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Annual Report 2017–2018

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Annual Report 2017–2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 2018 wwww.officiallanguages.gc.ca To reach the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages or to obtain a copy in an alternative format, dial toll-free 1-877-996-6368. www.officiallanguages.gc.ca © Minister of Public Services and Procurement 2018 Cat. No.: SF1E-PDF ISSN: 1495-9968 The Speaker of the House of Commons Ottawa Mr. Speaker, Pursuant to section 66 of the Official Languages Act, I hereby submit to Parliament, through your good offices, the annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages covering the period from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. Yours respectfully, Raymond Théberge The Speaker of the Senate Ottawa Mr. Speaker, Pursuant to section 66 of the Official Languages Act, I hereby submit to Parliament, through your good offices, the annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages covering the period from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2018. Yours respectfully, Raymond Théberge Table of contents Preface HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING .........................................................................................................1 Special mention LANGUAGE PORTAL OF CANADA ........................................................................................................2 Office of the Commissioner A FEW STATS FOR 2017–2018 .........................................................................................................3 Chapter 1 A LOOK BACK AT THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF CONFEDERATION ........................................................4 MAJOR EVENTS................................................................................................................................4 Greetings in both official languages by the Parliamentary Protective Service ...............................................4 Complaints about Canada 150 ..........................................................................................................5 Canada Games in Winnipeg .............................................................................................................5 The bilingual face of Canada as G7 host ..............................................................................................5 PARKS CANADA FOLLOW-UPS .............................................................................................................6 BILINGUALISM IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ......................................................................................6 Voice of the government .................................................................................................................6 Action plan for more bilingual judges .................................................................................................7 THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER CELEBRATES CANADA 150 .................................................................7 Legislative and judicial bilingualism ...................................................................................................7 Conference on the future of linguistic duality .......................................................................................8 Chapter 2 NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ................................................................................8 PRIORITIZING EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................................8 Strategic alliance ...........................................................................................................................8 Announcement by Minister Jean-Yves Duclos ........................................................................................9 NEW OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACTION PLAN .............................................................................................9 TOWARD A NEW COURT CHALLENGES PROGRAM .................................................................................10 INTERVENTION BEFORE THE COURTS .................................................................................................10 SPECIAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT ON AIR CANADA ...............................................................................10 MODERNIZING THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES REGULATIONS .......................................................................11 LEGISLATION THAT REFLECTS CONTEMPORARY CANADA .......................................................................11 Where are we now? .....................................................................................................................11 Standing Senate Committee study ...................................................................................................12 MEDIA AND OFFICIAL LANGUAGE COMMUNITIES .................................................................................12 Complaints about Netflix ...............................................................................................................12 Investigation into increasing Internet use ..........................................................................................12 The Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario releases White Paper .......................................................13 LANGUAGE OF PUBLICATION FOR TRIBUNAL DECISIONS ........................................................................13 Chapter 3 LEADERSHIP IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE................................................................................................13 CLERK OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL’S REPORT ON LANGUAGE OF WORK ..........................................................13 Recommendation 1 ......................................................................................................................14 SECTION 91 ISSUES .........................................................................................................................14 CANADA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC SERVICE LEARNING SERVICES .....................................................................15 TWINNING PROGRAM IN ATLANTIC CANADA .......................................................................................15 FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE VOICEMAIL .................................................................................................16 EFFORTS NEEDED IN PROVINCIAL EDUCATION FUNDING ........................................................................16 IMMIGRATION ..............................................................................................................................16 Investigation into language tests for prospective economic immigrants ....................................................16 Complaints about Syrian refugee resettlement ...................................................................................17 Immigration and Francophone minority communities...........................................................................17 OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER’S TOOLS AND STRATEGIES .....................................................................17 Official languages maturity model ...................................................................................................17 Recommendation 2 ......................................................................................................................18 Observations for measuring performance ..........................................................................................18 Investigation into the Canada Lands Company ....................................................................................18 Recommendations for Employment and Social Development Canada .......................................................19 Promotional efforts with federal institutions ......................................................................................19 Research at the Office of the Commissioner .......................................................................................19 Strategies for processing complaints ................................................................................................20 Preface HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING This 2017–2018 annual report marks the transition between the end of Interim Commissioner of Official Languages Ghislaine Saikaley’s tenure and my arrival in late January 2018. This past year will be remembered as a time of many stimulating challenges and great opportunities for the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. It was obvious to me from my first day that, in the 13 months preceding my arrival, Interim Commissioner Saikaley and the team here at the Office of the Commissioner performed their duties with professionalism, commitment and integrity—qualities that are vital for keeping our organization running smoothly and effectively. I am privileged to have inherited a strong, healthy organization replete with dedicated professionals who are passionate about linguistic duality and with whom I have had the honour and pleasure of working since January 29, 2018. As this annual report shows, the Office of the Commissioner’s many activities in 2017–2018 prompted federal institutions to focus their attention on official languages, a matter of key importance in a year when all eyes were on the celebrations of Canada’s 150th anniversary. The Office of the Commissioner engaged with federal institutions, committees responsible for organizing large-scale events, and parliamentarians who were called upon to represent the government at public events. Considerable progress was also made in 2017–2018 in the review we began on the modernization of the
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