Action Plan for Official Languages – 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future

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Table of contents

List of tables

List of figures

List of acronyms and abbreviations

CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
CEDEC
Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation
CCAF
Community Cultural Action Fund
ESDC
Employment and Social Development Canada
HC
Health Canada
IRCC
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
ISED
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
OLMCs
Official-language minority communities
PCH
Canadian Heritage
RDÉE Canada
Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité

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Action Plan for Official Languages – 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future [PDF version - 2 MB]

Ministers partnering in the Action Plan

  • The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage (responsible for Official Languages)
  • The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
  • The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
  • The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
  • The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
  • The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health
  • The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
  • The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
  • The Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board
  • The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Message from the Prime Minister

English and French, our two official languages, are at the heart of our identity as a country. The contributions of official-language minority communities are vital to Canada's success.

Throughout their history, official-language minority communities have faced considerable challenges. As a French-immersion teacher in Vancouver, I witnessed these challenges myself. In fact, I met many people whose quality of life, sense of belonging and hope of a promising future relied to a great extent upon having access to services, resources and community activities in French.

I am convinced that all Canadians can benefit from having the chance to know and celebrate their two official languages. That's why I have entrusted the Minister of Canadian Heritage with the responsibility of promoting our official languages. I have asked her to work with her colleagues in Cabinet to ensure that all Canadians can expand their horizons, enrich their lives through others and participate in Canada's prosperity, in English and French.

The Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future reflects our government's broad vision of a strong Canadian Francophonie, of Quebec’s vibrant English-speaking communities and a bilingualism that encourages exchange and recognizes our English and French linguistic heritage.

This plan reaffirms our government's commitment to official languages. It is the result of the efforts of numerous dedicated Canadians over many years. On a personal note, I am proud that the plan builds on a legacy that is important to me, as my father, Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, introduced the Official Languages Act in the House of Commons. He said, "We believe in two official languages and in a pluralist society not merely as a political necessity but as an enrichment." Our government believes this as well and will spare no effort to ensure that our official languages continue to play an important role for the benefit of all Canadians.

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

Message from the Minister

Throughout its history, Canada has created an identity all its own—one built on diversity, on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and on linguistic duality. Today, our two official languages, English and French, are both an asset and a source of pride.

As Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for official languages and a French-speaker, I am strongly attached to our official languages and I am aware of the realities of our official-language minority communities. I am committed to building the vitality of these communities and to promoting English and French in all regions of the country.

I sincerely thank all Canadians, as well as all those involved in civil society and the public service, who have worked together to develop the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023.

This plan, supported by our 2018 budget, maintains current funding levels while also adding a historic investment of nearly $500 million over five years in support of official languages. It also includes additional financial resources for successful programs and promising initiatives. This plan supports organizations that, over the past decade, have tirelessly served members of their communities and have remained on course despite the challenges and lack of resources. It also encourages bilingualism while reminding us that our official languages are of great relevance to Canada, today and tomorrow.

The first action plan put in place by the Government in 2003 included the tools and structure necessary to support the vitality of minority communities across the country. Our new plan follows that same spirit, confirming our commitment to protecting official languages. It strengthens the Canadian Francophonie and recognizes the unique characteristics of official-language minority communities in Quebec and across the country. Our communities will be able to continue to grow, develop and contribute to the pride of our citizens. The plan also aims to bring people together, encouraging Canadians to discover the richness of bilingualism and the diversity of both cultures.

I have met thousands of Canadians who have told me their stories and expressed how fundamental their language is to their identity. This plan is action-oriented; with an aim to ensure the sustainability of linguistic communities across the country. On the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act, our Government reaffirms the importance of our linguistic duality and bilingualism as the foundation of the social contract that brings us together.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly

Official languages in Canada

Canada's two official languages, English and French, are at the heart of who we are as Canadians. They are at the centre of our history. Along with Indigenous languages, they are a powerful symbol of our country's diverse and inclusive society. And that is why Canadians across our country — in communities large and small — celebrate our linguistic heritage while continuing to build a strong future by writing, speaking and working in both of Canada's official languages.

Canada was founded with the principle of linguistic duality at the heart of Confederation, signaling the commitment of English- and French-speaking Canadians to work together to make our country thrive. This is why language rights for all Canadians are enshrined in law through the Constitution, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Official Languages Act. This is why we support the vitality of official-language minority communities and celebrate the voices they bring to our country's landscape. This is why we believe the Government of Canada must do more to support our Canadian Francophonie, which is a source of pride for our country. This is also why we support and encourage second-official-language learning — because we believe that a more bilingual Canada better respects our official-language minority communities, enriches our culture and enhances our economic competitiveness.

In 2018, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act, Canada's official languages are more relevant than ever. They bring us together and set us apart from other places in the world. They are languages we use at home, at the office and the hockey rink — and as we forge ahead in the 21st century, our two official languages will remain essential tools for integration, inclusion, learning and dialogue.

Population trends: Government action

In Canada, we have more than 1 million Francophones living outside Quebec and over 1.1 million Anglophones living in Quebec. While these populations are vibrant and continue to grow, some of the trends are concerning, including:

  • A decline in the percentage of Francophones outside Quebec.
  • Challenges facing English-speaking rural communities in Quebec.
  • Slow growth of bilingualism among English-speaking Canadians outside of Quebec.

Despite a sustained government commitment to support official languages in Canada, existing investments are not enough to reverse these trends. We need to take further action. That is why the Prime Minister has instructed the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, to develop a new action plan for official languages to invest in the future of our linguistic duality and our bilingualism.

Decline in the percentage of Francophones outside of Quebec

Statistics Canada projections show the percentage of Francophones outside of Quebec declining from 4% in 2011 to 3% by 2036.

Slow growth of bilingualism

Statistics Canada projects that the national bilingualism rate will go from 17.5% in 2011 to 18.5% in 2036, while the rate of bilingualism of Anglophones outside of Quebec will go from 6.6% to 6.7% for the same period.

Listening to Canadians

Our Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future is inspired by what we heard during our cross-Canada consultations, which we held from June to December 2016. More than 6,500 Canadians joined the conversation through 22 roundtables in various cities as well as through an online survey and written submissions. We also took parliamentarians' views into account.

More than 350 people and 130 observers attended 22 roundtables held in our country's main regions, six of which were also live webcasts.

Nearly 6,375 people voiced their perceptions and comments through a digital online interface with a short questionnaire.

More than 100 briefs and letters were submitted by representative and community organizations, people, experts and institutions.

The three networks of representative organizations and other stakeholders attended a one-day event of discussions with the Minister of Canadian Heritage and her parliamentary secretary.

As presented in Canadian Heritage's Final Report on 2016 Cross-Canada Official Languages Consultations released in June 2017, Canadians told us what they were worried about. Their concerns included the escalating costs that need to be borne by community organizations, the lack of community spaces, and difficulties by minority media outlets as they adapt to digital communications. We also heard about ongoing challenges with delivering public- and private-sector services for minority-language speakers.

From Francophone communities, we heard about the challenges they face because of the declining percentage of Francophones in communities outside Quebec. They suggested the need for more immigration, especially the integration of French-speaking immigrants into Francophone communities to reverse the trend. They also told us they would like to see enhanced Francophone child care opportunities to tackle the issue.

At the same time, we also heard about the challenges that English-speaking communities in Quebec are facing, particularly outside Greater Montréal.

Canadians of all backgrounds told us that they wanted to see greater promotion of bilingualism by the Government, including tools to learn a second official language at any age. They also applauded the role of official languages in bringing Canadians together and providing unique opportunities for dialogue and cultural exchange.

"The language of Canada is French; the language of Canada is English. Both of them. I like to think that I can go to Vancouver and meet Francophones there that I can speak French with, and vice versa, across Canada, and speak English here. I would like to think the federal government shares that vision. It's a vision I hope doesn't get eroded."

Matthew Farfan, Executive Director of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network, Sherbrooke Roundtable, August 5, 2016

Our Government's commitment to a new Action Plan: Investing in Our Future

Since the fall of 2015, we have met regularly with official-language stakeholders to hear their concerns. The discussion led to our Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023: Investing in Our Future, which rests on the following commitments:

  • Strengthening partnerships with official-language stakeholders, communities and organizations.
  • Investing new funding for official languages to address the concerns raised in the consultation and through our analysis of the data.
  • Demonstrating greater transparency and accountability in government funding and favouring evidence-based and grassroots-driven policy decisions.

These commitments will continue to guide our government-wide approach as the Minister of Canadian Heritage continues to improve coordination of official languages issues, together with the Privy Council Office, the Treasury Board Secretariat and the Department of Justice.

In 2003, the Government of Canada introduced the first Action Plan for Official Languages, which laid the foundation by investing in education and government services. These investments were maintained in the 2008 and 2013 Roadmaps. Since then, the Government has continued to support official languages with permanent funding for dedicated programs and initiatives in some 15 government departments and agencies, for a total of $2.2 billion over a five-year period.

Our new Action Plan builds on this foundation — offering communities the tools they need not only to deliver on existing programs, but to seize new opportunities to grow, invest and strengthen services. Our Action Plan announces the first real additional investment in official languages since 2003. Together with the resources we already announced in 2017, we will add $499.2 million over five years to the ongoing $2.2 billion to set the course for stronger, more vibrant communities across Canada. This includes nearly $90 million in initiatives that we have introduced over the last two years — and brings the total planned federal investment for official languages to a historic $2.7 billion over five years starting in 2018–2019.

Figure 1.1: Federal investments in official languages

A line graph presents the evolution of federal funding for official languages by 5-year periods starting in 2003.
Federal investments in official languages - Text version

The graph shows that, starting from an historical base of $1.1 billion over 5 years before 2003, the 2003 Action Plan progressively added some 800 million over the 2003 to 2008 period. The total investment for that 5 year period reached 1.9 billion.

The graph shows that this growing investment plateaued at $1.1 billion over 5 years for the 2008-2013 and the 2013-2018 Roadmaps. The total federal investments reached $2.2 billion for each of these two 5-year period.

Finally, the graphs shows the new Action Plan adds to this base approximately $500 million over the 2018-2023 period, bringing the total federal investment to $2.7 billion over 5 years.

Over the last two years, we have taken tangible actions that will help official languages and minority communities. This includes:

  • Reinstating a modernized Court Challenges Program.
  • Restoring the long-form census.
  • Appointing bilingual judges to the Supreme Court.
  • Prioritizing the immigration of French-speakers to Canada.
  • Launching a review of the regulations governing access to federal government services in both official languages.
  • Restoring the Collège militaire royal in St-Jean as a full degree-granting institution.
  • Launching the Corridor patrimonial, culturel et touristique francophone app and mobile site to boost tourism and the discovery of our communities.
  • Prioritizing organizations that support opportunities for official-language minority communities through the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs program.
  • New investments were committed to:
    • Community and educational infrastructure ($80 million over 10 years).
    • French-language services in the three territories ($60 million).
    • Green jobs for young people working in their second official language ($1.2 million).

Our new Action Plan will help Canada achieve measurable, evidence-based goals supporting the vitality of official-language minority communities and the bilingualism of Canadians. It presents new initiatives and key investments under three pillars:

  1. Strengthening our communities
  2. Strengthening access to services
  3. Promoting a bilingual Canada

Pillar 1: Strengthening our communities

In 1971, Francophones in minority communities outside Quebec made up 6.1% of the population. In 2016, that number fell to 3.8% — the first time it had dipped below 4%. Statistics Canada projects that, unless we take action, there will be a further decline to 3% by 2036. We are taking action to stabilize this proportion at 4%, by supporting a strong, stable, secure Canadian Francophonie. Our new Action Plan will also support the vitality of English-speaking communities in Quebec, especially those outside the Greater Montréal area.

Over the last 150 years, Canadians have gathered together in towns and cities across our country to create community organizations to advocate for their rights. They have fought to gain access to education, institutions and services in their official language. Today, there are now over 350 national, provincial, territorial and local community organizations working directly to build up official-language minority communities, promote bilingualism and help people learn a second language. These networks include 130 cultural organizations, 24 youth groups and 13 parent associations. There are also 20 English-speaking community health networks in Quebec and 16 Francophone networks in the other provinces and territories, which work with health institutions and service providers to improve people's access to health services in minority communities. There are also organizations in each province and territory that help promote entrepreneurship, skills and economic development in minority communities. And there are close to 120 community radio stations and newspapers in every province and territory — and about 100 community and cultural centres across our country.

Empowering community voices

Increasing core funding for organizations

New: Increase core funding to community organizations by $70 million:
Canadian Heritage: $57.37 million
Health Canada: $4.4 million
Employment and Social Development Canada: $4.5 million
Justice Canada: $3.75 million

Total of $320 million in community support over 5 years

During our consultations, we heard that the lack of investment in official-language community organizations over the past decade was a pressing problem. The last time community organizations got an increase in their core funding was in 2003. This has made it hard for those organizations to carry out their important roles.

"At the present time, the community sector does not have the means to reach everyone to meet their needs, develop new programs, and succeed in continuing to encourage the vitality of the Francophone community. We often cover a fair amount, whether in smaller communities, because there is proximity, or in larger centres, because there are numbers. But I think we serve a fraction of the Francophone population, and the Francophone community deserves better than that."

France-Emmanuelle Joly, President of Réseau-Femmes, Colombie-Britannique

As a result, our new Action Plan will increase the core funding of organizations by $70 million over five years, to more than $320 million. This will help build up the not-for-profit organizations that develop English- and French-speaking minority communities and the people who are promoting and supporting second-language learning.

Of the additional funding, $57.37 million over five years will go to Canadian Heritage's envelope to increase existing core funding for organizations working in community development, cultural and second-language learning networks. We will work closely with these community organizations to determine how best to distribute the additional funds.

Health Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will provide increases to existing core funding for organizations working to support minority-language community health and economic development. Finally, the Action Plan will provide $3.75 million over five years to allow Justice Canada to re-establish core funding for eligible organizations working in the field of access to justice for official-language minority communities.

We have also streamlined and accelerated our grants and contributions processes — to cut red tape for community organizations. We have introduced multi-year funding agreements and new service standards. We are also putting a simplified and seamless online funding application process in place.

Solidifying economic development efforts

Without a strong local economy, communities do not grow, flourish and attract new and talented workers. Those flourishing local economies create the conditions necessary for community vitality.

That is why, with our new Action Plan ESDC will increase existing core funding by $4.5 million over five years for community organizations working in economic development such as the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité (RDÉE Canada) and the Community Economic Development and Employability Corporation (CEDEC). We will also continue to invest $80.5 million over five years in programs to increase local capacity, develop literacy and essential skills, and support economic development projects in official-language minority communities.

As well, our government, through its regional economic development agencies, will continue to invest $30.5 million over five years towards the economic development of official-language minority communities across the country. As a key economic development initiative we will continue to strengthen innovation, entrepreneurship, partnerships and diversification of economic activities in official-language minority communities.

Supporting community media and the next generation of media professionals

New: $14.5 million in community media:

  • $10 million to support collaborative community media projects
  • $4.5 million to create media internships for the next generation of media professionals

Community radio, newspapers and other media outlets are an important way communities hear their own voices and tell their own stories.

  • We are creating a $10 million Community Media Strategic Support Fund over the next five years to give financial support to projects that help sustain official-language minority community media — both radio and newspapers.
  • We are increasing funding by $4.5 million over five years to Young Canada Works at Building Careers in English and French, which will create 35 internships at English- and French-language minority community radio stations or newspapers. This will enable students and recent graduates to hone their skills as the next generation of media professionals.
  • We will also continue to support official-language minority community print publications through the Canadian Periodical Fund.

"In a linguistic minority context, it is extremely important to highlight the wonderful variety inherent in the French language; to hear the different French accents all across Canada or read the various turns of phrase that provide such richness to our language. We have our local media to thank for our ability to keep our accents, which are a true treasure of our French language."

Sue Duguay, young adult in New Brunswick (and Vice-President of the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française (2017-2018))

Creating a dedicated fund for English-speaking communities in Quebec

New: More than $5 million to support initiatives for English-speaking communities in Quebec

Members of the English-speaking communities of Quebec, particularly the more than 215,000 people who live outside of the Greater Montréal region, have mentioned the unique challenges they face to maintain a community life.

We will create a new dedicated fund of $5.3 million over five years for English-speaking communities in Quebec that will support community initiatives. The fund will help community organizations identify needs and find sustainable ways to deliver services to English speakers in various regions and sectors. This could include helping rural communities and vulnerable populations improve access to youth employment, home care, mental health services and end-of-life care.

"[Programs are] officially available to the English-speaking community of Quebec […] but they're not specifically designed for them. We really need programs that address local realities and local challenges and local opportunities."

Grant Meyers, Vice-President of the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network, Sherbrooke Roundtable, August 5, 2016

Welcoming the Government of Quebec's new Secretariat for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers

The Government of Canada applauds the Government of Quebec's creation of the Secretariat for Relations with English-speaking Quebecers. We will cooperate with this new body and continue to work with the Government of Quebec on ways to support Quebec's English-speaking minority communities.

Empowering community organizations to seize new opportunities

New: $10 million to strengthen strategic investment capacity

It is important for communities to have the ability to seize opportunities as they arise. In the past, this has resulted in the creation of such major events as the Congrès mondial acadien and the Jeux de la francophonie canadienne, exceptional community mobilization efforts, and promotional projects like the Corridor patrimonial, culturel et touristique francophone that will help multiple communities across our country. Our new Action Plan will provide the Official Languages Support Programs at Canadian Heritage with $10 million in new funding over five years for strategic investments.

Investing in more community gathering spaces

New: More than $95 million in community spaces

Another theme we heard was that people want more places to gather together. Canadians feel, and we agree, that bringing people together to celebrate and converse is one of the best ways we can help our cultures and languages thrive.

That is why our new Action Plan will invest $67.3 million in new funding over five years for the construction of community educational and cultural infrastructure in official-language minority communities. This is in addition to the 2017 Budget announcement of $80 million over 10 years for community infrastructure ($28 million for 2018-2023) in these communities.

This increased funding will help communities build new educational centres and cultural community centres, renovate and upgrade existing community infrastructure, and add multi-purpose spaces in more community centres. This will create more spaces for skills training, daycare services, community programming and cultural performances.

"I can't put into words how important it is to have a physical space where Francophones can gather, such as a cultural centre. A place like that, that brings together organizations, is somewhere everyone wants to go, to interact and live life en français."

Noah Rondeau, Member of the Board of Directors of the Francophone Youth Council of British Columbia, Victoria Roundtable, July 5, 2016

Investing in early learning and child care: Better access for families

New: $20 million in child care:

  • to support professional learning opportunities and training for early childhood educators
  • to support entrepreneurs in opening more Francophone daycares and child care services

For Francophone parents in a minority setting, passing their language on to their children can be challenging. This is especially true if only one of the parents is fluent in French. To help children learn their language, develop language skills and gain fluency, we need to provide child care in French. It is also a matter of nurturing culture and identity building.

That is why in June 2017, federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for early learning and child care agreed to a historic Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework. The framework will help improve quality, accessibility, affordability, flexibility and inclusivity in early learning and child care across our country. We will provide provinces and territories with $1.2 billion over three years. This will improve the availability of Francophone early learning and child care services outside Quebec. For example, New Brunswick has committed to increasing access to spaces in early learning and child care by 10%, of which 40% will be for the Francophone population of New Brunswick over the next three years. Prince Edward Island will also invest in increased Francophone early learning supports.

The Government will also provide $20 million over five years for early childhood development daycares and child care services in French in minority communities. In conjunction with organizations like the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne, the Commission nationale des parents francophones and the Réseau de développement économique et d'employabilité, Employment and Social Development Canada will support professional training and capacity-building for child care workers and foster the development of start-up capacities by early childhood educators to open more daycares and child care services in French in minority communities.

"Studies clearly show that the ability to pass on the French language remains as difficult as ever in Canada's minority communities. Among British Columbia's Francophones, four out of five children will be assimilated before kindergarten. This is huge."

Marie-Pierre Lavoie, Fédération des parents francophones de la Colombie-Britannique, Vancouver Roundtable, September 9, 2016

Investing in culture

Arts and cultural initiatives help bring communities – and our country – together. They act as catalysts, strengthening the vitality and identity of communities.

In our 2016 Budget, we announced that we would invest in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Radio-Canada to better serve audiences across our country, including official-language minority communities. The Canada Council for the Arts, the National Arts Centre, Telefilm Canada and the National Film Board — all of which have dedicated programs and policies to support arts and culture in both official languages — also received additional funds. And we announced new investments for the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund and funding to showcase Canada's cultural industries to the world. We also made new investments in the Canada Media Fund in our 2018 Budget.

Table 1. New federal investments in culture since 2016
Federal Investments in Culture New funding since 2016
CBC/Radio-Canada $675 million
Canada Council for the Arts $550 million
National Arts Centre $114 million
Telefilm Canada $22 million
National Film Board $13.5 million
Cultural Spaces Fund $468.2 million
Cultural Export Strategy $35 million
Canada Media Fund $172 million

We will continue to invest in the following:

  • $2.75 million over five years for the Canada Council for the Arts' Market Access Strategy for Artists from Official-Language Minority Communities, which improves access to diverse markets and audiences for community professional artists and artistic organizations.
  • $5.75 million over five years for the Canadian Heritage's Music Showcases Program for Artists from Official-Language Minority Communities, which promote local artists and increase communities' access to musical performances in their language.
  • $4 million over five years for the National Translation Program for Book Publishing to translate more books by Canadian authors from one official language to the other, giving Canadians broader access to our rich culture.

"Arts and culture is much more than the lifeblood that allows our society and our communities to flourish. Each work of art, performance and speech is a reminder of how viscerally important it is to hear stories, to truly see and recognize ourselves and to rediscover ourselves, reflected in a mirror that shows an infinite possibility of bright futures. Whether you are 6 or 66, it is an essential part of your individual and collective existence!"

Joël Beddows, Artistic Director, Théâtre français de Toronto

Increasing local and regional cultural activities in communities and minority schools

New: More than $11 million to double the Community Cultural Action Fund

For a total investment of $21.2 million over five years

Our Action Plan will increase the current number of local and regional cultural activities by adding $11.2 million starting in 2019–2020 to double the Community Cultural Action Fund, for a total investment of $21.2 million over five years. This investment will help members of minority-language communities participate in arts, culture and heritage activities and learn about their history and culture while sharing it with others.

The fund will introduce new micro-grants for cultural activities for minority schools, organized by community and cultural organizations with the 900 minority-language schools throughout our country. This will contribute to identity-building and community vitality, and support the concept of civic community schools. The micro-grants will make funding easily accessible through an easy application process.

"As a community development officer for several years in a rural area and mother of three teenagers, I can say that participation in artistic and cultural events — starting at a very young age — points to a direct correlation between [children's] sense of belonging to a proud and talented minority and a voluntary commitment, by the young adults they become, to the various organizations and programs available to them in French in Alberta versus the same opportunities in English. Young people grow confident that their potential and cultural identity has just as much value to society as that of the majority language community."

Mireille Lavoie-Beaupré, Community Development Officer, Bonnyville-Cold Lake Association canadienne français de l'Alberta

Renewing collaboration for the development of arts and culture

We will renew the Collaboration Agreement for the Development of Arts and Culture in the Francophone Minority Communities of Canada with the Fédération culturelle canadienne-française. Signatory federal institutions include Canadian Heritage, the National Arts Centre, Canada Council for the Arts, National Film Board of Canada, CBC/Radio-Canada and Telefilm Canada. This agreement encourages the development of Canada's Francophone minorities and promotes their contribution to our country's rich arts and culture sector. We will also continue the important collaboration with the Working Group on Arts, Culture and Heritage with the English-speaking communities of Quebec.

Launching the Corridor patrimonial, culturel et touristique francophone

A major Canada 150 legacy project, the Francophone Heritage, Cultural and Tourism Corridor is an online tool showcasing more than 350 key tourist attractions, all linked to Francophone heritage and culture. We recently invested $2.4 million for the creation of the corridor, which will be a solid economic-development tool for local communities and businesses around our country. The project emerged from the 2015 Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie, which brought together federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for Francophone affairs.

Enhancing the vitality of Francophone minority communities through immigration: A national strategy

New: More than $40 million for Francophone Immigration

  • to attract and retain French-speaking immigrants
  • coordinated efforts with Francophone minority communities and employers, provinces and territories.

We are committed to supporting the vitality of Francophone minority communities and increasing the proportion of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec, working toward a target of 4.4% of all immigrants by 2023.

We have already introduced changes to temporary and permanent programs in order to attract French-speaking immigrants.

  • In March 2018, federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for immigration and the Canadian Francophonie announced the Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration.
  • In 2017, improvements to the Express Entry system were made to make it easier for French-speaking temporary foreign workers and international students to become permanent residents.
  • At the 2017 inaugural Forum on Francophone Immigration, we announced additional points under Express Entry for strong proficiency in French to increase the proportion of French-speaking immigrants coming to Canada through economic programs.
  • In 2016, we reintroduced the Mobilité Francophone stream which helps employers hire French-speaking workers from abroad to undertake skilled work outside Quebec.
  • We increased promotional and recruitment efforts significantly to market Canada as a destination of choice for French-speaking immigrants, including successful "Destination Canada" fairs in Europe and targeted initiatives.

Building on this progress and sustained cooperation with numerous Canadian and international partners — including provinces, territories, employers and Francophone communities — our new Action Plan will increase investments by $40.8 million over five years to support a consolidated Francophone integration pathway and coordinated Francophone immigration policies and programs.

These actions will be part of a new overarching Francophone Immigration Strategy that will be developed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), in consultation with Francophone minority communities. As part of this strategy, we will continue our international promotion, communication and recruitment work. Together with language-testing organizations, we will increase the availability and reduce the cost of French language tests required for economic immigration.

Moving toward a consolidated Francophone integration pathway

We are exploring opportunities to strengthen the connection between French-speaking immigrants, improve the provision of Francophone settlement services and build the capacity of the Francophone settlement sector.

Under our new Action Plan, we will support a consolidated Francophone integration pathway to make sure French-speaking newcomers obtain complete information regarding Francophone communities and high-quality services from Francophone settlement organizations. This will span from pre-arrival to citizenship, to ensure the successful integration and retention of French-speaking immigrants within Francophone communities and to enhance the vitality of these communities. This will include initiatives such as Francophone settlement services in international airports across Canada – for example, at the Toronto Pearson International Airport, a major port of entry for new immigrants to Canada.

Creating a new Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative

A new initiative, Welcoming Francophone Communities, will support targeted communities in creating an environment in which French-speaking newcomers will feel welcome, and enhance capacity to integrate and retain French-speaking newcomers. Through partnerships, communities will be able to identify and implement projects, by and for Francophones, to address current gaps and develop innovative solutions adapted to their specific needs and those of the French-speaking newcomers settling in their communities.

"I love living in Yellowknife. The community is great. The connections that unite Francophones up here, in the territories, are indivisible… I don't know, everyone has a feeling of pride there, and it brings us all together. I really love that."

Rod Brian Tuyishime Muvunyi, student, Northwest Territories, originally from Rwanda

Building the capacity of the Francophone settlement sector

To support the Francophone integration pathway, we will increase the availability of professional development in French to Francophone settlement service providers and provide greater opportunities to exchange best practices. We will also explore ways to build capacity of Francophone service providers and improve service provision by Francophone communities.

Adapting language training for French-speaking newcomers

Our new Action Plan will increase the availability and accessibility of official-language training adapted to the needs of French-speaking immigrants. This will address the need for both French- and English-language instruction for effective economic and social settlement and integration. It will also include curriculum adapted to the realities of these communities. The expansion of online learning tools and resources, and an emphasis on better linkages to Francophone communities, will offer greater flexibility for French-speaking newcomers to access the learning opportunities they need to achieve their settlement goals and integrate into their new communities.

"How would I describe Saskatchewan's Francophone community? Well, it's a very proud community. I've never met young people, or people in general, as welcoming as they are there. I only knew Spanish when I went to school, but it was so easy to learn French, because my teachers helped me so much. The community welcomed us, when no one else wanted to."

Gabriela Quintanilla, badminton coach, Saskatchewan, originally from El Salvador

Increasing coordination at Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Creation of a hub for Francophone immigration

Our new Action Plan will reinforce the capacity of IRCC to improve and centralize coordination of policy and programs that favour Francophone immigration. This will support IRCC's ability to ensure sustained cooperation with provinces and territories in the context of the Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration, announced by federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for immigration and the Canadian Francophonie in March 2018.

Accountability, reporting and performance measures will also be enhanced through the implementation of a new and comprehensive Francophone Immigration Strategy.

Pillar 2: Strengthening access to services

The Government of Canada has a long history of providing support, generally through provinces and territories, to make services available for people in the official language of their choice. To this end, we will fund a series of initiatives to improve access to quality education, health and justice services.

Supporting minority-language education

Minority communities have had to fight long and hard to have their education rights recognized. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right of official-language minority parents to have their children educated in their language and to manage their public educational institutions.

For nearly 50 years, the Government of Canada has provided funding to provinces and territories to support minority-language education. We will renew these agreements for the period of 2018-2023, totalling $149.1 million a year or $745.5 million over five years. The Government also has a long history of supporting and cooperating with organizations that work to promote and enrich minority education. The Government is committed to ensuring that these significant federal investments continue to address clear community needs and deliver impact on the ground. To this end, in July 2017, Canadian Heritage signed an agreement with Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada and the Commission nationale des parents francophones, committing the Department to share their priorities in its discussions with provincial and federal education partners.

As well, through Pillar 1 of our Action Plan, Canadian Heritage will increase core funding for organizations working to promote and support minority-language education. This will empower organizations to encourage more rights-holders to choose minority education and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge, methods and tools to support minority-language educators.

"Education […] is the cornerstone of our community's development. Without French schools, there is zero chance that our community would survive. We have six schools attached to community centres and early childhood centres. As a result, we have excellent partners and the community has great potential for development."

Émile Gallant, President, French Language School Board, Prince Edward Island

Enriching civic community schools with identity-building and cultural activities

New: $5.3 million for enriching community schools

To enrich school environments with identity-building activities, our Action Plan will provide $5.3 million over four years, starting in 2019–2020, for the creation of a new micro-grant program (over and above the cultural micro-grant initiative mentioned in Pillar 1) that will enable Francophone minority community organizations to partner with local minority schools to lead community school projects and other activities. Over 600 Francophone minority schools across Canada will have access to this initiative.

"By enabling young people to participate in civic activities at school, or in their community, we encourage their interest in engagement. Though we can teach concepts and theories in classrooms, it is when young people are given the opportunity to put these things into practice in the field that we really see the impact. Communities and schools have everything to gain by working together to allow young people to plan and participate in civic activities."

Justin Johnson, young adult in Manitoba and President of the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française (2016-2018))

Investing in teacher recruitment strategies

New: $31.3 million to support recruitment of teachers for minority schools

Throughout the consultations, stakeholders emphasized existing teacher shortages in minority communities. In fact, the issue of improving the availability of French teachers across Canada was raised by provinces and territories at last year's Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie. Therefore, we will allocate new resources of $31.3 million over four years, starting in 2019–2020, to develop and support teacher recruitment strategies for Francophone minority schools. We will engage possible partners like provinces, territories and education stakeholders to develop an approach to allocate these funds.

Ensuring access to quality education in British Columbia

The development of minority-language education in Canada depends on communities having access to adequate facilities. The use of former federal lands for the purpose of building minority-language schools provides an important opportunity. However, the sale and transfer of federal lands remains complex, and decisions regarding the planning, allocation and approval for land uses on these properties involve multiple players.

A clear example of this is found in Vancouver, where the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique would like to obtain land to build a French-language school. The Government has expressed support for the Conseil scolaire, and the Minister of Public Services and Procurement has taken on a leadership role in bringing all stakeholders to the table to make this possible. The owners of the land, the Canada Lands Company CLC Limited and its First Nations joint venture partners, have committed to working with the community while respecting the City of Vancouver's planning process, to explore how future uses for this property could respond to the Conseil scolaire's pressing need to acquire land.

Ensuring the needs of official-language minority communities are considered in the use and disposition of federal lands remains a priority for the Government.

Improving access to justice

New: $10 million for Access to Justice

Access to justice is a very important value of Canadian society. The Government has taken concrete steps towards improving access to justice in both official languages that complement the investments of this Action Plan. These include:

  • Reinstating and modernizing the Court Challenges Program.
  • Appointing functionally bilingual judges to the Supreme Court.
  • Launching an Action Plan to Improve the Bilingual Capacity of the Superior Court Judiciary.
  • Investing $2 million over two years to increase the capacity of federal courts to make decisions available in English and French.
  • Announcing the Action Plan to Improve the Bilingual Capacity of the Superior Court Judiciary, an initiative led fully independently by the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs Canada.

The Government is investing an additional $10 million over five years in the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund, which represents a 25% increase in funding. The fund works to close the gaps faced by people from official-language minority communities as they navigate the justice system. It works with non-profit organizations, learning institutions and provincial and territorial counterparts to improve access to justice. Support is provided for professional training and development needs, access to accurate, reliable and easy to find legal information in the official language of the minority.

We will also continue to improve second-language skills of Canadians or train members of minority communities in a wide range of legal professions with a view to support an expanding array of legal services and procedures offered in both official languages. Together, these programs add up to $50.2 million over five years.

Through the Contraventions Act Fund, Justice Canada will continue to provide provinces, territories and municipalities where the Contraventions Act is implemented with funding to undertake measures on Canada's behalf to ensure that constitutional and statutory offenders' language rights are respected in relation to the issuing and processing of contraventions tickets. These measures include the hiring of bilingual court personnel, language training, bilingual signage and documents, and will be supported with a total investment of $49.6 million over five years.

Expanding access to health services

New: More than $22 million to improve access to health services in minority communities

  • $5 million to expand post-secondary health training to five new post-secondary institutions, in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Ontario
  • More than $3 million to expand English-language health networks in Quebec
  • $4 million in increased support for early childhood health projects
  • $10 million to enhance early childhood health initiatives

The Government is committing a total of $22.5 million over five years in the health sector to improve access to services in official-language minority communities.

This includes $12.5 million over five years to the Official Languages Health Contribution Program. Health Canada will build on results that have been achieved and reinforce activities to improve access to health services in official-language minority communities. Combined with the current investments of $174.3 million over five years in training for health professionals, support for community health networks, and investments in innovative projects to improve access to health services, this will bring the total investment by Health Canada for official-language minority communities to $186.8 million for the next five years.

Expanding access to French-language health training programs

The Government will invest $5 million over five years in five post-secondary institutions to expand their health-specific training programs — to cover regions where it is difficult to access French-language programs. The institutions are Collège Éducacentre, in British Columbia; La Cité universitaire francophone at the University of Regina and Collège Mathieu, both in Saskatchewan; and Glendon Campus of York University and Université de Hearst, both in Ontario. These institutions will join the 11 current members of the Association des collèges et universités de la francophonie canadienne already funded by Health Canada to train and retain Francophone health professionals in official-language minority communities.

"The Société santé en français and its networks across the country have, for the past 12 years, worked on numerous projects and initiatives to help overcome these gaps and find solutions. We have succeeded in showing that by having networks across the country, we can create action plans for viable solutions for Francophone minority communities."

Diane Quintas, Réseau du mieux-être francophone du nord de l'Ontario, Sudbury Roundtable, September 16, 2016

Increasing English-language health networks in rural and remote Quebec regions

Health Canada will continue to support health networks whose mission is to mobilize health stakeholders, including political decision-makers, health administrators, professionals, teaching institutions and civil society, to adapt services and ensure equitable access for official-language minorities. Increased funding of $3.5 million over five years will be provided to the Community Health and Social Services Network to add three new English-language health networks to the 20 existing networks and 10 satellite networks in rural and remote Quebec regions that have little or no coverage. Expansion of the networks will cover areas such as Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Mauricie-Centre du Québec and Montérégie-Centre.

Developing innovative projects to better address health needs

Health Canada will also invest an additional $4 million over five years in new innovative projects to help official-language minority communities across Canada better address their health needs. Finally, Health Canada will partner in projects that address shared federal–provincial–territorial health priorities. Improving access to mental health and addiction services and to home/community care for seniors in minority communities were key areas highlighted during the consultations with communities across our country.

Enhancing early childhood health promotion

Under our Action Plan, the Public Health Agency of Canada will enhance their early childhood health promotion programming thanks to an investment of $10 million over five years. Projects to support mental health and well-being for vulnerable children and families will be launched or expanded in select high-need minority communities across our country. The Agency will work with key stakeholders to ensure projects respond to the needs of the communities.

Rethinking Government's offer of services to communities

In late 2016, as part of a commitment to improve the delivery of services in both official languages, we launched a review of the Official Languages Regulations for Communications with and Services to the Public. Our review is well underway, and we should complete the revised Regulations in 2019.

The Regulations will specify the circumstances and criteria under which a federal office must provide bilingual services. The review assesses the needs and perspectives of communities and the adjustments needed to align the Regulations with the current and future demographic and technological realities of Canadian society. It will also improve bilingual services around transportation.

Improving access to provincial and territorial services

The Government of Canada has long encouraged and helped provinces and territories to deliver provincial, territorial and municipal services in the minority official language – English in Quebec and French in the rest of Canada. The environment has significantly evolved in recent years, with a number of provinces adopting new legislation or policies to support the delivery of such services.

For example, in 2013, Prince Edward Island implemented the French Language Services Act, then a policy and regulations that set out the delivery of services in French. In September 2015, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador approved a French Language Services Policy. In June 2016, the Manitoba government adopted the Francophone Community Enhancement and Support Act. Finally, in June 2017, the Alberta government unveiled a new French Policy intended to improve its services in French and ensure the vitality of the Francophonie throughout the province. Ontario, for its part, is currently working on a new version of its French Language Services Act and the Ministry of Francophone Affairs has just been created. We welcome these efforts and the significant progress they represent. Today, nine out of ten provinces have laws, regulations or policies in place regarding the provision of government services in the minority language.

New: $60 million to enhance French-language services in the territories (for 2018–2023)

In March 2017, Canadian Heritage signed services agreements with Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, with new investments of $60 million, increasing overall federal support to $85.5 million for 2018-2023. These agreements provide significant increases in funding, as the federal government has a special role in supporting the delivery of French-language services in each of the three territories. At the same time, the Government took concrete measures to support the preservation, promotion and revitalization of Indigenous languages in the territories.

At the June 2017 Conférence ministerielle sur la francophonie canadienne, the federal government and all 13 provinces and territories agreed to work toward enhanced provincial minority-language services by 2021. The Government will continue its current support, and new agreements worth $58 million over five years will be negotiated by Canadian Heritage. This support encourages provinces to create more services to minority-language communities based on needs identified through consultations with their official-language minority communities.

Pillar 3: Promoting a bilingual Canada

Today, languages build bridges between English speakers, Francophones and Canadians of all origins. According to the 2016 Census, 78% of Canadians speak English or French as their mother tongue, while more than 98% of us speak either English or French. Our two official languages are an essential tool for the inclusion and integration of all Canadians into our diverse society. Learning a second official language can open doors to many career options in both the public and private sector, in Canada and around the world.

"I am an immigrant. I have been in Canada for almost 17 years now. Before coming here, I learned that Canada had two official languages; this in itself seemed to me to be a wonderful asset. And I think that this is a point of pride for this country, that two of the most important languages in the world can coexist."

Gaston Mabaya, Director General, Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario (London-Sarnia)

As part of our new Action Plan, we are setting a very ambitious target — to increase our national bilingualism rate from 17.9% to 20% by 2036. We will get there by raising the bilingualism rate of English speakers outside Quebec from 6.8% to 9%.

Officially recognizing the bilingual character of Canada's capital

Today, our nation's capital officially reflects the bilingual character of Canada. Years of effort on the part of community members and organizations, the City of Ottawa and the Province of Ontario have culminated in the Province of Ontario passing legislation recognizing that both official languages, English and French, will enjoy equal rights, status and privileges in Ottawa. The measure reflects a common will to make Canada's capital bilingual and solidifies the City's own bylaw and languages policy to create services in the language of the minority. To support this, we will dedicate $2.5 million over five years to support initiatives led by possible partners like the City of Ottawa or community organizations that will enhance the bilingual character of Canada's capital.

"Having Ottawa's bilingual character officially recognized is a cause for celebration. Ottawa's bilingualism is a source of pride and a national symbol of our linguistic duality and the plurality of the Canadian identity. This long-awaited recognition will bring new energy to the efforts to truly value and promote the civic bilingualism that makes Ottawa such a unique capital city."

Bernadette Sarazin and François Baril, spokespeople, #OttawaBilingue

"Establishing French and English as two equal official languages in Ottawa is good news for the city, for the province and for the country." 

Carol Jolin, President, Francophone Assembly of Ontario

Learning for free – Anyone, anywhere in Canada

New: $16.5 million to develop a free online tool to learn English and French

We are looking at innovative ways to reach our bilingualism target. As such, the Action Plan includes $16.5 million over five years to create and maintain a free mobile application for Canadians to learn and retain English and French as second languages. The application will be developed primarily for adult learners, including new Canadians, but may also be useful to young Canadians. The application will feature Canadian content and Canadian ways of speaking.

"Free French courses, I know that's something I would do, as an adult, to retrain myself and to make myself more employable. So that's something that I think for adults or new people coming to Sudbury, you don't maybe realize how important French is until you're in a place where it's more prominent, which it is here."

Helen Loiselle, Program Manager, Volunteer Sudbury, Sudbury Roundtable, September 16, 2016

Ensuring language quality

At the same time, we will continue to make the Language Portal of Canada available. This gives free access to a wide range of language resources, including the terminology database TERMIUM Plus®, to help people study, work and communicate more effectively in Canada's two official languages.

We also recognize the importance of the services provided by the Translation Bureau. It supports Canada's linguistic duality by safeguarding the quality of language in the public service — which is why we are holding discussions to solidify its mandate.

Finally, the National Research Council will continue its research and development to advance the language industry and technologies.

Investing in teacher recruitment strategies - Second-language learning

New: More than $31 million to recruit more immersion and French-as-a–second-language teachers

French-as-a-second-language classes and French immersion programs in our school systems are more popular than ever before. Between 2003 and 2013, Canada saw a 52% increase in French immersion enrolment. However, we learned during our consultations that access is unequal across our country. In particular, students in rural and Western Canada, as well as in fast-growing suburban communities, may have limited access to French second-language programming. The Government of Canada has long supported provinces and territories through bilateral agreements to deliver second-language instruction in the school system. We will renew these agreements for 2018-2023, for a total of $86.4 million a year, or $432 million over five years.

A common roadblock to French second-language programming by provinces and territories is the lack of qualified French teachers. To this end, the Department of Canadian Heritage will provide $31.3 million over four years, starting in 2019–20, toward strategies to recruit more immersion and French-as-a-second-language teachers. We will engage possible partners like provinces, territories and education stakeholders to develop an approach to allocate these funds.

As well, under Pillar 1 of the Action Plan, Canadian Heritage will increase core funding for organizations that promote and support French second-language learning and instruction.

Providing opportunities for young people

New: $12.6 million to English-speaking students for French-language programs at the post-secondary level.

Even with access to French-as-a-second-language programming in their schools, our students still face challenges in developing and expanding their language skills. During our consultations, we heard some concerns about the drop-off in students studying French as a second language as they move from high school to university or college.

Our Action Plan will help address this issue with a new initiative. Starting in 2019-2020, Canadian Heritage will create 1,000 bursaries of $3,000 per year to encourage English-speaking students to take French-language programs in university or college. This is a new investment of $12.6 million over four years. With this funding, we want to encourage English-speaking students to pursue their post-secondary studies at a French-language institution or program; to help them in their efforts to learn, use and improve their French-language skills; and to expand their understanding of Francophone culture. Students with financial challenges or from under-represented populations will receive special consideration.

"French-language post-secondary education here in Alberta represent a vital opportunity for graduates of immersion and core French programs. The provision of French-language services is also important, because bilingual youth who finish immersion programs are the French-language service providers of tomorrow."

Kate Peters, Canadian Parents for French Alberta, Edmonton Roundtable, September 12, 2016

More opportunities for language and culture exchanges

New:

  • $21 million to ensure the Explore program remains accessible for Canadian families
  • $17.5 million to a modernized Odyssey program
  • $1.2 million for Young Canada Works in 2018-2013 (announced in 2017)

Explore is a five-week, intensive language-immersion program that gives more than 7,000 young Canadians a year the opportunity to learn their second official language while discovering their country. More than 300,000 young Canadians have taken part in this program since its launch in 1971, then called the Summer Language Bursary Program. However, in recent years, the rising cost of living has meant that participants have to cover a larger portion of the program's costs, making it less accessible. The Action Plan will invest $21 million over five years in the Explore program to keep it sustainable into the future.

Our Action Plan will also invest $17.5 million over five years in the Odyssey language monitor program. Odyssey is an official-language monitor program that gives 300 university-aged Canadians every year the opportunity to spend a school year working as a language monitor in a classroom of second-language learners. This additional funding will go toward modernizing the program which encourages young Canadians to become French-language teachers.

In 2017, we invested an additional $2.4 million over two years ($1.2 million for 2018-2019) to create 280 new green jobs through Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages at Canadian Heritage. This will help young people learn more about the environment, and will contribute to economic growth in sectors related to the environment.

Enhancing the evidence base with Statistics Canada

New: $3 million to support Statistics Canada's data gathering and analysis

High-quality data is crucial to provide evidence for decision- and policy-making, and to assess the results of actions. The Action plan will invest $3 million over five years to allow Statistics Canada to address the needs related to official languages of its numerous federal and community partners. The funding covers ongoing expertise in the area of language statistics through research and development, and activities related to producing, analyzing and disseminating statistics on official languages in Canada.‎

Moving forward

We listened to what Canadians had to say — and it was inspiring. Canadians are proud to live in an officially bilingual country where we celebrate the languages and cultures of all our people. Our fellow Canadians are convinced that bilingualism is an important part of our national history and our identity as Canadians in the 21st century. Our government definitely agrees. That is why we must make sure that our two official languages are strong and people who live in minority-language settings have the resources they need to keep their language and culture relevant, strong and thriving. If we can continue to support our official languages in all regions, we know we will reap the benefits of prosperity and cultural vibrancy of our communities and support a strong economy and a proud Canada.

Annex 1: Summary of government investments

Canadian Heritage

Table 2.1 Canadian Heritage, Development of Official-Language Minority Communities Program – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Minority-language education (federal-provincial-territorial agreements) 805.10
Cooperation with the non-governmental sector (minority-language organizations) 8.75
Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Languages Services (federal-provincial-territorial agreements) 81.00
Cooperation with the community sector (minority-language organizations) 159.50
Strategic funds 22.50
Community Cultural Action Fund 10.00
Total 1086.85
Table 2.2 Canadian Heritage, Development of Official-Language Minority Communities Program – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Additional funding for community organizations 57.37
Enhancement of the Community Cultural Action Fund 11.16
Funding for Quebec English-speaking communities 5.28
Strengthening community media and radio 14.53
Support for community spaces – infrastructure 67.25
Strengthening strategic investment capacity 10.00
Support to Civic Community School Initiative 5.25
Recruitment of teachers for minority community schools 31.29
Enhanced support for French-language services in the territories (2017) 60.00
Support for educational community infrastructure ($80 million over 10 years) (2017) 28.00
Total 290.13
Table 2.3 Canadian Heritage, Enhancement of Official Languages Program – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Support for second-language learning (federal-provincial-territorial agreements) 448.00
Cooperation with the non-governmental sector (second-language organizations) 4.85
Summer language bursaries (Explore, Destination Clic) 84.50
Official-language monitors (Odyssey) 35.50
Promotion of linguistic duality (appreciation and rapprochement) 18.50
Promotion of bilingual services in the voluntary sector 1.10
Support for interpretation and translation 2.50
Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages 18.63
Total 613.58
Table 2.4 Canadian Heritage, Enhancement of Official Languages Program – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Mobile application for learning French and English as a second language 16.50
Enhanced support for Explore language bursaries 21.00
Enhanced support for Odyssey official-language monitors 17.50
Bursaries for post-secondary education in French as a second language 12.60
Recruitment of teachers for French immersion schools 31.29
Additional support for Young Canada Works in Both Official Languages (2017) 1.20
Total 100.09
Table 2.5 Canadian Heritage, other programs – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Exchanges Canada (official-language initiative) 11.25
Music Showcases Program for Artists from official-language minority communities 5.75
National Translation Program for Book Publishing 4.00
Total 21.00

Employment and Social Development Canada

Table 3.1 Employment and Social Development Canada – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Social Partnership Initiative in official-language minority communities (OLMCs) 4.00
OLMC Literacy and Essential Skills Initiative 7.50
Enabling fund for OLMCs (employability and economic development) 69.00
Total 80.50
Table 3.2 Employment and Social Development Canada – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Additional funding for community organizations 4.50
Support for early childhood development 20.00
Total 24.50

Health Canada

Table 4.1 Health Canada – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Official Languages Health Contribution Program (Networks, Training and Access to Health Services) 174.30
Total 174.30
Table 4.2 Health Canada – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Additional funding for community organizations 4.40
Enhancement of the Official Languages Health Contribution Program 12.50
Total 16.90

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Table 5.1 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Immigration to official-language minority communities 29.50
Total 29.50
Table 5.2 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Francophone integration pathway 36.56
Cooperation and Accountability 4.20
Total 40.76

Justice Canada

Table 6.1 Justice Canada – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Networks, Training and Access to Justice Services 40.20
Contraventions Act Fund 49.60
Total 89.80
Table 6.2 Justice Canada – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Additional funding for Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund 10.00
Core funding to justice organizations 3.75
Total 13.75
Table 7. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (coordination) 1.60
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 6.20
Canada Economic Development For Quebec Regions 10.20
Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) 0.40
Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario 4.45
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario 4.45
Western Economic Diversification Canada 3.20
Total 30.50
Table 8. Public Health Agency of Canada – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Enhanced early childhood health promotion programming 10.00
Total 10.00
Table 9. Canada Council for the Arts – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Market Access Strategy for Artists from official-language minority communities 2.75
Total 2.75
Table 10. National Research Council – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Strengthening language industries and technologies 10.00
Total 10.00
Table 11. Public Services and Procurement Canada (Translation Bureau) – Current funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Language Portal of Canada 16.00
Total 16.00
Table 12. Statistics Canada – New funding
Name of program/initiative Total funding
2018-2023
(million dollars)
Additional, continued support to the language statistics section 3.00
Total 3.00
Table 13. Total – Government Programs and Initiatives Promoting Official Languages
Total – Government programs and initiatives promoting official languages 2 653.91

Annex 2: Transparency in our actions

The first significant new investment in official languages since 2003

The Government of Canada has been investing in official languages for nearly five decades. It is the Government's responsibility to offer federal services in both official languages across our country, to promote second-language learning, and to develop and sustain the vitality of official-language minority communities. Investments in our two official languages, of an unprecedented scope in the 2003 Action Plan, have brought tangible progress and results. This is why our government has decided to make the first important new investment in our two official languages in 15 years.

Before the first Action Plan for Official Languages in 2003, official languages spending in any given five-year span was already in the $1.1 billion range. The 2003-2008 Action Plan introduced a significant $787-million investment, raising total federal investments in official languages to a five-year level of $1.9 billion.

The 2008-2013 Roadmap for Official Languages maintained the 2003-2008 Action Plan's final year spending level of $220 million for its new five-year term. No significant new amounts were added, but allowed the Government to present a $1.1-billion strategy over five years, over and above the $1.1-billion (over five years) pre-2003 ongoing base. Many of the Action Plan initiatives were maintained, while the few that were ending were replaced by new measures with finite terms (sunsetting measures).

The 2013-2018 Roadmap for Official Languages maintained the showcase valued at $1.1 billion over five years and confirmed that sunsetting measures were to become permanent. The $1.1 billion ongoing funds were still kept separate from the $1.1 billion pre-2003 ongoing base. The addition of the two brought government action in official languages to a $2.2-billion total over five years.

Canada's new Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023 represents a new investment of $499.2 million over five years, the first important investment since 2003. This includes the $410 million in new funds introduced with Budget 2018 as well as $89.2 million in new investments announced in 2017. These new investments bring total government funding for official languages to a record high of $2.7 billion over five years.

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