Report to/Rapport au :

 

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

 

and Council/et au Conseil

 

22 March 2007/le 22 mars 2007

 

Submitted by/Soumis par :  French Language Services Advisory Committee

Comité consultatif sur les services en français

 

Contact/Personne-ressource :  Julie Tremblay, Coordinator/Coordonnatrice

580-2424, ext. 28719, julie.tremblay@ottawa.ca

 

 

Ref N°:   ACS2007-CCV-FLS-0001E

 

SUBJECT:     FRENCH LANGUAGE SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE –
2006 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2007 WORKPLAN

 

OBJET:          COMITÉ CONSULTATIF SUR LES SERVICES EN FRANÇAIS – RAPPORT ANNUEL DE 2006 ET PLAN DE TRAVAIL POUR 2007

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:

 

1.   Receive the 2006 Annual Report of the French Language Services Advisory Committee, as detailed in Attachment 1; and

 

2.   Approve the 2007 Workplan for the French Language Services Advisory Committee, as detailed in Attachment 2.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande que le Conseil municipal :

 

1.   Prenne connaissance du Rapport annuel de 2006 du Comité consultatif sur les services en français, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 1; et

 

2.   Approuve le Plan de travail de 2007 du Comité consultatif sur les services en français, tel que décrit à la pièce jointe no 2.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

Pursuant to their Terms of Reference, each City of Ottawa Advisory Committees is required to report annually, through its respective Standing Committee, with respect to its Annual Report and its workplan for the following year.  The purpose of the Advisory Committee’s workplan is to identify the activities the Committee plans to undertake in the upcoming year and whether or not these have a budgetary impact.  Each activity should be identified, a brief description of the project or activity should be provided.

 

The Lead Department Representatives are to provide the Committee with information on the departmental workplan and priorities, where the Committee’s workplan ties into the Department’s workplan, and where the Committee can assist the Department.  The Lead Department Representative will also advise on what staff and/or financial resources are available as part of the departmental priorities.

 

There was no funding approved for the advisory committee 2007 workplans.

 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The French Language Services Advisory Committee’s Terms of Reference include the requirement to produce an annual work plan.  The work plan is a means to establish projects, activities and initiatives that will take place the following year. 

 

At its 22 March 2007 meeting, the French Language Services Advisory Committee (FLSAC) approved its 2006 annual report, 2007 workplan and Terms of Reference.  Amendments were made to reflect the deletion of the liaison representative.  The final versions of the 2006 Annual Report, 2007 Workplan and Terms of Reference can be found at Attachments 1, 2 and 3 of this report, respectively.

 

 

CONSULTATION

 

French Language Services Department

 

The FLSAC consulted with Lead Department staff in preparing this report.

 

The French Language Services Division (FLSD) sought to support the FLSAC in preparing the 2006 Annual Report and the 2007 Workplan, two documents that are a clear reflection of the FLSAC activities.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no financial implications associated with this report.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

 

Attachment 1 –    2006 Annual Report of the French Language Services Advisory Committee

Attachment 2 –    2007 Workplan of the French Language Services Advisory Committee

 

 

DISPOSITION

 

City Clerks Branch staff will forward the recommendations approved by the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee to City Council for ratification.

 

 

ATTACHMENT 1

 

French Language Services Advisory Committee

 

Annual Report 2006

 

INTRODUCTION

 

In 2006, the French Language Services Advisory Committee (FLSAC) held five meetings to discuss its mandate, intervene on mandate-related issues, receive public delegations and make recommendations to City Council and City services. The FLSAC also has a number of working sub-committees, which met throughout the year

 

 

NEW ISSUES

Subject

Project description

Outcomes

Community Funding Program

During the period covered by this report, the FLSAC received a request to participate in the committee responsible for allocating some community funding grants.

A member of the FLSAC sat on a jury responsible for allocating certain grants. The FLSAC also submitted comments on the new Community Funding Framework.

 

 

 

Ottawa Police Service Official Languages Policy

The Ottawa Police Service asked the FLSAC to provide its views on the Official Languages Policy it is about to adopt.

The request was made at a meeting between the co-chairs of the FLSAC and the members of the Police Services Board. The FLSAC was to follow up on the request in early 2007.

In 2006, the FLSAC made a presentation to the Police Services Board emphasizing the importance of selecting a new police chief with adequate working French; the Committee also stressed this point at a public consultation on the issue of hiring a chief.

 

 

ONGOING ISSUES

Subject

Project description

Outcomes

French Language Services Division (FLSD) activities

The FLSAC received regular updates on the activities of the FLSD throughout the period.

The FLSAC has been kept informed of ongoing activities as well as new issues.

 

 

 

 

 

City of Ottawa’s 150th Anniversary Celebrations

Created in 2005, this FLSAC sub-committee continued to work on the commemorative project, particularly by looking for partners.

The sub-committe contacted numerous organizations likely to support the project. An initial meeting was held in February and the work, under the direction of the FLSD, resumed in the autumn when confirmation of the Heritage Canada grant was received. The project will be completed in 2007 in time to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the naming of Ottawa as the nation’s capital.

 

 

 

Designation of City of Ottawa bilingual positions.

The FLSAC sub-committee on the designation of bilingual positions continued to receive regular updates on the process and to participate in its development.

During the period covered by this report, the Committee received updates from FLSD on the process and provided suggestions.

 

 

 

Complaints sub-committee

Through this sub-committee, the FLSAC continued to study the complaints received by the FLSD, to assist in adequately resolving these complaints and to recommend new actions and follow-ups as required.

In 2006, the FLSAC received complaint reports and made recommendations to assist with their resolution.

 

 

 

French-language recreation services

During this period, the FLSAC continued to receive updates on the availability of recreation programs and services in French.

The FLSAC closely followed this issue throughout the year, requesting regular updates, holding meetings with the employees responsible and offering to participate in the French-language services working group set up by the Parks and Recreation branch. The FLSAC has received periodic reports but was not invited to participate in the working group.

 

 

 

French-language child-care spaces

Throughout 2006, the FLSAC continued to receive updates on the availability of child-care spaces for francophone children. Committee members also participated in a sub-committed set up for the purpose of reaching equity in City-subsidized child care services.

FLSAC members held numerous meetings with community stakeholders involved in the issue and also met with city officials responsible for these services.

·  January 2006: the study commissioned by the City clearly proved the inequality of the services offered in French and English.

·  January 2006: at the City’s request, the FLSAC participated in developing a catch-up plan.

·  August and September 2006: the administration tabled another plan, which was later approved by community representatives.

 

 

 

Public delegations

The FLSAC received submissions from public delegations and community interest groups throughout this period.

These submissions enabled the FLSAC to better fulfill its mandate, especially by providing “a forum for citizens to raise issues and concerns”.

 

 

OPERATIONS

Subject

Project description

Outcomes

FLSAC sub-committee structure

During this period the FLSAC reviewed the structure of its sub-committees.

Following the review, the FLSAC decided to keep the most relevant sub-committees and create new, ad hoc sub-committees as needed. Current sub-committees are

▪ communications and liaison;

▪ complaints;

▪ bilingual positions designation;

▪ child-care services;

▪ recreation services;

▪ Ottawa Public Library;

▪ Ottawa Police Service.

 

 

 

2005 Annual Report and 2006 Work Plan

In 2006, the FLSAC completed its 2005 Annual Report and finalized its 2006 Work Plan.

Both documents were presented to the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee for submission to Council, and received final approval in March 2006.

 

 

 

 

Communications

The FLSAC developed a communications plan in 2006.

The plan, approved by the Committee, confirmed the strategy of maintaining an effective dialogue with the community as a whole, with the objective of promoting cooperation, and identified actions to attain the objectives.

 

 

ATTACHMENT 2

 

French Language Services Advisory Committee

 

2007 Work Plan

 

The mandate of the French Language Services Advisory Committee (FLSAC) is to provide advice to Ottawa City Council and City departments on issues that impact official languages in the City. To fulfill its mandate, the FLSAC has set the following goals for 2007.

 

 

1.      Develop service delivery models that are adapted to the needs and realities of the francophone community in all its diversity. The models should enable the City to offer services of equal quality in French and English, in accordance with its Bilingualism Policy.

 

FLSAC areas of interest:

·          recreation services;

·          child-care services;

·          community funding;

·          services for the homeless and for tenants at risk;

·          halfway houses and drop-in centres;

·          public health;

·          paramedical services.

 

 

2.      Continue to support municipal commissions in the development of policies and services in French. Suggest delivery models adapted to the francophone community.

 

FLSAC areas of interest:

·          Ottawa Public Library;

·          Ottawa Police Service.

 

 

3.      Work to improve French-language services in various ways and in cooperation with the French Language Services Division.

 

 

4.      Continue to monitor closely the process of designating bilingual positions. The Committee will continue to stay abreast of the main issues in the implementation of the designated positions.

 

 

5.      Continue to monitor closely the complaints process pertaining to French-language services.

 

 

6.      Meet public delegations and inform the community of the FLSAC’s work.

 

 

7.      Make the FLSAC’s mandate and work better known. Raise the profile of its activities, especially by carrying out the actions enumerated in the communications plan.

 

Specifically:

·          continue the community collaboration initiated;

·          set up a mechanism to ensure a more systematic presence of FLSAC members in community and City events;

·          raise the awareness of community groups, both French-speaking and non-French-speaking, about the FLSAC’s mandate with regard to City Council and its standing committees;

·          strengthen collaborative links between the FLSAC and the above-mentioned groups;

·          contribute to the work of the other City advisory committees to make them aware of the needs of the francophone community;

·          provide advice and guidance to City officials and employees to facilitate implementation of the City’s Bilingualism Policy;

·          identify steps to use in monitoring the FLSAC coverage in the local media.

 

 

8.      Investigate the possibility of organizing a meeting or symposium with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and other partners with the object of better informing the community about the importance of official languages. This activity could coincide with the Francophone and Acadian Communities Summit, which will take place in Ottawa on June 1 to 3, 2007.

 

 

9.      Work towards the recruitment of new FLSAC members, as the Committee no longer has an adequate number of members.