Question Period Note: 2018-2023 Action Plan for Official Languages – Status of Implementation

On March 28, 2018, the Government of Canada unveiled its 2018-2023 Action Plan for Official Languages, which includes nearly 500 million dollars in new funding over five years. Implementation of the Action Plan’s new initiatives is well underway. The majority of the new initiatives have been rolled-out.

·       The 2018-2023 Action Plan for Official Languages represents an additional investment of 500 million dollars, and is a testament to our commitment to official languages.
• The majority of the Action Plan’s new initiatives have now been fully rolled-out.

• On March 28, 2018, the Government of Canada unveiled its 2018-2023 Action Plan for Official Languages: Investing in Our Future (Action Plan). The Action Plan represents close to
$500 million in new funds over five years, and focuses on three pillars: Strengthening our Communities ($267 million); Strengthening Access to Services ($129 million); and Promoting a Bilingual Canada ($100 million).
• These funds are in addition to the ongoing program funds, notably those of the 2013-2018 Roadmap, for an unprecedented investment of $2.7 billion over five years.
• By initiating and leading the development and implementation of the new Action Plan within the Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage is assuming its role of horizontal coordination of official languages.
• Timelines have been respected. Some of the Action Plan’s new initiatives were implemented in 2018-2019, others have been implemented early in 2019-2020. A few initiatives will be launched in the coming months.
• Status of the Action Plan’s new initiatives associated with Canadian Heritage’s Official Languages Support Programs:
o Additional Funding for Community Organizations: completed in 2019-2020.
o Enhancement of the Community Cultural Action Fund: completed in 2019-2020.
o Fund for Quebec English-Speaking Communities: completed in 2019-2020.
o Community Media Strategic Support Fund: completed in 2019-2020.
o Minority Community Media Internships: completed in 2018-2019.
o Support for Community Spaces – Infrastructure: completed in 2019-2020.
o Strengthening Strategic Investment Capacity: completed in 2019-2020.
o Support to Civic Community School Initiative: ongoing (FJCF identified to manage « Vice versa » fund, expected to launch by December 31, 2019).
o Teacher Recruitment Strategies for French-Language Minority Community Schools and French as a Second Language: completed in 2019-2020 (project analysis underway).
o Enhanced Support for French-language Services in the Territories: completed in 2016-2017.
o The Mauril: Canadian Cultural Program for Learning English and French as Second Languages: ongoing (agreement in place for the development of the solution).
o Enhanced Support to Explore and Odyssey programs: completed in 2018-2019.
o Bursaries for Post-Secondary Education in French as a Second Language: ongoing (ACUFC identified to manage funds; launch expected by January 31, 2020.
o Additional Support for Young Canada Works: completed in 2018-2019.
• Other federal departments and agencies are partners of the Action Plan. In particular, the Action Plan announced new initiatives at Employment and Social Development Canada, Health Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Department of Justice and Statistics Canada. These federal partners remain responsible for the implementation of their activities and for their reporting. The implementation of these new initiatives is well underway and the majority are in place.
• On March 28, 2018, the Government of Canada unveiled its 2018-2023 Action Plan for Official Languages: Investing in Our Future (Action Plan). The Action Plan represents close to
$500 million in new funds over five years, and focuses on three pillars: Strengthening our Communities ($267 million); Strengthening Access to Services ($129 million); and Promoting a Bilingual Canada ($100 million).
• These funds are in addition to the ongoing program funds, notably those of the 2013-2018 Roadmap, for an unprecedented investment of $2.7 billion over five years.
• By initiating and leading the development and implementation of the new Action Plan within the Government of Canada, Canadian Heritage is assuming its role of horizontal coordination of official languages.
• Timelines have been respected. Some of the Action Plan’s new initiatives were implemented in 2018-2019, others have been implemented early in 2019-2020. A few initiatives will be launched in the coming months.
• Status of the Action Plan’s new initiatives associated with Canadian Heritage’s Official Languages Support Programs:
o Additional Funding for Community Organizations: completed in 2019-2020.
o Enhancement of the Community Cultural Action Fund: completed in 2019-2020.
o Fund for Quebec English-Speaking Communities: completed in 2019-2020.
o Community Media Strategic Support Fund: completed in 2019-2020.
o Minority Community Media Internships: completed in 2018-2019.
o Support for Community Spaces – Infrastructure: completed in 2019-2020.
o Strengthening Strategic Investment Capacity: completed in 2019-2020.
o Support to Civic Community School Initiative: ongoing (FJCF identified to manage « Vice versa » fund, expected to launch by December 31, 2019).
o Teacher Recruitment Strategies for French-Language Minority Community Schools and French as a Second Language: completed in 2019-2020 (project analysis underway).
o Enhanced Support for French-language Services in the Territories: completed in 2016-2017.
o The Mauril: Canadian Cultural Program for Learning English and French as Second Languages: ongoing (agreement in place for the development of the solution).
o Enhanced Support to Explore and Odyssey programs: completed in 2018-2019.
o Bursaries for Post-Secondary Education in French as a Second Language: ongoing (ACUFC identified to manage funds; launch expected by January 31, 2020.
o Additional Support for Young Canada Works: completed in 2018-2019.
• Other federal departments and agencies are partners of the Action Plan. In particular, the Action Plan announced new initiatives at Employment and Social Development Canada, Health Canada, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Department of Justice and Statistics Canada. These federal partners remain responsible for the implementation of their activities and for their reporting. The implementation of these new initiatives is well underway and the majority are in place.

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