Official Languages Annual Report 2014-2015

Table of Contents

• List of tables
• List of figures
• Message from the minister
• Introduction
• 1. Making way for youth
  • 1.1 Second-language instruction
  • 1.2 Minority-language education
• 2. Forward-looking economies
  • 2.1 Implementing regional projects
  • 2.2 Enhancing knowledge of economic issues
• 3. Communities to discover
  • 3.1 Promoting culture
  • 3.2 Preserving and valuing heritage
  • 3.3 Welcoming communities
• 4. Services in French and English for all
  • 4.1 Accessing health care in their language of choice
  • 4.2 Bilingual services: a benefit to businesses and clients alike
  • 4.3 Ensuring respect for the rights of all Canadians
• 5. Francophone and anglophone communities talking to one another
  • 5.1 Dialogue between anglophones and francophones
  • 5.2 Celebrating and raising awareness of linguistic duality
• Conclusion
• Appendix 1 – Actual spending of the initiatives of the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013-2018 for 2014-15
• Appendix 2 – Official Languages Support Programs (Canadian Heritage) — Targeted results and program components
• Appendix 3 – Breakdown of expenditures by province and territory 2014-15 (Canadian Heritage)
• Appendix 4 – Breakdown of expenditures by program component 2014-15 (Canadian Heritage)
• Appendix 5 – Breakdown of education expenditures 2014-15
• Appendix 6 – Breakdown of school enrolment data
• Legend

List of tables

• Table 1. Pillar 1: Education
• Table 2. Pillar 2: Immigration
• Table 3. Pillar 3: Communities
• Table 4. Grand total of three pillars
• Table 5. Breakdown of expenditures by province and territory 2014-15
• Table 6. Expenditures for the Development of Official-Language Communities Program
• Table 7. Expenditures for the Enhancement of Official Languages Program
• Table 8. Breakdown of education expenditures 2014-15 - Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Table 9. Breakdown of education expenditures 2014-15 - National Program
• Table 10. Breakdown of education expenditures 2014-15 – Overall total
• Table 11. Enrolments in second-language instruction programs in the majority-language school systems - Total – Canada
• Table 12. Enrolments in second-language instruction programs in the majority-language school systems
• Table 13. Enrolments in Minority-Language Education Programs - Total – Canada
• Table 14. Enrolments in Minority-Language Education Programs

List of figures

• Figure 1. 2014-15 implementation of the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction 2013-2014 to 2017-2018
• Figure 2. French immersion: An increasingly popular option
• Figure 3. Odyssey, Explore and Exchanges Canada participation
• Figure 4. A few figures demonstrating the popularity of the Language Portal of Canada (2014-15)
• Figure 5. The Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor): A major lever in Northern Ontario
• Figure 6. A few key figures on targeted support for minority artists from Canadian Heritage and the Arts Council
• Figure 7. Use of the funds provided to minority artists
• Figure 8. The fifth World Acadian Congress in numbers
• Figure 9. Health Canada outcomes in 2014-15
• Figure 10. The Jeux de la francophonie canadienne in Gatineau
• Figure 11. National Film Board platforms in numbers
• Figure 12. Number of views on National Film Board platforms

Message from the minister

As Minister of Canadian Heritage, I am very pleased to assume responsibility for official languages and to protect the interests of French- and English-speaking minority communities

Our tradition of official bilingualism is at the heart of Canada’s diversity. We must protect, nourish, enrich and promote this aspect. We must protect, nourish, enrich and promote this aspect of our identity. This is why the Government of Canada is committed to advancing our two official languages and ensuring that they remain alive and well throughout the country.

In 2017, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. This will be an opportunity to reflect on the important role that the founding peoples—English, French and Aboriginal—played in the building of our country.

In my mandate letter, Prime Minister Trudeau asked me to develop a new multi-year plan for official languages, as well as to make an online service for learning and retaining English and French as second languages available to Canadians. I intend to carry out these responsibilities by working closely with my colleagues in Parliament and with all of our partners, in every forum available. I know that I will also be able to count on the valuable efforts of the many organizations that work with Canadians in official-language minority communities.

I invite you to consult the Annual Report on Official Languages 2014–15. In it, you will be able to see everything that the Department of Canadian Heritage has accomplished through its Official Languages Support Programs. You will also learn about the results achieved by some 170 federal institutions in fostering the development of Anglophones and Francophones in all regions of the country.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P.

Introduction

Canada’s strength lies in its diversity and official bilingualism as well as minority language communities are two of the pillars on which this diversity is based.

English and French are languages of convergence that promote unity among Canadians as well as the seamless integration of newcomers into our country. Mandarin, Urdu, Arabic and many other foreign languages are being spoken in Canadian households at increasing rates, but almost all of us use Canada’s two official languages to communicate, learn, work and participate in public life. Our official languages are valuable assets in building an inclusive society.

In addition, the presence of active Anglophone and Francophone minority communities from coast to coast to coast remains one of our country’s greatest assets. Growing numbers of newcomers to these communities are increasingly encouraging them to redefine themselves in an inclusive manner.

The Government of Canada and federal institutions are responsible for enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and for promoting the full recognition and use of English and French in Canadian society. This report differs from previous reports: it sets out, in a single volume, the steps taken in this regard by Canadian Heritage and other federal institutions. In addition, a thematic approach is used to outline their achievements in 2014-15. More specifically:

• the first section focusses on youth and presents key projects that help young Canadians become bilingual and support students from minority communities in improving their proficiency in their first official language;
• the second section deals with measures taken to promote official languages in a way that fosters the economic development of our country and its minority communities;
• the third section focuses on the steps taken by federal institutions to support the vitality of Anglophone and Francophone minority communities and to strengthen the identity of these communities;
• the fourth section demonstrates how the Government of Canada works with other levels of government and with non-governmental organizations to improve the quality of services provided in French outside Quebec and services provided in English within Quebec; and,
• finally, the fifth section describes the efforts made by federal institutions in the past year to help bring Canada’s Anglophones and Francophones closer together and to highlight the contributions of each language group to our country.

As shown by the various testimonials included in this report, Canada’s official languages and linguistic duality are meaningful to Canadians. The Government of Canada and federal institutions are responsible for complying with the Official Languages Act and for ensuring that English and French help to build an increasingly inclusive society.

Figure 1. 2014-15 implementation of the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction 2013-2014 to 2017-2018

1.1 Second-language instruction

To enable young Canadians to become bilingual, Canada’s provinces and territories, which have exclusive jurisdiction in education, take steps at all stages in the continuum of learning French or English as a second language. The significant efforts they make to meet this objective are supported by the Government of Canada and federal institutions, from kindergarten through to post-secondary education (see Appendix 6 for a breakdown of student enrolment).

“Federal government support makes it possible to carry out projects that promote French both inside and outside the classroom. It gives students access to the highest quality educational content and enables them to take school trips to Francophone minority communities. It encourages the sharing of advanced knowledge among Canada’s immersion teachers. If the federal government did not invest in promoting the importance of French or in raising awareness of Francophone cultures throughout the country to the extent that it does, Canada would not enjoy the outstanding reputation for bilingualism and French immersion that it has today. No child has ever grown up wishing that they had never become bilingual. Therefore, it is critical that the Government of Canada continue to support second-language education as it has done for decades.”
[Translation]

Lesley Doell
President, Canadian Association of Immersion Teachers, and
Director, French Language Resource Centre, Grande Prairie, Alberta

Figure 2. French immersion: An increasingly popular option

Figure 4. A few figures demonstrating the popularity of the Language Portal of Canada (2014-15)

2. Forward-looking economies

Canada enjoys the unique privilege of having English and French, two major international languages, as its official languages. This enables it to conduct business successfully in economic areas where English and French are predominantly spoken, such as in Europe and Africa. This also helps Canada do business with many countries where English or French are learned by a significant proportion of businesspeople and the population as a whole (for example, 1.2 million young people are currently learning French in India, not including all those learning English in the country).

The provinces and territories can benefit from the presence of active minority-language communities that are able to open doors for them elsewhere in Canada or in the world. For example, English-speaking Quebecers have founded a number of Quebec SMEs that are making their mark in the world of e-commerce, while Manitoba and New Brunswick businesses that employ Francophones have an easier time establishing themselves in Quebec, France or Senegal.

But businesses sometimes underestimate the importance of using both official languages and harnessing the enormous potential of Francophones outside Quebec and Anglophones within Quebec. Minority communities also face unique challenges (for example: lack of knowledge of entrepreneurship, difficulty accessing capital, difficulty doing business in their language with provincial and territorial governments) that sometimes prevent them from achieving economic success.

However, through their actions, examples of which are provided below, the Government of Canada and federal institutions can assist Canada’s Anglophone and Francophone organizations, entrepreneurs and workers to stay competitive and make Canada a leading economic partner.

2.1 Implementing regional projects

The Government of Canada and federal institutions help linguistic minority communities throughout the country address their unique challenges and increase their economic vitality. For example, the difficulties faced by Anglophones in the Greater Quebec City Area (for example: social isolation) are not necessarily the same as those experienced by Anglophones in the Outaouais Region (for example: exodus of many students and young graduates to Ottawa). In addition, New Brunswick’s Francophones face a different set of obstacles (for example: declining lumber and fishing industries) from Saskatchewan’s French-speaking population (for example: the difficulty of some newcomers to enter the labour market).

For example, in 2014-15, the Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité du Canada (RDÉE Canada) worked with the Canadian Tourism Commission in order to participate, for the first time, in the Rendez-vous Canada event, which promotes Canadian tourism products to representatives of some 30 countries worldwide. RDÉE Canada took advantage of this meeting to raise awareness of Francophone minority communities and their remarkable tourism assets.

Western Economic Diversification Canada, a Roadmap 2013-2018 partner, paid $2.2 million to Francophone economic organizations in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan to help the businesspeople in the minority communities of these provinces to access training, capital and marketing advice, and also to encourage Francophones, specifically young people and newcomers, to create new businesses. Also in western Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada worked with the Chambre de commerce francophone de Vancouver and the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique to gain a better understanding of the needs of the businesses and entrepreneurs of the minority community.

Newcomers can contribute to the economic and social development of their host country when they are given the tools they need to do so. In Alberta, for example, this encouraged Service Canada to provide direct financial support for Accès Emploi, an organization that assists, among others, French-speaking newcomers who have difficulty gaining access to the occupation in which they were trained to find employment that would harness their full potential.

The Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario injected a million dollars in the launch of an internship program for young Francophones by the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario, Fifty businesses and not-for-profit organizations took part in this initiative, which enabled young recruits to work in their first language and to acquire new skills.

In 2014-15, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions helped the Fonds communautaire d’accès au micro-crédit des Basses-Laurentides provide support, mentoring and training for Quebec’s Anglophone entrepreneurs. The federal institution considers that the financial support provided for the Fonds should result in the creation of 15 businesses.

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions also supported the International Startup Festival (Canada’s largest entrepreneurial event) organized by the Montreal Startup Foundation. Entrepreneurs from Quebec’s Anglophone communities account for 75% of this event’s client base. The support provided by this federal institution enabled these entrepreneurs to connect with potential investors and strategic partners and to build alliances.

Figure 5. The Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor): A major lever in Northern Ontario

2.2 Enhancing knowledge of economic issues

The Government of Canada is aware of the importance of research for the country’s economic development. Organizations and businesses need access to high-quality data in order to make the best possible decisions in economic and social matters. They must have sound knowledge of minority communities in order to meet their development needs.

For example, in 2014-15, this concern prompted Employment and Social Development Canada to launch a call for proposals to recruit training centres able to carry out an action research project on the impact of acquiring eight essential skills (oral communication, writing, computer skills, teamwork, etc.) on the integration of French-speaking newcomers into Canadian society and the labour market. Six organizations from Quebec, one from Saskatchewan, two from Nova Scotia, three from Ontario and one from Manitoba entered into an agreement with the Department. In March 2015, 485 francophone newcomers agreed to take part in the study, to be carried out over a number of months.

Similarly, the Coalition ontarienne de formation des adultes and the Réseau pour le développement de l’alphabétisme et des compétences, two organizations supported by Employment and Social Development Canada, engaged Statistics Canada to carry out major analytical work on the development of reading, writing and numeracy skills among Franco-Ontarians. Released in April 2015, the results of this study will enable governments and their partners to develop programs that are likely to meet the needs of Ontario’s Francophones and, ultimately, improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

Statistics Canada also contributed to enhancing knowledge about minority communities by carrying out a number of research projects in 2014-15. The federal institution’s analysts laid out the results of studies on English-speaking immigrants to Quebec, the impact of current demographic trends on minority communities, the situation of French-speaking minorities in the labour market, and the migratory contributions of Francophone countries to Francophone communities outside Quebec.

3. Communities to discover

Minority language communities have incredibly rich cultural assets and help make Canada a country that is as diverse as it is unique. Their presence often breathes life into the provinces and territories in which they are located, and yet some communities require government support in order to overcome barriers to their development, to their growth and to realize their full potential.

In 2014-15, the Government of Canada and federal institutions took a number of measures to support the vitality of Anglophone and Francophone minority communities and to ensure that they have access to the same development opportunities as all other communities in the country. A number of examples of initiatives are outlined in the following pages.

3.1 Promoting culture

In 2014-15, federal institutions continued to contribute to the development of the cultural sector in Anglophone and Francophone minority communities by helping their artists and artistic organizations break into Canadian and international markets through targeted programs.

For example, Canadian Heritage helped the English Language Arts Network (ELAN) organize activities designed to increase the vitality of the Anglo-Quebec artistic community and to enhance awareness of its major contribution to Quebec culture. ELAN worked with organizations such as the Quebec Writer’s Federation, the Montreal Fringe Festival, McGill University, Concordia University and the Quebec Drama Federation to create networking events in which 440 creators took part. ELAN also worked with Diversité artistique Montréal to produce a special bilingual magazine issue about linguistic diversity in Quebec, made submissions to the Canadian RadioTelevision and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and continued the development of the www.made-au-quebec.ca platform, a bilingual site that reports on current events in the Anglo-Quebec dance, film and television, music, theatre, writing and visual arts sectors.

“The projects conducted by ELAN with the support of Canadian Heritage have had a tremendous impact. The special Anglo edition of Diversité Artistique Montréal’s TicArtToc magazine explored various realities of being a minority language English-speaking artist in Quebec and sensitized the francophone majority to how dramatically our community has evolved in the past 25 years. One of the big payoffs of our CRTC advocacy was to convince Videotron to produce 20% of its MAtv content in English, as of fall 2015. The content created gives the minority community a voice to speak to itself and to its francophone neighbours. And the Made au Québec website aggregates media content from around the world concerning Quebec’s English-speaking artists, and translates a summary onto French. The national and international success of local artists is a source of pride for all Quebeckers.”

Guy Rodgers, Executive Director
ELAN

Figure 6. A few key figures on targeted support for minority artists from Canadian Heritage and the Arts Council

Figure 7. Use of the funds provided to minority artists

3.2 Preserving and valuing heritage

In 2014-15, federal institutions also took various steps to protect and preserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of minority communities. For example, Parks Canada completed the second phase of a project aimed at protecting the commemorative chapel of the Grand Pré National Historic Site. This site was the centre of community life for Nova Scotia’s Acadians from the time they arrived in the region, in the 17^th century, to the time they were deported, in 1755. In another example, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions improved the Grosse-Île heritage site, by upgrading the outdoor infrastructure of the two on-site museums and by installing bilingual automated systems to help visitors enjoy the exciting exhibits in the official language of their choice. Located in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, Grosse-Île was used as a quarantine station for the Port of Quebec for nearly 100 years. There is still a small dynamic Anglophone minority community on the island.

In 2014-15, Canadian Heritage supported the 33^rd edition of Franco-Fête, organized by the City of Toronto and other various partners. The festival, which took place in Ontario’s capital during the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, attracted some 50,000 participants, and more than 150,000 visitors. They were treated to more than 300 Francophone artists and musicians from Canada and the Americas showcasing their talent and celebrating the French fact and more than 400 years of the French presence in Ontario.

“The Canadian Francophonie is becoming increasingly diverse, and it’s this image of the modern Francophonie that we showcased in Toronto and that the public enjoyed so much.” [Translation]

Laurent Vandeputte, Programming Director, Franco-Fête (on the Franco-Fête website)

Similarly, Canadian Heritage helped the Assemblée de la Francophonie de l’Ontario promote the visibility of the Franco-Ontarian community at the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France. Held in Quebec City in August 2014, participants of this event visited the French Ontario pavilion, attended performances by Franco-Ontarian artists and discovered many Franco-Ontarian cultural and heritage attractions.

Finally, the fifth edition of the Congrès mondial acadien, an event organized every five years since 1994, was held in August 2014 in northwestern New Brunswick, Quebec’s Témiscouata region and northern Maine. With the financial support of the Government of Canada and media coverage provided by the French and English networks of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Congrès mondial acadien enabled participants to celebrate four centuries of Acadian presence in America and to engage for two weeks in socio-cultural activities, shows, conferences and family reunions.

Figure 8. The fifth World Acadian Congress in numbers

3.3 Welcoming communities

Minority communities have had to grapple with declining birth rates for a number of decades, and several of them have seen, and continue to see a significant portion of their active community members leave for elsewhere. For example, many young Anglophones in Quebec’s rural regions choose not to return to their home communities once they finish school. Over the last few years, Francophone workers in the Atlantic region have also chosen to move out west to find work and support their families.

It is important for minority communities to be able to benefit from the contributions of newcomers, as Canada’s linguistic majorities have always done. Regardless of whether they come from abroad or from other regions of Canada, these individuals can make positive contributions to the economic, social and cultural growth and development of language communities throughout Canada.

Again this year, the Government of Canada and federal institutions have taken many steps to ensure that communities benefit from the arrival to Canada of thousands of refugees, immigrants and foreign students who are motivated and often highly trained. For example, Citizenship and Immigration Canada organized a major conference in Montreal on the situation of Francophone newcomers who establish themselves outside Quebec and Anglophone newcomers who settle within Quebec. This two-day conference enabled 250 people, including teachers, representatives of Local Immigration Partnerships and members of Francophone immigration networks, to gain a better understanding of the importance of immigration for minority communities and to explore all its aspects.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada also helped the New Brunswick Population Growth Secretariat, the Société nationale de l’Acadie, the Atlantic Workforce Partnership and the Government of Nova Scotia organize the fifth edition of the Destination Acadie event, the purpose of which is to raise awareness of La Francophonie in Atlantic Canada, Francophone culture and opportunities for students, entrepreneurs and investors who immigrate to the region. More than 1,000 people attended the event, held in March 2015, and took advantage of the many information sessions and opportunities for discussion provided in Brussels, Paris and Toulouse.

In 2014-15, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development also sought to raise awareness of linguistic duality abroad and to encourage foreign students to study at post-secondary institutions in minority communities. For example, the Canadian Embassy in Germany used Marshall McLuhan Hall, its ultra-modern multimedia information centre, to introduce Canada, its official languages and its Anglophone and Francophone minority communities in an interactive way to school groups. In February 2015, the Embassy also provided financial support for Grainau, in Bavaria, at the Annual Conference of the German Association for Canadian Studies, where German, Swiss and Austrian researchers discussed English literature in Quebec, and the linguistic experience of the Acadian community in Nova Scotia.

“About a hundred German school groups visit Marshall McLuhan Hall each year. By listening to us and watching the National Film Board and Radio-Canada productions we share with them, students who are learning French are generally fascinated to learn that this language will open doors for them not only in France, but also in Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, and even the Yukon! Discovering that French is alive and well throughout Canada, a country that ignites their imagination, leads many young Germans to pursue their French studies over the long term rather than cutting them short. Who knows how many of them will one day enrich our country by choosing to study, work or settle here.” [Translation]

MARIE-CLAIRE HALL, Educational Programs
Canadian Embassy in Germany

4. Services in French and English for all

Improving bilingual services across Canada helps create an environment in which both Anglophones and Francophones are able to grow and to realize their full potential. The availability of services in English and French is particularly important in the health, economic and justice sectors.

In addition to ensuring that federal services are provided in English and in French in accordance with the Official Languages Act, federal institutions support provinces, territories and non-governmental organizations to increase the quantity and quality of the minority-language services they provide. A number of the actions taken by federal institutions in 2014-15 are particularly noteworthy.

4.1 Accessing health care in their language of choice

Health care is one of the sectors where it is most important for Canadians to be able to receive services in the official language of their choice. This is why Health Canada implemented the Official Languages Health Contribution Program as part of the Roadmap 2013-2018. Through this program, health networks across Canada work on improving access to quality health care in their language for Anglophones and Francophones from minority communities.

For example, Health Canada supported RésoSanté Colombie-Britannique, a group of stakeholders dedicated to the development of French-language health care services. This assistance allowed for the publication of a directory of 800 Francophone and Francophone health professionals, and for the delivery of training sessions, including thematic workshops entitled “Soignez vos patients en français” and “Préposés aux soins de santé,” aimed at better equipping individuals who treat Francophone patients.

In terms of health care and social services, the Office of the Coordinator, Status of Women, helped the Centre d’aide et de lutte contre les agressions à caractère sexuel de l’Ouest-de-l’Île, a Francophone organization in Montreal, to approach Anglophone community organizers and to offer translation and interpretation services that will ultimately benefit English Quebecers who are victims of violence and harassment.

Figure 9. Health Canada outcomes in 2014-15

4.2 Bilingual services: a benefit to businesses and clients alike

Studies clearly show that businesses benefit from providing services for Canadians in English and in French, as clients better understand information when it is presented in the official language of their choice.

In southern Ontario, this led Status of Women Canada to help Solidarité des femmes et familles immigrantes francophones de Niagara / Hamilton (SOFIFRAN) and Oasis Centre des femmes to raise the awareness of financial institutions of the importance of developing financial products and services that better meet the specific needs of women in Francophone minority communities.

Industry Canada supported the North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation so that it could provide its services in English and in French. Although this northern Ontario organization does not have a mandate or an obligation to support the development of Francophone minority communities or to promote official languages, it now helps, through the Entrepreneurs Francophones PLUS program, entrepreneurs from Parry Sound to Kenora design new products and services and better meet the expectations of their Francophone clients.

“To date, the Entrepreneurs Francophones PLUS program has supported 235 SMEs. Our financial support has helped them develop bilingual pamphlets, Web sites and videos which, in many cases, they would not have been able to pay for without our assistance. By serving Francophones in their language, these businesses meet an important need and improve their image. Ultimately, everyone wins!” [Translation]

MELANIE LAWRENCE, Coordinator
North Claybelt Community Futures Development Corporation

4.3 Ensuring respect for the rights of all Canadians

Another sector in which citizens feel particularly vulnerable and strongly prefer to receive services in the official language of their choice is the justice sector. As part of the implementation of the Roadmap 2013-2018, Justice Canada implemented a number of initiatives to ensure respect for the rights (particularly, the language rights) of all Canadians.

Justice Canada has granted over one million dollars in funding to Francophone jurists’ associations in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta so that they could set up hubs for legal information in English and in French. As one example, the Ottawa Legal Information Centre, open since January 2015 in the downtown area of the Nation’s Capital, and five minutes from the Ottawa Courthouse, enables all Ontarians to meet with a lawyer free of charge for thirty minutes to obtain legal information and guidance services in English and in French.

“About 30% of the individuals served at the Ottawa Legal Information Centre are Francophone. The Centre is a real point of contact for people needing to navigate the complex justice system. The Centre provides legal information in all areas of law, and there are no eligibility criteria for access to this information. The Centre informs and guides the province’s residents to unclog the justice system and improve access to justice in both official languages.” [Translation]

Me Andrée-Anne Martel, Executive Director
Ottawa Legal Information Centre

5. Francophone and Anglophone communities talking to one another

Linguistic duality is an asset to Canada, an advantage which has contributed to our country’s overall development since 1867. However, the importance of having English and French as our official languages should be better known. For example, some Canadians are unaware that French is a deeply rooted part of the identity of Nova Scotia, Ontario and Manitoba, and that English is a core aspect of the identity of communities on the Lower North Shore and in Estrie in Quebec.

Federal institutions should therefore contribute to improving Canadians’ understanding of the value of linguistic duality, help citizens and newcomers raise their awareness of the significance of English and French in building the Canadian identity, and provide Anglophones and Francophones with opportunities to get to know each other better.

This section outlines some examples of measures taken by federal institutions to help Canada’s Anglophone and Francophone communities become more familiar with their country’s linguistic realities and come together.

5.1 Dialogue between Anglophones and Francophones

In 2014-15, French and English networks of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Canadian Heritage helped the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN), the Institut du Nouveau Monde and the Association for Canadian Studies introduce an initiative entitled “Young Quebecers Leading the Way.” The initiative involves organizing three annual forums, the first of which took place in March 2015 and gave 75 Francophone and Anglophone participants in Quebec the opportunity to reflect on their country’s history and on the role they intend to play in shaping the future.

“Some English-speaking Canadians were loyalists who stayed true to England in times of turmoil and who remembered where they came from while French Canadians remained faithful to their language, refused to be assimilated and fought for the survival of their mother tongue. Canada is two cultures coming together and forming a new one whilst remaining true to the events that brought us here, from the very first explorations to the independence of our country.”

Excerpt from the declaration issued by participants of the first “Young Quebecers Leading the Way” Forum.

Some of these young people aged 15 to 25 also had the opportunity to discuss their vision with the host of Quebec AM. The next forum will address Canada’s present, and the third will focus on its future.

“A study we produced in 2009, “Creating Spaces for Young Quebecers,” told us that Quebec’s English-speaking youth want to stay in Quebec. They want to be part of the discussion about the future of Quebec and Canada and bridge the divide between the French and English-speaking communities. The Young Quebecers Leading the Way project is providing them with the opportunity to do just that. The results have been incredible. Based on the feedback we received, youth participants were shocked to discover commonalities between the different linguistic and regional communities. We also discovered that due to their involvement in this project, their attachment to Canada increased between the beginning and end of their involvement. The Youth Declaration that is created each year by the youth participants really is a testament to what Quebec’s English and French-speaking youth can achieve when they collaborate.”

Alison Maynard, Youth Project Coordinator
Québec Community Groups Networks (QCGN)

Canadian Heritage also encouraged the coming together of Anglophones and Francophones by helping the Megantic English-speaking Community Development Corporation implement the “I volunteer in English et en français” project, which enabled 50 students of English A. S. Johnson High School in Thetford Mines and 200 students of the Enriched English program at Polyvalente de Black Lake school to get together and discuss issues such as linguistic duality and volunteering. As a result of this project, 67 young people from both schools were given the opportunity to volunteer in their second official language. For example, Anglophone students served meals to Francophones supported by Les Petits Frères des pauvres organization, while Anglophone seniors cared for by the United Church of Thetford Mines received a visit from young Francophones.

Public Works and Government Services Canada also contributes to dialogue between Anglophones and Francophones by helping organizations representing minority communities translate their documents. The funding provided enables stakeholders such as the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) and the Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) to communicate effectively with provincial and territorial governments and to build partnerships with the private sector and with associations.

5.2 Celebrating and raising awareness of linguistic duality

It is important for Canadians to celebrate linguistic duality and to raise awareness of the contributions of Anglophones and Francophones in building our country. Every year, federal institutions carry out or support projects that do just that.
Below are a few examples of these projects.

In 2014-15, Veterans Affairs Canada presented the history of Francophone and Anglophone minorities who wore the Canadian uniform during military conflicts, in the form of an educational kit and on a Web page entitled “The Heroes Remember.” This content included the story of Prince Edward Island’s Armand Gallant, who fought in Italy during the Second World War, and of Quebec’s George Baker, the only parliamentarian to die in combat during the First World War. The National Firm Board also produced a quality documentary on the 100 years of the Royal 22^nd Regiment, the only Francophone Canadian battalion in the First World War.

In addition, Canadian Heritage helped the Troupe du jour, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1987 to develop French-language theatre in Saskatchewan, to produce and perform “Mots d’ados” sometimes in a subtitled version, as part of a tour of 14 municipalities. Fransaskois young people wrote the script for the play, which was performed 17 times. More than 1,000 students of the province’s French schools and immersion programs, as well as 400 members of the general public attended the performances.

People are proud to see that young people in their community wrote the script that was brought to life on stage. Performing “Mots d’ados” in cities like Saskatoon had a very positive impact. This gives visibility to the French fact and shows that the French language has a present and a future, not just a past.” [Translation]

Denis Rouleau, Artistic Director
La Troupe du jour

Telefilm Canada funded the marketing of French-language Canadian films in Anglophone markets in Canada and around the globe and supported the commercialization of English-language Canadian feature-length films in Francophone markets, both domestic and international. For example, this federal institution’s support enabled Quebec producer Xavier Dolan’s film Mommy to be screened outside Quebec and to generate box office sales of $350,000 from Vancouver to St. John’s. Mommy won the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize (2014), the award for Best Film at the Gala du cinema québécois (2015) and the Canadian Screen Award for Best Motion Picture at the 2015 Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards.

Similarly, Canada Post worked with the Canadian Foundation for Cross-Cultural Dialogue to promote the Rendezvous de la Francophonie 2014, an event at which thousands of Francophones and Francophiles attended 243 screenings of French-language National Film Board audiovisual productions and participated in more than 2,300 artistic activities.

In 2014, the sixth Jeux de la francophonie canadienne were held in Gatineau, in Quebec. For five days, participants from across the country took part in events and activities that allowed them to showcase their sports or artistic talents or to demonstrate their leadership. For Quebec author and composer Luc de Larochellière, who composed the official song of the Jeux de la francophonie canadienne, “D’un accent à l’autre,” with singer Andrea Lindsay, an Ontario Anglophone who sings in French: “Events like the Jeux de la francophonie canadienne help create ties among people. This gives our culture more chances to spread across the country.” [Translation]

Figure 10. The Jeux de la francophonie canadienne in Gatineau

Figure 11. National Film Board platforms in numbers

Figure 12. Number of views on National Film Board platforms

Conclusion

This report clearly shows that in 2014-15, the Government of Canada and federal institutions continued to take steps to advance English and French throughout the country and to promote the development of minority communities.

Actions taken by the Government of Canada and federal institutions in 2014-15 contributed to:

• an increase in the number of young people able to learn English or French as a second official language or to study the language of the minority language community in their region;
• strengthening the country’s economy;
• the vitality of Anglophone and Francophone minority communities;
• the development of services in English and in French by provincial and territorial governments and nongovernmental organizations; and,
• bringing Anglophones and Francophones closer together.

The Government of Canada intends to continue these efforts in 2015-16. This coming year will be particularly significant in terms of official languages. It will mark the start of the work to develop a new multi-year official languages plan to ensure the continuation of the Roadmap 2013-2018, promote the use of both English and French in Canadian society and enhance the vitality of minority communities.

The year 2015-16 will also see planning of activities to mark the 150^th anniversary of Canadian Confederation, giving Canadians the opportunity to celebrate the role of English and French in their lives and in their country’s identity.

Appendix 1 – Actual spending of the initiatives of the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013-2018 for 2014-15

Actual spending of the initiatives 2014-2015

* As part of the Roadmap 2013-2018, Citizenship and Immigration Canada is investing $29.4 million for the initiative "Immigration to official-language minority communities”. There is a small variance of $100,000 between this amount and the funding amount for Citizenship and Immigration Canada originally announced in the public document of the Roadmap 2013-2018 in March 2013. This change was made to reflect a budget review and will not affect Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s capacity to deliver services to official language minority communities. A similar level of support and similar results are expected to be achieved.

Appendix 2 – Official languages support programs (Canadian Heritage) — Targeted results and program components

Development of official-language communities

Objective: To enhance the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and support and assist their development.

Expected outcomes

Medium term

Members of minority communities will:

• have greater access to quality education in their own language, in their community;
• have a greater access to programs and services offered, in their language, provincial and territorial governments, municipalities and community organizations;
• improve their ability to live in their own language, to participate in Canadian society and to ensure their long-term development.

The multiple partners working to foster community growth and vitality work together to better coordinate and target their efforts to support the development of the official-language minority communities.

Long term

• The sustainability of official-language minority communities in Canada is guaranteed.
• Canadians share, express and appreciate their Canadian identity.

A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion

Three program components

Community life

• Cooperation with the Community Sector
• Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services
• Community Cultural Action Fund
• Young Canada Works

Minority-language education

• Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Complementary Support for Language Learning
• Cooperation with the Non-Governmental Sector

Language rights support program

• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Legal Remedies

Enhancement of official languages

Objective: To promote the full recognition and use of English and French in Canadian society.

Expected outcomes

Medium term

• A greater proportion of Canadians will:
• have a working knowledge of both official languages;
• have a better understanding and appreciation of the benefits of linguistic duality;
• accept the rights of linguistic minorities and encourage their participation in Canadian society.

Long term

• Canada is recognized as an officially bilingual country.
• All Canadians recognize and support official languages.
• Canadians share, express and appreciate their Canadian identity.
• A diverse society that promotes linguistic duality and social inclusion.

Three program components

Promotion of linguistic duality

• Appreciation and Rapprochement
• Support for Interpretation and Translation
• Promotion of Bilingual Services

Second-language learning

• Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Complementary Support for Language Learning
• Cooperation with the Non-Governmental Sector
• Young Canada Works

Language rights support program

• Information and Promotion

Complementary activities

• Research
• Program management

Appendix 3 – Breakdown of expenditures by province and territory 2014-15 (Canadian Heritage)

Appendix 4 – Breakdown of expenditures by program component 2014-15 (Canadian Heritage)

Overall total (Grants and contributions): 340,896,744

Program Administration Cost : 16,100,970

Appendix 5 – Breakdown of education expenditures 2014-15

Appendix 6 – Breakdown of school enrolment data

Legend

Key to symbols:

K = kindergarten
P = primary
n.a. = data not available
e = Estimate (estimated data has been provided for the missing figures in 2010-11 for the Yukon Territory. These figures are drawn from the 2009-10 release.)

Notes:

1. Minority-language figures for 1983-84 exclude Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, for which there were no minority-language schools in 1983-84. For each of these jurisdictions, the earliest year for which data is available is provided in the tables to establish a reference year.
2. Second-language figures include enrolments for the majority-language system, (French in Quebec and English elsewhere). For second-language enrolment totals outside Quebec, the French immersion enrolments are included and are given separately as well. Students in French immersion in Quebec’s English-language schools are not included in the second-language totals. Data on second-language enrollment for the French language minority system in New-Brunswick were not available.
3. Second-language totals for 198384 do not include Yukon or Northwest Territories, for which no data was available.
4. The base year has been changed from 197576 to 198384 to ensure more complete coverage.
5. The enrolment data for second-language instruction and minority-language education does not include data from private schools and/or home schooling.

Source: Le Centre de la statistique de l’éducation, Statistique Canada