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Understanding the French Language Services Act

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Understand the requirements for Municipalities and Transfer Payment Agencies ... between creating FLS capacity and becoming a designated agency/municipality. ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Understanding the French Language Services Act


1
Understanding the French Language Services
Act
  • Ministry of Community and Social Services and
    Ministry of Children and Youth ServicesDecember
    7, 2007

2
Objectives
  • Raise awareness of the French Language Services
    Act
  • Understand the requirements for Municipalities
    and Transfer Payment Agencies
  • Gain understanding of the Francophone community

3
French Language Services Act
  • Section 5(1)
  • A person has the right in accordance with
    this Act to communicate in French with, and to
    receive available services in French from, head
    or central office of a government agency or
    institution of the Legislature that is designated
    by the regulation, and has the same right in
    respect of any other office of such agency or
    institution that is located in or serves an area
    designated in the Schedule.

4
French Language Services Act (FLS Act)
  • The Act came into effect in November 1989.
  • It guarantees access to Government of Ontario
    services in French in designated areas of the
    province.
  • Designated areas are those with a significant
    Francophone population.

5
Community Designation
  • Significant Francophone population is generally
    defined as 10 of the population is Francophone
    or a population of 5000 Francophones
  • The French-Canadian Association of Ontario has
    been asking for designation since 1993
  • In May 2006, the Ontario government announced
    Kingston would be the 25th designated community

6
Designated Areas
There are 25 designated areas in the province
7
Why Does Ontario Have the FLS Act?
  • The French Language is an historic and honoured
    language in Ontario and
  • An official language in Canada
  • The act recognizes the contribution of the
    cultural heritage of the French speaking
    population and wishes to preserve it for future
    generations

8
FLS Clause in Child and Family Services Act
  • Added to the Act in 1985
  • FLS Clause Service providers shall, where
    appropriate, make services to children and
    families available in the French language. 

9
Does the FLS Act Apply to Municipalities and
Transfer Payment Agencies?
  • A change in service delivery does not remove the
    governments obligation to deliver
    French-language services. Service providers must
    demonstrate their capacity to meet the
    governments requirements and quality standards
    in terms of service delivery.
  • There is a difference between creating FLS
    capacity and becoming a designated
    agency/municipality.

10
Does the FLS Act Apply to Municipalities and
Transfer Payment Agencies?
  • MCSS/MCYS will work with TPAs and municipalities
    in providing guiding principles to ensure that
    FLS are available in designated areas
  • Municipalities are not required to become
    bilingual, although individual municipalities may
    pass a by-law to become bilingual
  • Transfer Payment Agencies are not required to
    become designated, although they may choose to
    become designated or partially designated

11
Historical Francophone Presence in Ontario
  • In 1610, Étienne Brûlé was the first European to
    arrive in Ontario. In 1639, the Jesuit fathers
    founded the mission of Sainte Marie south of
    Georgian Bay. This was the first European
    settlement in North America.
  • During the 17th and 18th centuries, several other
    French settlements were established Fort
    Frontenac (Kingston), LAssomption (Windsor) and
    Fort Rouillé (near Toronto).
  • Following the withdrawal of France in 1763,
    Francophones were divided with the creation of
    Upper Canada and Lower Canada.

12
Historical Francophone Presence in Kignston
  • In 1673, Louis de Buade, the count of Frontenac
    and governor of New France established Fort
    Frontenac
  • In 1687 the Iroquois lay siege to Fort Frontenac
    and held captive 3 soldiers and Madeleine de
    Roybon
  • Rémi Gaulin was a prominent bishop in Kingston in
    the 1800s.
  • The Sisters of St-Joseph founded Hotel Dieu and
    Kingstons first orphanage
  • Chez Piggy Restaurant was the home of
    François-Xavier, built in 1808
  • Portsmouth Tavern was constructed by Edouard
    Beaupré as an inn in 1863

13
Profile of Francophones in Ontario
  • 1.3 million French speaking citizens
  • According to the 2001 Census, over 550 000
    Francophones live in Ontario which is 4.4 of the
    overall population

14
Profile of Francophones in SER
  • According to the 2001 Census, there were 13,080
    Francophones in the South East Region
  • 4570 in Kingston and Frontenac
  • 2880 in Hastings
  • 2595 in Leeds and Grenville
  • 2010 in Lanark
  • 1025 in Prince Edward, Lennox and Addington

15
Implications for Municipalities and Transfer
Payment Agencies
  • It is the legal obligation of the government of
    Ontario to provide services in French in
    designated areas
  • The designation of Kingston means that there is a
    significant Francophone population in this
    community
  • As agencies plan and provide services that meet
    the needs of their community, they are expected
    to enhance their French Language Services
    capacity and this will be included in their
    service contract negotiations.

16
Next Steps
  • Community Forum
  • SER FLS Service Inventory
  • Contract Negotiations
  • Strategic Planning
  • Shared Solutions

17
Contacts
  • Ministry of Community and Social Services and
    Ministry of Children and Youth Services
  • Rachelle Blanchette
  • French Language Program Supervisor
  • 11 Beechgrove Lane, Kingston, ON  K7M 9A6
  • Tel.  (613) 536-7331 E-mail Rachelle.Blanchette_at_
    ontario.ca
  • Ministry of Children and Youth Services Youth
    Justice Division
  • Lesley Benderavage
  • Program Supervisor
  • 23 Beechgrove Lane, Kingston, ON K7M 9A6
  • Tel.  (613) 536-7348 E-mail
    Lesley.Benderavage_at_ontario.ca
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