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Results-based Plan Briefing Book 2009-10

Office of Francophone Affairs

ISSN# 1718-6625

Ce document est disponible en français

PART I: RESULTS-BASED PLAN 2009-10

Office of Francophone Affairs

MINISTRY OVERVIEW

Overview Statement

The Office of Francophone Affairs' mandate is to oversee the application of the French Language Services Act, work with ministries to ensure that the needs and interests of the Francophone community are taken into account in public policies and programs, and facilitate the participation of the Francophone community in government related initiatives.

Mandate

As steward of the French Language Services Act and main advisor of the government on Francophone Affairs, the Office of Francophone Affairs:

• Sees to the application of the French Language Services Act and works with ministries and agencies to ensure that French-language services are available to the public in designated areas of the province;
• Leads the French-language services implementation planning process in newly designated areas and designates new areas and agencies under the French Language Services Act;
• Provides expert strategic and operational advice to ministries and agencies and develops resources to support them in their efforts to offer and deliver accessible and high quality services;
• Promotes Francophone affairs inside government and partners with key ministries on policy and program initiatives to foster the participation and added-value of the Francophone community in the prosperity of the province;
• Reaches out to the Francophone community and raises the profile of government initiatives that improve the lives of Francophone citizens; and
• Liaises with other jurisdictions on matters relating to the Francophonie and enhances the profile of the province, both at the national and international levels.

Office of Francophone Affairs Organization Chart

Legislation

French Language Services Act.

Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)

Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner

PUBLISHED RESULTS-BASED PLAN 2009-10

The following strategies outline the key activities of the Office of Francophone Affairs in 2009-10:

Key Strategy 1: Modernizing French-language services

Building capacity of French-language services

• Lead final stages of the planning process for the provision of French-language services in the newly designated area of Kingston in preparation for the spring 2009 implementation date.
• Develop and share new resources to support the work of ministries on French-language services.
• Develop a new policy to improve and bring consistency to the practices surrounding designated positions in the OPS.
• Develop a comprehensive review of accountability practices regarding third parties funded to provide French-language services.
• Continue to coordinate the Ontario Government's participation in the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French Language Services and lead the negotiations for the new five-year agreement 2009-2014.

Accountability for results

• Continue to work with ministries to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach to the planning and delivery of quality French-language services and the measurement of results through the results-based planning process and the coordination of the Interministerial French-language Services Performance Measurement Committee's activities.
• Support the work of the Minister's Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs.

Community of practice for excellence in French-language services

• Promote the creation of a community of practice for excellence in French-language services through the organization of regional symposia on best practices, the Ontario Public Service French Language Services Awards of Excellence and professional development opportunities for bilingual professionals.

Key Strategy 2: Promoting Ontario's visibility in Francophone affairs

Provincial and inter-provincial levels

• Work on the continued implementation of agreements on Francophone Affairs and develop new cooperation opportunities with other provinces.
• Continue to strengthen Ontario's leadership role on Francophone affairs at the federal-provincial-territorial level through, active participation in the activities leading to the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie.

National and international levels

• Liaise with other jurisdictions on matters relating to the Francophonie and enhance the profile of the province, both at the national and international levels.
• Work on initiatives for international cooperation in areas such as education, economic development and new technologies.

Key Strategy 3: Contributing to a stronger Francophone community

Leverage key government initiatives

Work with ministries on the development of French-language services for the Francophone community with a primary focus on areas such as health care, community and social services, immigration, economic development, education, and labour market development and training:

• Health – Support the Advisory Committee on French Language Services being established under the Local Health System Integration Act; ensure that the proposed Francophone Community Engagement Regulation is consistent with the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006 and meets the needs of the community.
• Community and Social Services – Support planning of French-language services in the development of a comprehensive Poverty Reduction Strategy and continued implementation of Best Start;

Support implementation of services for Francophone women under the Domestic Violence Action Plan and the Sexual Assault Action Plan;

• Immigration – Support planning of language training programs, settlement services, and supports for internationally trained professionals which meet the needs of French-speaking newcomers;
• Economic Development – Promote the value of the Francophone factor in Ontario's economic sector;
• French Language Services Commissioner – Continue to work closely with the French Language Services Commissioner to improve the delivery of French-language services across government;
• Labour Market Development and Training – Participate in the development of a labour market strategy and implementation of the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement as it relates to French-language services and programs;

Capacity Building initiatives – community development and outreach

• Work with Francophone community organizations on an innovative Youth Engagement Strategy to engage Franco-Ontarian youth and foster a stronger sense of Franco-Ontarian identity; and
• Continue to administer the public education grants program in the area of the prevention of violence against women.

MINISTRY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Ministry Planned Expenditures 2009-10

	Ministry Planned Expenditures ($M) 2009-10
Operating	5.1006
Capital	-

Ministry Planned Expenditures by Program Name 2009-10

OFFICE OF FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS

Operating Summary by Vote

The Office of Francophone Affairs advises government, its ministries and agencies on matters concerning Francophone affairs and the provision of French-language services. It also fosters the Francophone community's participation in Ontario society while supporting its language and culture.

The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner, an agency of the government, investigates compliance with the French Language Services Act, reports on results of investigations and monitors progress of government agencies in providing French-language services.

Vote	Estimates 2009-10 $	Change from 2008-09 Estimates $	Change %	Estimates 2008-09 $	Interim Actuals 2008-09 $	Actuals 2007-08* $
OPERATING
Francophone affairs	4,312,600	(130,000)	(2.9)	4,442,600	4,492,131	4,525,985
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner	788,000	27,000	3.5	761,000	757,977	422,200
Total Including Special Warrants	5,100,600	(103,000)	(2.0)	5,203,600	5,250,108	4,948,165
Less: Special Warrants	--	0	n/a	--	--	--
Total Operating to be voted	5,100,600	(103,000)	(2.0)	5,203,600	5,250,108	4,948,165
Special Warrants	--	0	n/a	--	--	--
Statutory Appropriations	--	--	--	--	--	--
Ministry Total Operating	5,100,600	(103,000)	(2.0)	5,203,600	5,250,108	4,948,165

* Historical data has been re-stated to reflect changes in ministry organization and/or program structure.

APPENDIX I

ANNUAL REPORT 2008-09

The following outlines the Office of Francophone Affairs' major accomplishments in delivering on key priorities:

Key Strategy 1: Modernizing French-language services

• Led the ongoing planning process for the provision of French-language services in Kingston, a newly designated area.
• Set-up a working protocol with ministries to ensure a coordinated response to the French Language Commissioner's first annual report.
• Worked on a number of initiatives that support the integration of French-language services in the Ontario Public Service Modernization Agenda, including the creation of an Interministerial French-language Services Performance Measurement Committee which developed corporate performance measures on French-language services.
• Completed the implementation process of the new FLS Clusters in collaboration with ministries. Under this new structure, FLS Coordination resources are pooled under a new FLS Lead position reporting directly to a lead CAO from each cluster, as well as indirectly to the ADM of the OFA ("dotted line" relationship).
• Initiated a preliminary review of the practices surrounding designated positions in the OPS, with a view to improve consistency in the system, and to develop an approach regarding the designation of strategic positions in the OPS.
• Initiated a preliminary review of accountability practices regarding third parties funded to provide French-language services, with a view to formulate a strategy to correct inconsistencies and close existing "loopholes".
• Developed a new and more inclusive definition of "Francophone", as a follow-up to one of the French Language Services Commissioner's recommendations.
• Piloted a five-day professional development program called French Language Excellence (FLEX), which provided an opportunity for bilingual professionals to pursue specialized professional development in French.
• Led the implementation of the four-year Canada-Ontario Agreement on French Language Services 2005-06 to 2008-09, with an increase of $1.1 million in funding for the period of the Agreement, the first such increase since 1988.
• Led the development and implementation of a new Youth engagement strategy, which included a marketing study of Francophone youth as well as a combination of public announcements, new partnerships with private sector representatives, as well as Ontario ministries. This strategy is a corporate priority for the OFA, and will guide both policy and communication initiatives in 2009, starting with the selection process of provincial projects funded under the new Canada-Ontario Agreement on FLS (pending).

Key Strategy 2: Promoting Ontario's visibility in Francophone affairs

• Organized the 2nd Ontario Francophonie Awards to recognize individuals who have made valuable contributions to the advancement of the French language and culture in Ontario.
• Coordinated an exhibit across the province highlighting 400 years of Franco-Ontarian history.
• Continued to coordinate Ontario's participation in the Francophone Affairs component of the Ontario-Québec Agreement.
• Played a key role in the first joint Ontario-Québec meeting in June 2008. On this occasion, the OFA organized the presentation of a plaque from Ontario to Québec to commemorate the strong ties between the two provinces as part of the overall celebrations of Québec City's 400th anniversary.
• Supported Ontario's participation at the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie.
• Coordinated an interministerial delegation to the 13th Montreal Conference, an international forum focusing on international trends, with an entire day dedicated to the francophonie internationale. This was a first in Ontario.

Key Strategy 3: Contributing to a stronger Francophone community

Worked closely with ministries to maximize benefits for Francophones on implementation of key strategies in education, labour market development and training, health and immigration:

• Education – Provided advice and support on the implementation of the self-governance of TFO (a publicly-funded television channel offering educational and cultural programs in French);
• Labour Market Development and Training – Participated in discussions on the implementation of the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement as it relates to the planning and provision of training services in French;
• Health – Participated in community consultations on the establishment of the Advisory Committee on French-language Services under the Local Health System Integration Act and made recommendations on proposed mandate and membership; provided extensive feedback to the Ministry of Health to ensure that the proposed Francophone Community Engagement Regulation was consistent with the Local Health System Integration Act, 2006 and met the needs of the community; and
• Immigration – Provided advice regarding planning of language training programs and settlement services, and supports for internationally trained professionals for French-speaking newcomers.

Ministry Interim Expenditures

	Ministry Interim Expenditures ($M) 2008-09
Operating	5.2501
Capital	--
Staff Strength (as of March 31, 2009)	26.0