implementation Committee of the CIC‑FMC Steering Committee, in related regional and provincial committees, and in conferences involving government and other stakeholders.
	A message from the Official Languages Champion on the 2007–2008 Report on Results on the Implementation of Section 41 of the OLA was distributed to all CIC employees.
	In the B.C. and Yukon Region, two contributions were made to the regional newsletter about official languages activities carried out in the region. This newsletter is published monthly and is available to all regional CIC staff on the Region’s Intranet site, Webwest.
	In the Ontario Region, the FOCUS newsletter, published three times a year, reflected the work of the federal and provincial governments and raised awareness among federal and provincial government employees of the importance of FMCs.
	The Ontario Region also presented the recruitment strategy for Francophone immigrants to Ontario, developed by the University of Ottawa, at the one‑day colloquium on Francophone immigration, one of the pre‑conference sessions held in connection with the Metropolis conference in Moncton, in April 2008.
	In August 2008, a presentation on the progress made under Parts IV, V, VI and VII was given at a meeting of CIC’s Management Accountability Committee.
	An awareness campaign was carried out at CIC to ensure a consistent approach to collecting data on first official language used as defined in the Strategic Plan.
	In April 2008, an article was published in CIC’s electronic Hot Issues Bulletin to inform visa officers abroad about Francophone immigration outside Quebec and to remind them of the 4.4% objective.

B. Consultation (sharing of Ideas and Information with OLMCs)

[Activities (e.g. committees, discussions, meetings) allowing the FI to consult OLMCs and exchange or dialogue with them to identify their needs and priorities or to understand the possible ramifications for their development; activities (e.g. round table meetings, working groups) to explore possibilities of cooperation under the FI’s current mandate or as part of the development of a new program or policy; participation in OLMC consultations coordinated by other government institutions; consultation of OLMCs by regional offices to identify their concerns and needs.]

Consultation

Expected result

Creation of lasting relationships between CIC and OLMCs; CIC and OLMCs understand each other’s needs and mandates.

Activities Carried Out to Achieve Targeted Result	Outputs	Progress Made in Achieving Expected Result
Implementation of the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities.	CIC sits on provincial committees in the three provinces of the Prairies and Northern Territories Region, which include representatives of the federal and provincial governments and minority communities. The Region also funds a provincial immigration coordinator position in the Association canadienne‑française de l’Alberta.	Better understanding of the needs and mandates of OLMCs and CIC, and moving forward with a collective approach.
	CIC is a regular participant in the British Columbia Interdepartmental Network of Official Languages Coordinators, which is chaired by the Canadian Heritage.
	A meeting of the economic working group of the Implementation Committee was held, including Industry Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Regroupement de développement économique et d’employabilité [coordinating group on economic development and employability] (RDÉE), and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA).
	In December 2008, CIC gave a presentation on immigration and FMCs at a meeting of the Comité tripartite des conseils scolaires francophones du Canada.
	CIC made a presentation on Francophone immigration and the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities in February 2009 at the Colloque atlantique sur l’immigration francophone and, in March 2009, to the National Committee of Economic Development and Employability.
	B.C.and Yukon Region attended the annual general meeting of the Fédération francophone de la Colombie‑Britannique (FFCB) and discussed immigration priorities as they relate to the Francophone community. CIC also attended a number of other events held by the FFCB, such as the launches of the regional Francophone telephone book and the Connection Centre for Francophone Immigrants.
Consultations with members of academia, government, and civil society to take stock of Francophone immigration and its impact on Canada.	Meetings were held with representatives of Metropolis and research partners in other federal institutions (Canadian Heritage, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, Statistics Canada) to discuss Francophone immigration issues. CIC also held meetings with the Association des universités francophones du Canada, the Regroupement des cégeps et des collèges francophones du Canada, and the RDÉE.	Increased knowledge of FMCs’ experiences and needs in order to inform the development of policies, publications and tools.
	CIC consulted partners in other federal institutions to update the publication A Look at Canada to add a focus on Canada’s history of linguistic duality.
	In the B.C.and Yukon Region, CIC attended an official language outreach session in Nanaimo in January 2009 that involved the Francophone community from Vancouver Island. CIC also presented its mandate and strategic priorities as they relate to the development of FMCs and to other official languages commitments.
	In Ontario, a series of workshops based on the Business Transformation Enablement Program (BTEP) model developed by Treasury Board were held to apply that approach in order to better coordinate programs under the Francophone initiative.
	CIC attended several meetings with the Province of New Brunswick Population Growth Secretariat and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to discuss a four‑year project funded under the Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality 2008–2013 in order to improve the attraction, recruitment, integration and retention of Francophone newcomers to Francophone areas of the province. FMCs attended the Atlantic Region Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies conference held in P.E.I., in the fall of 2008.
	In New Brunswick, FMCs attended a capacity‑building conference in Fredericton in February 2009 that focused on enhancing services for newcomers.	Exchange of information with FMCs on their networks’ mandate and related projects implemented in response to identified needs.
	CIC consulted with the FCFA to update the list of Francophone communities outside Quebec based on the presence of Francophone educational institutions.
	In Ontario, the Francophone Local Immigration Networks planned three forums aimed at taking stock of the specific needs of Francophone communities and at presenting the networks’ work on specific projects undertaken to meet those needs.
	Representatives of FMCs were invited to participate in the consultations on the implementation of the Budget Implementation Act, 2008, (Bill C‑50) regarding changes to the skilled worker class.
	CIC developed a partnership with the RDÉE to facilitate the recruitment of Francophone immigrants. In the fall of 2008, representatives from CIC and Espace Emploi international met with the Atlantic provincial governments to discuss their needs and promotional activities in view of their participation in Destination Canada. CIC consulted and involved the RDÉEs in Atlantic Canada and at the national level in preparation of Espace Emploi’s tour.
	CIC consulted informally with key stakeholders in the Francophone community in the B.C. and Yukon Region, such as the Association Francophone du Yukon, the Collège Educacentre, the Canadian Parents for French and the FFCB.
Consultations with members of academia, government, and civil society to take stock of OLMCs and their impact on Canada.	In the Quebec Region, consultations took place with representatives of English‑speaking communities, notably the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), to share ideas and information and to discuss possible initiatives for consideration in the CIC Official Languages Action Plan, within the context of the Canada‑Quebec Accord on Immigration.	Increased knowledge of OLMCs’ priorities and mandates in order to inform the development of policies, publications and tools.

C. Communications (provision of information to OLMCs)

[External communications activities designed to inform OLMCs of FI activities, programs and policies, and to promote the bilingual character of Canada; FI includes OLMCs on all information and distribution lists; FI uses its Web site to communicate with OLMCs.]

Communications

Expected result

OLMC culture reflects an up‑to‑date understanding of CIC’s mandate; OLMCs receive up‑to‑date and relevant information about CIC programs and services (P&S).

Activities Carried Out to Achieve Targeted Result	Outputs	Progress Made in Achieving Expected Result
Information and tools regarding OLMCs are improved and disseminated.	Profiles of Francophone communities were added to the CIC Web site. Work is under way to improve the section on Francophone immigration.	Immigrants looking to settle in Francophone communities are better informed about FMCs, and people in OLMCs have improved access to up‑to‑date and relevant information and resources across Canada.
	CIC has developed comprehensive material to position the Department to better communicate how its activities are enhancing the vitality of FMCs. CIC is now well positioned to couple messaging on attraction and retention efforts for FMCs with settlement announcements, where appropriate.
	CIC updated and posted on its Web site material to better inform immigrants who are considering settling in FMCs and those who have already arrived about where they can go for services (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/ francophone/index.asp). The Web content is now being reworked in order to reach the target audience of potential immigrants before they actually submit their immigration application so that are more aware of opportunities for living in FMCs.
	CIC contributed two articles to Bulletin 41‑42, Vol. 14, No. 3 (Fall 2008)—one on promotion and recruitment of French‑speaking immigrants, the other on the Metropolis retreat on immigration and diversity in FMCs. This publication was shared internally and externally.
	B.C. and Yukon Region submitted an article about the launch of the Connection Centre for Francophone Immigrants, which has been published in the Winter-Spring 2009 issue of Bulletin 41‑42.
	In the B.C. and Yukon Region, CIC and the FFCB worked together to produce quarterly updates on Francophone immigration for the Francophone community.
	The call for proposals for the Settlement Program was distributed through FMC networks.
	Speech modules were developed for citizenship judges. All speeches by citizenship judge are to include references to Canada’s linguistic duality.
	In the spring of 2008, CIC published an article entitled “Immigration: A Concrete Contribution to the Vitality of French‑Speaking Minority Communities” in a special issue of Canadian Issues, a publication of the Association for Canadian Studies, devoted to immigration and diversity in FMCs.
	CIC purchased advertising space at the 2009 edition of Les Rendez‑vous de la francophonie to communicate efforts to attract and retain immigrants to FMCs.
	The bilingual newsletter FOCUS, published in the Ontario Region three times a year, is dedicated to governmental and community initiatives relating to Francophone immigration in Ontario. The newsletter is available on the www.settlement.org and www.etablissement.org Web sites.
	The www.etablissement.org Web site continues to enhance content dedicated to the needs of FMCs.
	The Ontario Region funded the production of a video entitled Découvrir un chez‑soi, which looks at the successes and challenges of integrating Francophone immigrants in Ontario. The video will be streamed on www.établissement,org, and a four‑minute clip was shown at Destination Canada in Paris, Toulouse and Brussels in November 2008.
	In Ontario, CIC funded the Canadian Newcomer Magazine. Its French‑language issues are dedicated to informing and assisting Francophone immigrants.
Through collaborative approaches with provincial and territorial governments and with OLMCs, promotional activities to increase the recruitment and retention of skilled French‑speaking immigrants and students take place across Canada.	CIC negotiated a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with B.C. and Yukon to support the promotion and recruitment of Francophone immigrants.	Improved recruitment and retention of French‑speaking immigrants and students to OLMCs.
	CIC sits on the B.C. French Immigration Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Province and which helps focus efforts in the area of Francophone immigration. Under the MOU, a promotional brochure for B.C. was developed for distribution at Destination Canada events and at other venues.
	CIC has held outreach sessions for participants in the Working Holiday Program from France to help participants explore avenues for remaining in Canada and ultimately becoming permanent residents.
	CIC negotiated an MOU with New Brunswick to support the social and labour market integration of international students at the Université de Moncton, the promotion of employment opportunities to international students, and hiring options for small and medium‑sized enterprises in the province.
	In Ontario, support was provided to Collège Boréal (part of the network for northern Ontario) to actively recruit immigrant students and to work with the employment and social services sector in Sudbury to help students settle in northern Ontario.
	Collège Boréal has worked with employers to provide placements for students in their bridge‑to‑work programs. The college’s multidisciplinary centres in Toronto and Hamilton have provided language‑in‑the‑workplace programs to Francophone immigrants. The college has also provided English language‑in‑the‑ workplace programs to Francophone immigrants through a combination of online and in‑class delivery models.
	Support was provided to the Corporation néo‑canadienne de développement et de leadership (COCDEL) to recruit French‑speaking immigrants to rural communities by promoting employment opportunities in those areas.
	The Quebec Region participated in a public service job fair in Sherbrooke that Anglophone students from Bishop’s University were invited to attend. Over 800 students participated in the event and found out about career opportunities in the public service.	Students from Anglophone minority communities are better informed about employment opportunities in Quebec.
Through collaborative approaches with provincial and territorial governments and with FMCs, promotional activities to increase the recruitment of skilled French‑speaking immigrants and students take place in French‑speaking countries around the world.	As part of Destination Canada, large promotional and recruitment events were held in November 2008 in Paris, Toulouse, Brussels and Tunis. The European events, which were hosted by the Canadian embassy in Paris, the provinces and territories, the FCFA and Francophone associations from across Canada, brought together 28 Canadian employers from various provinces and drew more than 2,400 participants.	Potential French‑speaking immigrants and people in FMCs receive up‑to‑date and relevant information about CIC programs and services with a view to recruiting more immigrants and students.
	CIC signed MOUs with Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the northern territories to support foreign recruitment trips. CIC also signed an MOU with Alberta to stimulate that province’s recruitment of French‑speaking students from Francophone countries.
	CIC’s Atlantic Region signed MOUs with New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador for the participation of representatives from Francophone communities and economic sectors at Destination Canada.
	Ontario participated in Destination Canada with the firm Hatch, which posted a number of employment offers on the Destination Canada Web site.
	In March 2009, the Association des universités de la francophonie canadienne participated in the Salon de l’étudiant in Paris and in an information session of the Canadian cultural centre to promote education opportunities at Francophone universities in Ontario.

D. Coordination and Liaison

(No funding – Internal coordination and liaison with other government institutions)
[Coordination activities (research, studies, meetings, etc.) carried out by the FI with other government institutions or other levels of government; participation in activities held by other FIs, other levels of government, etc.; participation of OL. champions, national and regional coordinators, etc. in various government forums.]

Coordination and Liaison

Expected result

CIC cooperates with multiple partners to enhance the vitality of OLMCs and to support and assist their development, and to share best practices.

Activities Carried Out to Achieve Targeted Result	Outputs	Progress Made in Achieving Expected Result
Meeting of the CIC – FMC Steering Committee, the Implementation Committee and regional steering committees.	CIC cooperated with multiple stakeholders through the CIC‑FMC Steering Committee, the Implementation Committee and regional sub‑committees. Federal, provincial and territorial governments and FMCs contribute their perspectives on the needs of FMCs.	Commitment and shared vision from partners in Francophone communities, in federal departments and at other levels of government to enhance the vitality of FMCs and to support and assist their development.
	Three working groups were created at the February 2008 meeting of the Implementation Committee—international, social, and economic. The economic working group met in December 2008.
Provincial and regional committees put in place to identify the needs and priorities for OLMCs and the implementation of the Strategic Plan.	Regional committees consisting of representatives from other federal departments, the provinces and Francophone organizations were formed and funded in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta to identify regional priorities.	Greater coordination of activities developed across Canada and sharing of best practices.
	In the Quebec Region, CIC is represented on the Quebec Federal Council Sub‑Committee on Official Languages. The mandate of this committee is to ensure that federal institutions adhere to their obligations with regard to the OLA, including section 41.
	The Quebec Region has organized a working session with the QCGN and the Canadian Practice Firms Network (CPFN) to discuss possible areas of collaboration. The CPFN is considering different projects that could provide training opportunities to residents of rural areas, including Anglophones.
	The Quebec Region organized a meeting with CIC’s Metropolis Secretariat to explore research themes for the benefit of the province’s Anglophone communities.
	The regional sub‑committee in Ontario for Francophone immigration, made up of representatives from the federal and provincial governments, as well as community representatives, held two meetings in 2008–2009. The sub‑committee continues to work on implementing its vision for the Francophone community and on the objectives defined in the Strategic Plan.
	The B.C.and Yukon Region has a steering committee that identifies and sets key regional priorities based on the Strategic Plan. This committee includes the FFCB and the Province of British Columbia and is currently being restructured.
	In the B.C.and Yukon Region, CIC worked with the FFCB, which consulted with the Francophone community, to develop a new regional five‑year Francophone immigration plan that dovetails with the national Strategic Plan.
	CIC’s Atlantic Region continued to support the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle‑Écosse (FANE), the Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Î.‑P.‑É. and the Fédération des francophones de Terre‑Neuve et du Labrador (FFTNL) in the coordination of the committees in place in each of the respective provinces.
Development of networks to ensure the coordination of the immigration of French‑speaking people to FMCs that want to focus on immigration to enhance their vitality and to support and assist their development.	The three networks implemented in eastern, south‑western and northern Ontario continued to implement projects based on the priorities for the Francophone community identified in 2007–2008—organizational capacity‑building and economic integration of immigrants. Meetings have been organized with Francophone organizations to provide them with information on applying for funding. The networks are working with employers to encourage them to hire qualified Francophone immigrants.	Partnerships among organizations are created to build a continuum of services to support the integration of immigrants.
	In November 2008, presentations were made to the provinces by the immigration manager at the Canadian embassy in Paris and by a representative of the French government agency Pôle Emploi International during a meeting of the federal‑provincial economic working group. The presenters later met with employers and with Francophone school boards in Ontario to discuss teacher certification.
Inclusion of official languages clauses in all new and renewed federal‑provincial/territorial agreements on immigration.	In 2008–2009, CIC entered into negotiations on a first agreement with the Northwest Territories. Official languages clauses will be negotiated.	Immigration agreements with provinces/territories are negotiated or renewed and include official languages clauses.
Participation of CIC in various governmental forums.	CIC attended the PCH meetings of national coordinators responsible for implementation of section 41 of the OLA, participated in the Forum on OL Good Practices in December 2008, and held discussions with government partners in the international sector to identify areas for collaboration.	Coordination and collaboration with multiple partners.
	CIC participated in the one‑day colloquiums on Francophone immigration, held in connection with the Metropolis conferences in Moncton in April 2008 and in Calgary in March 2009. Both events focussed on immigration and diversity in FMCs.
	CIC participated in the second annual forum of the Pacific Federal Council’s Official Languages Committee in November 2008.
	In the Atlantic Region, CIC participated in the Colloque atlantique sur l’immigration francophone of the Société Nationale de l’Acadie, which took place in February 2009, in Truro, Nova Scotia. This event gave stakeholders in the Francophone immigration sector from the four Atlantic provinces an opportunity to discuss and share ideas about various immigration issues in Atlantic Acadia.
	Three workshops based on the BTEP model were organized by CIC in Ontario to analyse the programs of federal and provincial government departments to streamline services offered to Francophones.	Better coordination of services offered to Francophone communities in Ontario through an application of the BTEP model.

E. Funding and Program Delivery

[Implementation of P&S by FI; funding of FMC projects by FI alone or in collaboration with other government institutions; integration of FMC needs in P&S delivery.]

Funding and Program Delivery

Expected result

OLMCs are part of CIC’s regular clientele and have adequate access to programs and services; OLMC needs (e.g. geographic dispersion, development opportunities) are taken into account.

Activities Carried Out to Achieve Targeted Result	Outputs	Progress Made in Achieving Expected Result
Funding to provide settlement services targeting French‑speaking immigrants.	CIC continues to fund service provider organizations to deliver ISAP, LINC courses in French, Enhanced Language Training for the labour market, the Host Program, the Settlement Workers in the Schools program (SWIS) and the Resettlement Assistance Program to Francophone clients across Canada.	Francophone immigrants receive French language training to improve their language abilities and their employment opportunities.
	CIC signed a contribution agreement with the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie‑Britannique (under ISAP) to help coordinate the advancement of the regional plan to foster Francophone immigration to B.C.
	In the Atlantic Region, Francophone Host Programs were funded through the Carrefour d’immigration rural in Saint‑Léonard, New Brunswick, the Centre d’accueil des immigrants et immigrantes du Moncton métropolitain (CAIIMM), FANE and the Coopérative d’Intégration Francophone de l’Î.‑P.‑É. An ISAP agreement was also signed with the Carrefour d’immigration rural in Saint‑Léonard.
	The Carrefour d’immigration rural in New Brunswick received funding to deliver the LINC program in northern New Brunswick and to run awareness‑building activities at École Grande‑Rivière in Saint‑Léonard.
	In Ontario, CIC continued to increase its services to Francophone clients by funding Francophone and bilingual organizations to provide direct language and settlement services to immigrants.
	CIC funded projects aimed at improving Web sites in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and at developing tools such as brochures describing the services provided in Francophone communities.
	In the Ontario Region, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is developing a culturally adapted model for cognitive behaviour therapy designed for French‑ and Spanish‑speaking immigrants.	Increased awareness for Canadians and immigrants about integration realities facing Francophone immigrants to Canada.
Funding to promote employment opportunities targeting French‑speaking immigrants.	In Ontario, the COCDEL received funding to promote employment in rural communities.	Francophone immigrants are better informed and find employment opportunities in rural areas.
	Collège Boréal is providing Enhanced Language Training with a workplace component to Francophone immigrants with professions in administration and finance.	Francophone immigrants receive employment commensurate with their education and work experience.
	The project Alternative Career Paths provides information about alternative occupations for educated professionals, including Francophones.
Funding to increase capacity to promote and integrate French‑speaking immigrants.	CIC has a contribution agreement with the Société Nationale de l’Acadie for the development of an action plan for the Atlantic Region.	Improved capacity to support immigration and integration in FMCs.
	CIC has a contribution agreement with the FCFA for the coordination of the Francophone immigration file.
	FANE received funding to continue to build capacity to promote, recruit, settle and integrate French‑speaking newcomers in Acadian and Francophone parts of Nova Scotia. The funding will also be used to raise awareness in the various communities, to ensure coordination and to identify the needs of the communities.
	Kiosks with information on settlement services in French are available at terminals 1 and 3 of Pearson International Airport in Toronto. Refugee reception services are also available at that airport.	French‑speaking immigrants and refugees have access to information about settlement services.
	In Ontario, the online tracking information system for the SWIS program and 211 call centre information and referral services are available in French.
Funding to build awareness of Francophone immigrant needs.	The CAIIMM received funding for awareness‑building activities in the greater Moncton area, such as intercultural sessions for professionals in education.	Awareness about the realities facing Francophone immigrants is raised.
	The Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Île‑du‑Prince‑Édouard received funding for awareness‑building activities in schools and in the community. The funding was also intended to develop tools to improve the integration process, increase retention in rural Francophone communities and raise awareness about the positive impacts of cultural diversity.
	Contribution agreements were signed with the Société franco‑manitobaine (SFM) to support diversity training in FMCs throughout Manitoba, citizenship activities in St. Boniface and improvements to the SFM’s Web site.
	A contribution agreement was signed with the Assemblée communauté fransaskoise to support awareness activities in Francophone communities throughout Manitoba.
	The Caravane de la tolérance, interactive anti‑racism workshops funded with the Alliance Jeunesse‑Famille de l’Alberta Society, were presented in French primary and secondary schools throughout Alberta.
	CIC funded a project with the Northern Alberta Alliance on Racism. Karibuni is a documentary about the settlement experiences of Francophone immigrants in Canada’s western provinces. The video will be translated into English and shown and used in English schools throughout Alberta, giving Anglophone students the opportunity to experience and understand the challenges faced by Francophone newcomers.
	In Ontario, the Francophone networks have identified the needs of the Francophone community and are building awareness about those needs in their areas.
Development and/or enhancement of tools to better serve French‑speaking immigrants.	CIC has funded the development of online French LINC training (levels 3 and 4), the development of curriculum guidelines for French LINC training (levels 5–7), as well as a placement test by the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks.	Tools are developed and enhanced to meet the needs of French‑speaking immigrants.
	In Ontario, the bilingual newsletter FOCUS covered issues relating to Francophone immigration in that province; the etablissement.org Web site continued to enhance content on the needs of FMCs; CIC funded the production of a video entitled Découvrir un chez‑soi, which looks at the successes and challenges of integrating Francophone immigrants in Ontario.	Increased accessibility to knowledge of community, municipal, provincial and federal services in rural areas for new immigrants.
	CIC funded the development of a manual on cultural competencies that will be used to teach intercultural communications.
	Funding was provided to COSTI Immigrant Services for Job Search Workshop (JSW) Support and Training. The delivery component of the JSW program is enhanced through the development of a curriculum in French; training provided in French to JSW facilitators; a Web site, brochures and a newsletter in French; responses in French to client enquiries received at a 1‑800 line; and a French‑language component of the annual JSW and internationally educated professionals conferences.	Immigrants have access to specific information about the vitality of Francophone communities, as well as about the services available to and the settlement issues facing French‑speaking immigrants in Ontario.
	Funding was provided to the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants for two projects: Journey to Mental Health, a project focusing on training sessions with front‑line staff dealing with mental health issues; and for the development of a curriculum for a project targeting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender newcomers. The French content of these projects will be hosted on www.etablissement.org.	Francophone immigrants are using improved mental health services in their own language.
	CIC funded the video Ontario Day‑to‑Day, produced in both English and French, to introduce newcomers to life in Ontario.	French‑speaking immigrants in Ontario receive information in French that meets their needs.
	The Ontario Region’s Host and SWIS program coordinators produced materials in French.
Research on FMCs.	CIC is funding a study on student achievement by the Réseau des Cégeps et des Collèges Francophones du Canada.	Increased knowledge of the factors surrounding the integration of French‑speaking immigrants in Canada.
	In Ontario, the Francophone networks conducted research based on a needs‑analysis of Francophone communities. Their reports include recommendations for the improvement of the settlement process for Francophone immigrants.	Improvement of future strategies for the promotion and retention of French‑speaking immigrants.
	CIC funded a study of Francophone immigrants who have settled in the Atlantic provinces entitled “A Qualitative Profile of Francophone immigrants in Atlantic Canada.”
Development of tools and initiatives to support vulnerable clients (women, youth) with their integration into FMCs.	The SWIS program is now being used in more than 30 schools throughout Canada.	French‑speaking immigrant women and youth have services and tools directed to their needs.
	In the Atlantic Region, CIC contributed funding to the Fédération des jeunes francophones du Nouveau‑Brunswick Incorporée (Moncton) to continue to increase the knowledge and abilities of youths regarding multiculturalism and immigrant youth integration based on three actions: identity building, leadership skills development and community commitment.
	The Collectif des femmes du Nouveau‑Brunswick (Dieppe) received funding to continue to support the integration of women from ethnocultural Francophone communities.
	In Ontario, the group Anti‑délinquance en poésie is developing workshops that use poetry to teach Francophone youth strategies for living in a consumerist culture.	French‑speaking young people are better adapted to the culture of Canada.

F. Accountability

[Activities through which FI integrates its work to implement section 41 of the OLA into its departmental planning and reporting mechanisms (e.g. report on plans and priorities, departmental performance report, departmental business plan, status report for implementation of section 41 of the OLA, etc.); evaluations and internal audits of P&S; regular review of P&S and policies by senior management of FI to ensure implementation of section 41 of the OLA.]

Accountability

Expected result

CIC fully integrates the OLMC perspective and section 41 of the OLA into its policies, programs and services; the reporting structure, internal evaluations, and policy reviews determine how to better integrate OLMCs.

Activities Carried	Outputs	Progress Made in Achieving Expected Result
Strategic planning, reporting, internal evaluations, and policy and program development take into account the development of OLMCs.	The CIC‑FMC Steering Committee, set up in 2002, is a mechanism to ensure that strategic planning and policy and program development take into account the obligation to promote FMCs.	Integration of the FMC perspective and section 41 of the OLA in CIC’s strategic planning, reporting, evaluations, and policy and program development.
	An official languages champion at CIC was appointed in June 2008. The new champion is the co‑chair of the CIC‑FMC Steering Committee.
	CIC started amending the guidelines on the implementation of the language clauses in contribution agreements based on the new settlement program.
	CIC produced an action plan and status reports on the implementation of section 41 of the OLA. CIC’s reports to Parliament included information on the implementation of section 41.
	Minority media were taken into consideration in communications with FMCs.
	Specific performance objectives relating to section 41 of the OLA were included in departmental senior management performance agreements.
	Templates used to prepare memorandums to Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions contained criteria that take into account the obligation to enhance the vitality of FMCs and to support and assist their development.
	CIC developed a draft evaluation grid on implementing Part VII of the OLA to help employees develop or review initiatives, policies and programs.
	The requirements under Part VII of the OLA were included in the Guide to Policy Development and the Regulatory Process at CIC.
	CIC drafted integrated guidelines on the official languages complaints resolution process for Parts IV, V, VI and VII of the OLA.
	CIC provided visa officers with directives that foster dialogue with headquarters on work permit applications for French‑speaking live‑in caregivers going to Francophone employers in FMCs.
Preparation of statistical reports on Francophone immigration.	CIC plans to change the forms and systems to better capture data on official language used once the Global Case Management System has been changed. CIC will continue to explore ways of measuring results.	Better awareness among officers who handle applications from people considering settling in OLMCs.
		Development of options to measure progress towards the 4.4% objective.

Distribution List

Richard B. Fadden, Deputy Minister, CIC
Claudette Deschênes, Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, and Champion for Official Languages
Diane Mikaelsson, Director General, Human Ressources, and Co‑Champion for Official Languages
Andrea Lyon, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy
Kathryn Howard, Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Innovation and Technology
Jamie Pitfield, Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services
Rick Stewart, Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations
Directors general, CIC
CIC coordinators responsible for the implementation of section 41 of the OLA
Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages
Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages
Commissioner of Official Languages
Groups and organizations from OLMCs
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada
Members of the CIC – FMC Steering Committee
Members of the Implementation Committee, Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities

Footnote

[1] CIC’s Action Plan flows in large part from the Strategic Plan to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities. [back to note 1]