Collaboration Accord Between the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Community Sector of the Francophone Community of British Columbia

Parties have signed the attached copy of the Collaboration Accord in its French version. The translated version of the Accord is for information only and does not bind the parties.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

The Government of Canada and the community sector of British Columbia's Francophone community have a long history of working together for the common good of French-speaking Canadians living in British Columbia. We share a commitment to improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens and to fostering the development of vibrant, healthy communities. The presence of official-language minority communities contributes to the improvement of quality of life for all Canadians. Our relationship is built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect.

The Government of Canada has undertaken, via the Official Languages Act, to enhance the vitality of linguistic minority communities in Canada (Anglophones in Quebec and Francophones outside Quebec), to assist their development and to promote the full recognition and use of both official languages in Canadian society.

This Collaboration Accord Between Canadian Heritage and the Community Sector of the Francophone Community of British Columbia largely mirrors the accord signed in December 2001 by the Prime Minister and representatives of Canada's voluntary sector (An Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector).


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Background

The relationship between the Government of Canada and official-language minority communities has led to significant progress since 1970. Over the two cycles of Canada-Community Agreements from 1994 to 2004, new organizations have emerged and networks have grown stronger.

The Action Plan for Official Languages adopted in March 2003 reaffirms the Government of Canada's commitment to linguistic duality. The Action Plan creates a horizontal accountability and coordination framework to report to Canadians on the results achieved in three main areas: an exemplary public service, education, and the development of official-language minority communities. The framework applies to all federal institutions. In addition, ten departments and agencies receive funding under the Action Plan. Within both government and the communities themselves, community development architects and partners have grown more numerous and more diverse.

The community sector of British Columbia's Francophone Community Adopted its third Global Development Plan, for the period 2004-2009.

The Francophone community is growing steadily and can rely on a network of Francophone associations and community centres that are accessible in most of the province's large cities.

The Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (Francophone Education Authority) caters to more than 3,500 students in 37 schools, including 19 homogenous French-language Schools. New homogenous schools have been built, and there are plans to build additional schools. In addition, close to 7 percent of the province's population are able to sustain a conversation in the French language. The annual increase in the number of youth enrolled in immersion programs attests to the appeal of the French language. Some 33,500 students are enrolled in such programs.

The different levels of government participate in the development of the province's Francophone community.

The first Canada-British Columbia Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages was signed in 2001. This agreement led the Government of British Columbia to create a Francophone Affairs section in the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat, and led to the nomination of an elected representative responsible for Francophone Affairs to ensure the liaison with the Francophone community.

Several municipal authorities recognize the contribution of Francophones to the social and cultural life of their city, and have come to maintain closer links with local Francophone associations.

The Francophone community's vitality is accompanied by the development of Francophone institutions in the province. During recent years:

  • Eight new French-language television networks and a new radio station (CBC/Radio-Canada - Chaîne culturelle) have become available;
  • A French-language newspaper, L'Express du Pacifique, has been established;
  • An Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs was inaugurated at Simon Fraser University; and
  • RésoSanté Colombie-Britannique was set up to support the development, integrated access and continuity of French-language health services throughout the province.

As a community development architect, Canada's community sector is one of three pillars of Canadian society, along with the public and private sectors. Our quality of life, our economic strength, and the vitality of our democratic institutions depend on the vibrancy of these interdependent sectors and the support they provide to one another. Volunteers and staff working in British Columbia's Francophone community sector organizations are actively involved in making a difference and improving their communities. They deliver services critical to Canadians, advocate for common causes, and support economic and community development in Canada.

The community sector has also been instrumental in the development of most of the public services we now consider essential components of a caring society: schools, hospitals, support for the underprivileged, and care for children in need. All of these services began as volunteer initiatives. Today, the Canadian public and volunteer sectors both take part in providing these services. In communities, the Francophone community sector remains a key provider of services in the province's minority official language. The Department acknowledges this important contribution of British Columbia's Francophone community sector to the development of the province's Francophone community.

Organizations in the Francophone community sector bring their knowledge, expertise and compassion in working with communities and individuals to public policy debates and identify priorities to governments. By encouraging people to participate and work together for common causes, the sector strengthens citizen involvement, gives voice to the voiceless, allows for multiple perspectives to be heard on a variety of issues, and provides opportunities for people to practice the skills of democratic life.

The community sector of the Francophone community provides opportunities for volunteers to contribute to the life of their communities. The term "volunteer" refers to all who work by choice, without remuneration, on causes or for people outside their personal sphere. People volunteer formally, through organizations, or informally by participating and helping others. Volunteering takes different forms in different cultures and different regions of the country. Women and men who volunteer are committed to making a difference and believe deeply in the work they are doing.

Volunteers are involved in all three sectors, but it is the Canadian community sector that was developed by volunteers and continues to do the most to mobilize their efforts. The rich network of organizations known as the community sector helps make Canada the humane, caring, and prosperous nation it is, and is one of the strengths for which Canada is known around the world.


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The Parties to this Accord

The Community Sector of the Francophone Community of British Columbia

This Accord applies to the community sector of British Columbia's Francophone community. This sector consists of organizations that exist to serve a public benefit, are self-governing, do not distribute any profits to members, and depend to a meaningful degree on volunteers. Membership or involvement in these organizations is not compulsory, and they are independent and distinct, as institutions, from the formal structures of government and the private sector. Although many Francophone community organizations rely on paid staff to carry out their work, all depend on volunteers, at least on their boards of directors.

The Department of Canadian Heritage

This Accord applies to the Department of Canadian Heritage, by virtue of the Official Languages Act.

Scope of the Accord

The Accord's focus is on the relationship between the Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage. Both the Department and the Francophone community sector have relationships with other federal departments and agencies, other levels of government (provincial and local), private sector entities and government, and quasi-government bodies. Each of these relationships has its own history and dynamics. The Accord recognizes the importance of these relationships but it does not apply to them.

The Accord also recognizes that many Francophone community organizations do not work directly with Canadian Heritage but nevertheless contribute to enhancing the vitality of British Columbia's Francophone community. It acknowledges that Canadian Heritage and Francophone community organizations may in some circumstances take different policy approaches or choose to address matters of common interest separately.

Reason for the Accord

British Columbia's Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage share a long tradition of joining forces to achieve common goals. Both sides believe, however, that there is benefit in formalizing the relationship with an accord that will facilitate greater mutual understanding and more cooperative ways of working together.

Both the Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage are large and diverse. It is important for each to know what to expect from the other, and to appreciate the roles, goals, and perspectives of the other.

Ten years of cooperation through two cycles of Canada-Community Agreements have helped the relationship between the Department and the Francophone community sector evolve towards the shared goal of community-driven development. This Accord builds on previous efforts and seeks to improve the relationship, while respecting limitations of each party.

THE ACCORD

PART I – PURPOSE OF THE ACCORD

The purpose of the Accord is to strengthen the ability of both the Francophone community sector of British Columbia and Canadian Heritage to better serve French-speaking Canadians living in British Columbia.

This Accord derives its strength from the evolving relationship between the Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage. While the Accord is not a legal document, it is designed to guide the evolution of this relationship by identifying the common values, principles and commitments that will shape future practices. It focuses on what unites the Francophone community sector and government, honours the contributions of both, and respects their unique strengths and different ways of working.

The Accord attests to a public commitment of Canadian Heritage and of the Francophone community sector to work together in an open, transparent, consistent and collaborative way. When working together, Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector seek to fulfill the commitments set out in the Accord, and in so doing enhance the quality of life of French-speaking Canadians living in British Columbia.


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PART II – VALUES

The Accord is based on the following seven Canadian values that are most relevant to the relationship between Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector. These values are closely interrelated and together create a climate for improving and enhancing the lives of all Canadians:

Linguistic Duality

  • Enhancing the vitality of official-language minority communities, supporting and assisting their development, and promoting the full recognition and use of both official languages in Canadian society;

Democracy

  • Upholding the right to associate freely, to express views freely and to engage in advocacy;

Active Citizenship

  • Accepting the active involvement or engagement of individuals and communities in shaping society, whether through political or voluntary activity or both;

Equality

  • Respecting the rights of Canadians under the Constitution Act of 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and the Official Languages Act;

Diversity

  • Respecting the rich variety of cultures, languages, identities, interests, views, abilities, and communities in Canada;

Inclusion

  • Accepting the expression and representation of diversity and upholding the right of each to speak and be heard;

Social Justice

  • Ensuring full participation in the social, economic and political life of communities.

PART III – PRINCIPLES

The Accord is based on the following guiding principles:

Independence

Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector are autonomous, have unique strengths and separate accountabilities, and agree that:

  • Canadian Heritage, within the mandate given to it by Parliament, is accountable to all Canadians for its actions, and has a responsibility to identify issues of national concern and mobilize resources to address them, establish policies, and make decisions in the best interest of all Canadians;
  • Francophone organizations are accountable to their supporters and to those they serve in providing services, organizing activities, and giving collective voice at the local, provincial, national, and international levels;
  • The independence of Francophone community organizations includes their right within the law to challenge public policies, programs, and legislation and to advocate for change; and
  • Advocacy is inherent to debate and change in a democratic society and, subject to the above principles, it should not affect any funding relationship that might exist.

Interdependence

The Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage recognize that:

  • The actions of one can directly or indirectly affect the other, since both often share the same objective of common good, operate in the same areas of Canadian life, and serve the same clients; and
  • Each has complex and important relationships with others (other federal departments and agencies; provincial, territorial, and local governments; business; labour; etc.), and the Accord is not meant to affect these relationships.

Dialogue

The Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage, recognizing that sharing ideas, perspectives, and experiences contributes to better understanding, improved identification of priorities, and sound public policy, agree that:

  • Dialogue should be open, respectful, informed, sustained, and welcoming of a range of viewpoints;
  • Dialogue should respect each party's confidential information, should build and maintain trust; and
  • Appropriately designed processes and governance structures are necessary to achieve sustained dialogue.

Cooperation and Collaboration

Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector agree that the social fabric of communities is strengthened and civic engagement is increased when they work together to address issues of mutual concern, and that:

  • Working together to identify common priorities or complementary objectives will facilitate cooperation and collaboration; and
  • Working relationships should be flexible and respect what others contribute, as well as the challenges and constraints under which they operate.

Accounting to Canadians

In addition to their separate accountabilities, the Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage are accountable for maintaining the trust and confidence of Canadians by:

  • Ensuring transparency, high standards of conduct, and sound management in their work together; and
  • Monitoring and reporting on the results.

Transparency

Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector must promote a mutual understanding of the context in which they operate and a clear understanding of the factors affecting decisions on each side. They agree that organizations in the Francophone community sector and the Department must communicate information on their functioning, practices, intentions, objectives, and results in a timely manner.


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PART IV – COMMITMENTS TO ACTION

The values and principles of the Accord are the basis for the development of the relationship between Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector. Success in building the relationship will depend on the actions and practices of both Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector for the benefit of French-speaking Canadians living in British Columbia. In moving forward, the following commitments will be essential:

Shared commitments

The Francophone community sector of British Columbia and Canadian Heritage commit to:

  • Act in a manner consistent with the values and principles in this Accord;
  • Develop the mechanisms and processes required to implement the Accord;
  • Work together as appropriate to achieve shared goals and objectives;
  • Support community-driven development; and
  • Promote awareness and understanding of the contributions that each makes to Canadian society.

Canadian Heritage Commitments

Canadian Heritage, within its mandate under Part VII of the Official Languages Act, commits to:

  • Recognize and consider the implications of its legislation, regulations, policies, and programs on organizations in the Francophone community, including the importance of funding policies and practices for the further development of the relationship and the strengthening of the Francophone community sector's capacity; and
  • Recognize its need to engage the Francophone community sector in open, informed and sustained dialogue so that the sector may contribute its experience, expertise, knowledge, and ideas in developing better public policies, in the design and delivery of programs, and in the implementation of the interdepartmental and intergovernmental roles as defined in Part VII of the Official Languages Act.

British Columbia Francophone Community Sector Commitments

The Francophone community sector of British Columbia commits to:

  • Continue to identify important or emerging issues and trends in communities, and acting on them or bringing them to the attention of Canadian Heritage, under its mandate (Part VII of the Official Languages Act), and of the Government of Canada, in keeping with its Action Plan on Official Languages;
  • Serve as a means for the voices and views of all parts of the Francophone community sector to be represented and heard by Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada, ensuring the mobilization and engagement of the various elements of the sector; and
  • Recognize its need to engage an open, informed and sustained dialogue within the Francophone community sector, so that it may:
    • Articulate a common vision with respect to its overall development and a sequence of strategic priorities in the form of a Global Development Plan; and consequently
    • Make informed choices required for the Francophone community sector's accountability for results.

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PART V – APPLICATION OF THE ACCORD

The Francophone community sector of British Columbia and Canadian Heritage agree on:

  • The common results they wish to attain to enhance the development and vitality of British Columbia's Francophone community, taking into account the key community issues they have are identified;
  • The appropriate organizational structures to implement the provisions of the Accord, at the Department of Canadian Heritage and in the Francophone community sector, with due attention to lessening the administrative burden; and
  • The processes for implementing the Accord, for evaluating its effectiveness, for reporting to Canadians on the status of the relationship and the results that have been achieved, for agreeing on next steps, and for considering strategic opportunities for future collaboration.

The aim is that the Accord and its implementation plan will provide a framework for helping the Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage better serve French-speaking Canadians living in British Columbia.

1. Key Community Issues and Common Results

The Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage take note of the key issues affecting the Francophone community of British Columbia and agree on common results to enhance the vitality of this community.

1.1. Key Community Issues

The Francophone community of British Columbia faces many issues that were discussed and identified during the consultations leading to the community's 2004-2009 Global Development Plan. The key issues are:

  • To increase the number of Francophones in British Columbia through immigration and the integration of newcomers;

    To reinforce the linguistic and cultural vitality through:

    • the commitment of a greater number of Francophones in community life;
    • the possibility for Francophones to live in a French environment as often as possible;
    • the development of a cultural identity for young people; and
    • the inclusion of Francophiles in the Francophone community;
  • To develop a close relationship between Francophone schools and organizations;
  • To develop a partnership between Francophone community groups, majority groups and multicultural groups; and
  • To support the development and vitality of the Francophone community through its participation in the Vancouver Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2010.
1.2. Common Results

Canadian Heritage takes note of the objectives and thirty-eight (38) targeted results set out in the British Columbia Francophone community's 2004-2009 Global Development Plan. These objectives and results are organized under the following eight sectors:

  • Arts and Culture: The community's artistic and cultural expression is a tangible sign of its vitality. It is carried by its artists and artisans, and by the work of its presenters and broadcasters, whose activities and initiatives make the Francophone presence visible, and liven up its cultural institutions in the province.
  • Communications: The Communications sector refers to the mechanisms and tools the community needs to develop effectively. Access to French-language media and to French-language information and communications technologies is vital. The community's visibility is also important as a means to promote Francophone presence on the local, provincial, national and international scenes.
  • Community Development: Community development is embodied in the long term by community-driven development, and refers to the actions of communities in the field. In essence, these actions seek to promote a French-language community life.
  • Economic Development: To advance its development on the language and culture front, the community must also build structures, capital and economic resources. Through its efforts in this sector, the community promotes self-development and contributes to the province's economic development.
  • Political and Legal Development and Acknowledgment of the Community: This sector represents the Francophone community's initiatives aiming to ensure its full development and vitality. These actions are based on advocacy efforts to obtain recognition of rights and access to services for Francophones living in all areas of the province. Advocacy efforts are carried out at the federal, provincial and municipal government levels.
  • Education and Training: It is essential to provide the community with services and infrastructures that will ensure educational development at all levels. The Francophone community of British Columbia must obtain French-language services in many areas, such as preschool, public education, post-secondary education, continuing education, and informal education.
  • Social Services and Health: Access to health services and to social services is a fundamental need of the Francophone community. These initiatives are essential to maintain a quality of life that is equal to the quality of life enjoyed by the English-speaking population.
  • Support: In order to support the above priority sectors, the community must manage its development, and it must ensure that existing infrastructures are maintained and reinforced.

As part of its legislative mandate, Canadian Heritage will use the tools at its disposal to support British Columbia's Francophone community sector's efforts to achieve these results. These tools notably include collaboration with the community sector and interdepartmental and intergovernmental cooperation, as described in Part V below.

The community sector is responsible for calling on the resources of the various departments and levels of government and initiating dialogue with these interlocutors based on their areas of jurisdiction and responsibilities in the provision of public services.

The Provincial Consultative Committee will develop a working schedule to define the common results specifically targeted by collaboration with Canadian Heritage. Agreement from both parties on these common results will be necessary.


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2. Cooperation and Collaboration

2.1. Community Cooperation and Cohesion

The vitality of British Columbia's Francophone community hinges on the joint efforts of many development architects, namely community networks and their individual organizations, community institutions, public and para-public institutions, and the private sector. It also hinges on getting people to volunteer their time and effort for a cause or the public good, and thus contribute to the life of their community.

This collaboration Accord aims at encouraging community cooperation and cohesion among all architects of community development. It will require the joint effort of all community development architects. These may include groups that are funded by Cooperation with the Community Sector, as well as institutions and organizational networks that do not receive funding from that envelope, notably in sectors such as healthcare, community economic development, education, and immigrant support.

Community Cooperation Forum: Nature and Role

The Francophone community sector of British Columbia promotes a cooperative approach and optimal efficiency among all community development architects. To do so, it establishes a preferred mechanism for provincial community cooperation called the Community Cooperation Forum.

The Francophone Community Cooperation Forum of British Columbia is presently made up of fifty (50) Francophone organizations distributed as follows:

  • Four (4) sectors: Education; Arts and Culture; Economic Development; and Community Development;
  • Three (3) target groups: Youth; Seniors; and Women; and
  • Four (4) regions: Vancouver Island; North; South; and Metropolitan Vancouver.

The composition of the Community Cooperation Forum may be defined from time to time according to the 2004-2009 Global Development Plan.

The Community Cooperation Forum gives structure to the community development process and the selection and sequencing of strategic priorities. It facilitates the crafting of a Global Development Plan that integrates the contributions of all community development architects

The Community Cooperation Forum is the key forum where dialogue with the various institutional architects is initiated. The Forum seeks to include emerging groups in Francophone networks and institutions of British Columbia and welcomes any group wishing to contribute to the development of the province's Francophone community.

The Community Cooperation Forum develops consultation mechanisms that reflect local, regional and sectoral realities and take into account factors such as demography, geography, gender, and racial and ethnocultural minorities; these mechanisms include sectoral tables. The Community Cooperation Forum encourages cooperation within natural networks; it takes into account the negotiating and priority-setting ability of some sectors.

In British Columbia, the Provincial Consultative Committee is the Community Cooperation Forum's preferred mechanism for representing the Francophone community in all efforts leading to the setting of the community's development priorities. By virtue of its composition, the Provincial Consultative Committee brings together the various sectors – economy, arts and culture, community development, and education – as well as the target groups – women, seniors, and youth.

For the period 2005-2009, the Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage set as a common objective to mobilize community development architects as active participants in the Community Cooperation Forum.

The main stages for implementing this objective are:

  • The consolidation of current community cooperation structures;
  • Increased participation from institutions; and
  • The contribution of institutions in articulating the global vision, in defining the sequence of strategic priorities and in implementing the Global Development Plan, where appropriate.
Operational Responsibility

The Francophone community sector recognizes the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB) as the organization responsible for the convening of the Community Cooperation Forum and for the operational management of provincial cooperation.

On behalf of the Francophone community sector, the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique:

  • Implements the appropriate consultation mechanisms;
  • Ensures the global administrative efficiency of cooperation mechanisms within the Francophone community sector; and
  • Develops a communications strategy in order to inform French-speaking citizens living in British Columbia and to promote community cooperation and cohesion.
Governance and Democratic Representation

British Columbia's Francophone community sector determines the fora and structures where community cooperation takes place, as well as governance and democratic representation mechanisms. The Francophone community sector may redefine these fora, structures and mechanisms from time to time. Decisions will be communicated to the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Department recognizes the democratic choices of British Columbia's Francophone community sector.


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2.2. Canadian Heritage–British Columbia Francophone Community Sector Collaboration

The broad social project and the achievement of specific objectives within the community's Global Development Plan sometimes require the collaboration or contribution of other stakeholders. These may include public, para-public, private, institutional, and community organizations, Francophone or non-Francophone. This collaboration is most likely to be productive when all appropriate parties bring their services, programs, resources, and knowledge to the table. This Accord promotes adopting this approach by creating flexible, dynamic mechanisms called collaborative circles.

Collaborative Circles

The Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage agree to create collaborative circles. These are dynamic exchange mechanisms that encourage sharing of information, promotion of awareness, planning of initiatives, and discussion of the relationship between the two parties. The participation of other stakeholders in the collaborative circles shall be flexible. They will be called upon based on the nature, extent, and reach of the objectives to be pursued.

The workings of the collaboration circles will be agreed upon with respect to principles of the present Accord.

British Columbia's Francophone community sector will define the process of designating community participants in the collaborative circles from time to time, depending on the nature, extent, and reach of objectives at hand. The identity of designated participants, depending on the issues at hand, will be communicated to Canadian Heritage so as to promote constructive exchange.

In British Columbia, such collaborative circles have been established to further the strategic objectives of the 2004-2009 Global Development Plan. Notably, the following committees have been created:

  • Advisory Committee of the Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs (OFFA) of Simon Fraser University;
  • RésoSanté Committee;
  • British Columbia Regional Steering Committee to promote Francophone immigration; and
  • Ad hoc committee of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique and Torch Relay Committee for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Mobilizing Public Resources: Interdepartmental and Intergovernmental Cooperation

The Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage recognize the importance of continuing to work to mobilize public resources at all levels of government in order to advance toward the achievement of common results and of the community's development objectives. Some efforts to mobilize public resources have stemmed and will continue to stem from the work of the Provincial Consultative Committee.

Relationship Between the Francophone Community Sector and the Government of Canada at the Provincial Level

As stipulated in Part VII of the Official Languages Act, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, in consultation with other ministers of the Crown, shall encourage and promote a coordinated approach to the implementation by federal institutions of the commitments to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada, to support and assist their development, and to foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

The Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage will work together to ensure that the members of the community have a better knowledge of the programs and services offered by federal institutions, and that the federal institutions get better acquainted with the Francophone community of British Columbia, its mechanisms and structures, its developmental priorities and its particular characteristics in relation to their activities, programs and services.

The Department of Canadian Heritage supports the efforts of Francophone community sector stakeholders to work with other federal institutions in order to facilitate the implementation of the community's development objectives. Notably, Canadian Heritage leads the Interdepartmental Partnership with the Official-Language Communities, an element of the Community Life program component, which aims to encourage lasting partnerships between federal departments and official-language minority community associations or organizations. Canadian Heritage will use various levers at its disposal to support the efforts of the Francophone community sector.

The Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage work together to identify priority community development issues that require an interdepartmental approach. The means of consultation and collaboration depend on the issues and on structures established at the federal, provincial or local levels, according to the areas of responsibility.

The Department of Canadian Heritage supports the Pacific Federal Council in developing a sustainable relationship with the Francophone community sector, so that, as provincial forum for federal government interdepartmental matters, it can fully contribute to the implementation of the Global Development Plan and the vitality of the community.

Relationship Between the Francophone Community Sector and the Government of British Columbia and its Bodies

In addition to Cooperation with the Community Sector, Canadian Heritage leads another key element of the Community Life program component, Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services, which aims to help provincial and territorial governments and municipalities provide official-language minority communities with services in their own language, along with the necessary infrastructure to provide these services.

Canadian Heritage encourages the provincial government to take the objectives of the Global Development Plan into account in its French language services plan. Canadian Heritage maintains close ties with officials for Francophone Affairs to assert the importance of the expected results of the Global Development Plan and the common results aimed for in this Accord.

Canadian Heritage also leads Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Education, which aims to help provincial and territorial governments, directly or through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), to offer to members of official-language minority communities an education in their own language.

The Francophone community sector undertakes to mobilize resources in the areas of responsibility of other levels of government. It strives to emphasize those aspects of its Global Development Plan that normally require the involvement of provincial or arm's length public agencies in providing public services. This exercise may inform the Francophone community sector's cooperation and advocacy efforts. Canadian Heritage will use various levers at its disposal to support the efforts of the Francophone community sector.

Interdepartmental and Intergovernmental Collaboration

The Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage agree to ensure the continuation of existing mechanisms to promote sustained interdepartmental and intergovernmental cooperation.


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2.3. Advocacy

In keeping with the values and principles stated in this Accord, British Columbia's Francophone community sector seeks to engage in a dialogue on public policy. It hopes to interact with the different levels of government through the various stages of the public policy process in order to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience, and develop the best possible public policies that take fully into account the aspirations of French-speaking citizens living in British Columbia.

The Francophone community sector and the Department acknowledge the importance of advocacy. The strengthening of the sector's advocacy capacities aims at a better understanding of the processes through which governments and public institutions make their decisions; a greater ability to influence these processes; a better understanding of the determining factors in community development; and knowledge-based decision-making.

Key Community Advocates

The Francophone community sector of British Columbia recognizes the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB) as the sector's key interlocutor in advocacy and dialogue on public policy.

The Francophone community sector further recognizes community network leaders as key advocates on issues of special interest.

The Department of Canadian Heritage recognizes the democratic choices of British Columbia's Francophone community sector in selecting its key advocates.

3. Implementation of the Accord

In addition to the tools described in the previous sections, the collaboration between the Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage includes a financial component. This section describes the financial elements of the Cooperation with the Community Sector and the accompanying accountability mechanisms.

3.1. Commitment of a Budget Envelope

The budget envelope set aside for Cooperation with the Community Sector in British Columbia comes from the Development of Official-Language Communities Program and falls under its Community Life component. The program will be reviewed by Treasury Board in 2008-2009, with a view to its renewal.

The amounts, allocation, and duration of this budget envelope are set out in Appendix B.

The size of the budget envelope is subject to the annual approval of appropriations by Parliament and to the continuance of current and projected budget levels of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program.

Canadian Heritage will seek to harmonize procedures to facilitate joint funding of projects when several departments or government entities are working on the same initiative, or on several initiatives with the same Francophone community organization.

Canadian Heritage's financial commitments will be made by means of contribution agreements and grants. The Department may use multiyear funding agreements, when the situation is appropriate and in accordance to its policies and procedures, in order to enhance the stability of organizations and their ability to engage in long-term planning. Canadian Heritage commits to introduce a reasonable and flexible period of transition when major changes to funding must be made.

3.2. Program – Supporting Action

According to the Program's terms and conditions, these investments are intended to support the communities' involvement in their own development and to provide community organizations with the ability to take action to achieve concrete and measurable outcomes that will contribute to the sustainability of the communities.

The Department is primarily interested in supporting activities that:

  • Provide structure or have a structural effect on the overall development of the communities or of a particular sector;
  • Contribute to enriching community life, developing a sense of identity and welcoming diversity;
  • Target outcomes compatible with the objectives of the Community Life component and conform to the Department's priorities.

The Department will give priority to supporting activities aimed at achieving the common results of collaboration identified in this Accord.

All the organizations receiving such support, and the organization managing the Community Cooperation Forum and interdepartmental cooperation, can have access to multiyear funding in order to carry out their mandates and implement their action plans.

3.3. Project – Supporting Innovation

According to the Program's terms and conditions, these investments are intended to encourage innovation in the development of official-language minority communities.

The Department is primarily interested in supporting projects that:

  • Are innovative and target the development of best practices;
  • Are compatible with the Department's priorities; or
  • Address topical issues.

The Department will give priority to supporting projects aimed at achieving the common results of collaboration identified in this Accord.

The Funding Recommendations Committee referred to in this Accord may recommend support for ad hoc or cyclical activities for which implementation does not require ongoing funding.

3.4. Interprovincial/Interterritorial Collaboration

Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector agree that the development of British Columbia's Francophone community is stimulated by joint action with the minority Francophone communities in other provinces or territories. The Francophone community sector will seek to support, through the provincial budget envelope, activities of an interprovincial/interterritorial nature that contribute to the implementation of the Global Development Plan and the realization of common results. It undertakes to allocate a set proportion of the budget envelope to projects of this nature. The terms and conditions governing these projects will be subject to prior agreements between the participating provincial and territorial communities.


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3.5. Process for Recommendations and Decisions
Community Proposals

Over the last two Canada-Community agreements (1994-2004), best practices across the country have shown that a community-based process of resource allocation can become a great strength for community cohesion. In British Columbia, the Francophone community sector has refined its mechanism to determine strategic priorities; it has also gained some experience in defining the means to be used to determine and facilitate the distribution of the budget envelope.

Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector recognize the importance of the continuum between priority setting and funding allocation. The objective for this cycle is to fine-tune the community-based mechanisms leading to funding allocation decisions.

All funding allocation procedures will be subjected to the requirements of Treasury Board policies.

Funding Recommendations Committee

British Columbia's Francophone community sector, through the Community Cooperation Forum, will establish a Funding Recommendations Committee, which will succeed to the current Management Committee. The Recommendations Committee will be mandated to make proposals to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the distribution of funds available via the provincial Cooperation with the Community Sector budget envelope. These recommendations concerning the allocation of funding per organization will be linked to the objectives and priorities of the Global Development Plan and the common results sought in this Accord.

The Recommendations Committee will use evaluation criteria and analytical tools developed by the Department in collaboration with the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique, the organization responsible for the operational management of the Community Cooperation Forum.

British Columbia's Francophone community sector will establish the selection process for members of the Funding Recommendations Committee. This process will respect the principles of good governance, democracy, transparency, and independence. It is rooted in the democratic structures of the Community Cooperation Forum, and these structures may redefine the process from time to time. Canadian Heritage will be informed of decisions regarding this process and the composition of the Committee.

The Committee's recommendations will be guided by community interest; the Committee's analyses and decisions will be made without regard to the specific interests of any given organization.

Table members must ensure that confidential information concerning funding decisions to which they have access is not disclosed to third parties without the written consent of the Department.

Canadian Heritage's Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Department to analyze requests, examine them critically in a broader context, make final recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and manage the decisional and administrative process. In its analysis of requests, the Department will take into consideration the Committee's proposals regarding the allocation of funding.

The Minister is responsible for making the final decision on the specific allocation of funding in accordance to terms and conditions in force at the Department.

In order to maintain transparency, the final decision regarding allocation of funds will be communicated to the Recommendations Committee, as well as the general public, following the Minister's approval.

Canadian Heritage is responsible for determining procedures and tools relating to the presentation and analysis of requests. The Department recognizes the consequences that its policies and funding practices may have on the evolution of the relationship and on the strengthening of the Francophone community sector's capacity for action, and takes them into consideration. Tools will be developed with due attention to simplifying administrative requirements, while respecting the terms and conditions of the Program and the Department's accountability framework, which may be modified from time to time.

Management Best Practices

The Francophone community sector and the Department agree to jointly identify management best practices.

In compliance with Treasury Board policies, the Department has adopted a risk management approach, in order to assess and monitor the initiatives and ensure that the approach suits the level of funding as well as the size and nature of the organization. The Risk-Based Audit Framework for Official Languages Support Programs entails a recipient audit plan. Some organizations will be asked to participate in this monitoring exercise.

With a focus on ongoing performance improvement, Canadian Heritage may ask selected Francophone community organizations to participate in an organizational audit to be conducted according to a framework established by the Department. Participating groups will be financially compensated.


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3.6. Results and Performance

The Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage agree on the importance of reporting to Parliament and to the citizens of Canada, on the progress achieved towards results with the funds invested.

Canadian Heritage and the Francophone community sector recognize that community development is a long-term process, that some fundamental results may be achieved only over long periods, possibly decades, and that it is important, at this time, to set strategies and means that will allow the assessment of results over the long term.

Canadian Heritage's Official Languages Support Programs are structured in accordance with the two types of results based on the commitments set out in Section 41 of the Official Languages Act: Strong minority communities supported by many partners and Linguistic duality recognized and valued by all Canadians.

To report on the progress achieved towards these results, Canadian Heritage must refer to the Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework for Official Languages Support Programs.

Activities supported by the Cooperation with the Community Sector sub-component must contribute to the attainment of intermediate and long-term results targeted by the Official Languages Support Programs.

The Government of Canada is developing community vitality indicators. These indicators will set benchmarks and allow a more precise measurement of the evolution of communities over time. Information on outputs produced by Francophone organizations must be organized so that it feeds into the measurement of these vitality indicators.

Canadian Heritage will establish mechanisms for the standardization, gathering, and management of information on outputs towards 2007-2008, in consultation with the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique. In establishing these processes, Canadian Heritage will be sensitive to minimizing the administrative burden.

There are three levels of performance evaluation: an annual evaluation of outputs by groups receiving funds from the Cooperation with the Community Sector; an evaluation of this Accord within the framework of a national evaluation of progress achieved through community sector accords in 2007-2008; and the Program evaluation, to take place in 2008-2009.

Annual Outputs of Investments in the Cooperation with the Community Sector

Each funded organization reports on its annual outputs as linked to its contribution to the advancement of the Global Development Plan and the common objectives of the Accord.

Cooperation with the Community Sector Progress Evaluation

The Department will undertake an evaluation of its collaboration with the community sector and of progress made towards common results targeted in all community sector accords. This evaluation will include a component on collaboration with the Francophone community of British Columbia and will focus on the efficiency of collaboration mechanisms, the clarity and relevance of respective roles, and the quality and relevance of outputs, in relation to the stated common objectives. This evaluation will be done in 2007-2008 in order to allow adjustments to the collaboration mechanisms and guide their renewal at the end of the term.

The Francophone community sector of British Columbia agrees to participate in the development of evaluation parameters, and to collaborate in the evaluation itself according to the final modalities set out by Canadian Heritage. The Department will be responsible for executing the evaluation.

Official-Language Communities Program Evaluation

For the end of the term, in 2008-2009, the Department of Canadian Heritage must provide the Treasury Board with a summative evaluation of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. The Corporate Review Branch, a third party independent of the Official Languages Support Branch, is responsible for conducting this evaluation.

To conduct program evaluations, the Department uses several methods. These include:

  • A review of relevant documents (e.g., record of achievements, annual report, plan of action);
  • A review of literature (e.g., sociological research, statistical studies);
  • Gathering and compiling of information (e.g., analysis of financial data, compilation of outputs, trend studies);
  • Interviews with key contributors (e.g., representatives of community organizations and institutions, program managers, researchers);
  • Polling (e.g., public opinion polls, questionnaires);
  • Discussion groups (for example, with parents, with young people).

The Francophone community sector will be called upon to participate in many of these evaluation activities.


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CONCLUSION

Canadians expect a strong, vibrant, and engaged Francophone community in British Columbia, and seek to build a solid, just, and inclusive society where values and principles count, where the full range of human activities is encouraged, and where individuals and communities can realize their full potential. To better serve Canadians and help them achieve the society they want, Canadian Heritage and British Columbia's Francophone community sector seek to strengthen their relationship. This Accord is the start of that journey.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women and the President of the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique, on behalf of the Francophone community sector of British Columbia, have signed this Collaboration Accord.

This Accord was concluded this 10th day of November 2005.

  • (Signed) Liza Frulla
    Minister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women
  • (Signed) Michelle Rakotonaivo
    President, Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique

IN THE PRESENCE OF:

  • (Signed) Hon Hedy Fry P.E.M.P,
    Witness
  • (Signed) Denis Gagnon - Branter,
    Witness

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Accountability

The basic rules that the Department must follow in making decisions, allocating funding, and demonstrating the results achieved through the use of public funds. Many of these rules also apply to the organizations that receive these public funds. These organizations also have their own accountability frameworks defined by legislation, by their own by-laws, and by their internal governance policies.

Advocacy

Advocacy is defined as "the act of speaking or of disseminating information intended to influence individual behaviour or opinion, corporate conduct or public policy and law." Advocacy is one of many ways of participating in the process of developing public policies. (see: www.vsi-isbc.org/eng/relationship/the_accord_doc/index.cfm)

Community development architects

Community development architects are individuals and institutions and organizations in the community, private, government, and quasi-government sectors that contribute to the development of their communities. Prominent among these architects are the leaders of community associations and institutions, as well as community opinion leaders and different levels of government.

Evaluation

The systematic collection and analysis of information on the performance of a policy, program or initiative to make judgements about relevance, progress or success and cost-effectiveness and/or to inform future programming decisions about design and implementation.

Indicator

A statistic or parameter that provides information on trends in the condition of a phenomenon and has significance extending beyond that associated with the properties of the statistic itself.

Output

Direct products or services stemming from the activities of a policy, program or initiative, and delivered to a target group or population.

Planned Results (Targets)

Clear and concrete statement of results (including outputs and outcomes) to be achieved within the time frame of parliamentary and departmental planning and reporting (1-3 years), against which actual results can be compared.

Quasi-governmental bodies or arm's length public agencies

Public agencies refers to schools, hospitals, etc. that are at arm's length (to varying degrees) from government, but are mandated and funded by government.

Result

The consequence attributed to the activities of an organization, policy, program, or initiative. Results is a general term that often includes both outputs produced and outcomes achieved by a given organization, policy, program, or initiative. In the government's agenda for results-based management and in Results For Canadians, the term result is more specific and does not include outputs. Results may be described as immediate, intermediate or final, direct or indirect, intended or unintended.

Strategic Outcome

A long-term and enduring benefit to Canadians that stems from a department's mandate, vision, and efforts. It represents the difference a department or agency wants to make for Canadians and should be a clear measurable outcome within the department or agency's sphere of influence.

Support for action: details

Funds in support of action shall aid regular and continuing activities such as:

  • Citizens' participation and good governance (e.g., elements of democratic life – Annual General Meeting and Board of Directors, administrative infrastructure, statements of account);
  • Basic activities of the organization serving the development and improvement of community life (e.g., leadership training in youth groups, basic operations of a community centre, large public events);
  • Mobilization of community and public resources (e.g., analysis and research into support for advocacy and the skills needed to request support from various funding bodies).

Support for innovation: details

Funds to support innovation shall aid intermittent or cyclical activities that do not require permanent funding. Such activities are of limited duration ranging from a few months to a few years. For example:

  • Pilot or demonstration projects designed to learn about influences on development and about services to the public;
  • Establishing and building new construction sites for community development;
  • Retooling the Francophone community sector to respond to new challenges;
  • Development of advocacy strategies linked to a particular initiative or a major decision in public policy.