Three-Year Action Plan for Official Languages 2014-2017
Implementation of section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA)
General information
Federal institution: |
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) |
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Minister responsible: |
The Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages |
Senior officials responsible for implementation of Part VII of the OLA: |
Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman John Traversy, Secretary General Scott Hutton, Official Languages Champion |
Mandate of the federal institution: |
Established by Parliament in 1968, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is an independent public authority under the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-22, as amended) and reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage. The CRTC supervises and regulates Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems. The CRTC derives its regulatory authority over broadcasting from the Broadcasting Act (S.C. 1991, c. 11, as amended). Its telecommunications regulatory powers are derived from the Telecommunications Act (S.C. 1993, c. 38, as amended) and the Bell Canada Act (S.C. 1987, c. 19, as amended). |
National coordinator responsible for implementation: |
Renée Gauthier |
Legal Counsel, Official Languages: |
Eric Bowles |
Sectoral coordinators: |
Lynn Asselin Caroline Bédard Mario Bertrand Claude Brault Sheehan Carter Michael Craig |
Summary of expected progress according to the following categories of action:
For the years 2014–2017, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) plans to undertake the following activities pursuant to section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA): awareness, consultation, communications, coordination, liaison and accountability. As an administrative tribunal, the CRTC neither manages programs or services, nor funds activities. However, several of its activities, including developing regulatory policies, reviewing existing policies, issuing or renewing licences, and approving tariffs, do contribute to the implementation of section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA).
Awareness
On an ongoing basis, the CRTC organizes awareness and information sessions on section 41 of the OLA and on the needs ad priorities of official language minority communities (OLMC). CRTC’s policy on section 41 of the OLA will be amended effective 2014. To ensure the systematic implementation of the policy, awareness and information sessions will be delivered to all Commissioners, managers and sectoral coordinators informing them of their roles and responsibilities as defined in the policy. The Official Languages and Minority Communities page on the Commission Web site, containing the official languages reports, the action plans for the implementation of section 41 of the OLA, as well as information on the CRTC-OLMC discussion group (mandate, work plan, list of members, minutes and agendas of meetings with this group) will be updated periodically.
Over the next three years, the Commission will continue its awareness efforts by reiterating the Commission’s obligations and the roles and responsibilities of all employees at orientation sessions for new employees in the context of CRTC-U, Commission meetings, management meetings and team meeting.
With a view to informing and developing awareness among its staff, CRTC will be responsible for adding content to Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities webpage, which willpresent statistical data on the official languages and profiles of the OLMCs.
In addition, the CRTC will adopt a new, dynamic approach to further raise awareness among its staff with respect to official languages and OLMCs. To that end, it will carry out diverse activities in order to promote Canada’s linguistic duality, which honours the country’s heritage and history.
Consultations
The CRTC will ensure that the relationships between the CRTC and the OLMCs established since 2007 in the context of the CRTC-OLMC discussion group are maintained and strengthened. In addition, CRTC agrees with the idea that other member organizations of OLMCS join the discussion group so that a greater number of voices may be heard. Over the next three years, the CRTC will continue to foster discussion with OLMCs by emails, telephone exchanges and biannual meetings with OLMCs under the auspices of its discussion group.
Communications
The OLMCs are systematically and regularly kept informed of Commission proceedings that affect them to ensure that they have an opportunity participate.Footnote 1 OLMCs receive the information in two ways: by emails as the proceedings are posted on the CRTC’s website and through social media (Twitter and Facebook). In addition, potentially useful links that could provide additional or complementary information to OLMCs will also be available on the Official Languages and Minority Communities page of the CRTC’s website.
Coordination and liaison
The Commission will continue its cooperation with its federal partners, including Canadian Heritage and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, in order to foster information sharing. The Commission will take part in national coordinators’ meetings organized by Canadian Heritage in the National Capital Region and the Official Languages Champion will take part in meetings organized at his/her level. The Commission will also consult the best practices and tools posted on Gateway 41 and will identify a federal partner for exchanging practices and initiatives for implementing the objectives of section 41 of the OLA.
Commission activities in connection with the implementation of section 41 of the OLA
The CRTC’s activities, such as issuing, renewing and amending licences, developing new policies and reviewing existing policies, and regulating and overseeing all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system under the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act, will contribute to achieving the objectives of section 41 of the OLA.
Accountability
The CRTC will develop, where necessary, measurement instruments to evaluate the progress made further to the activities implemented under the intervention categories: awareness (A), consultations (B), communications (C).
A. Awareness
The CRTC will use innovative methods to inform, educate and raise awareness among its staff and the members of its Board of its obligations under section 41 (OLA), linguistic duality and OLMC rights in order to promote the organizational culture of this federal institution.
Planned activities to achieve the expected result |
Expected outputs |
Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected result |
Expected result |
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Provide awareness and information sessions to staff and senior management, including regional offices, on section 41 of the OLA and on the impact of CRTC proceedings on OLMCs:
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Promote the Commission’s organizational culture:
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Prepare internal information bulletinsFootnote 2 reiterating the objectives of section 41 of the OLA and implementation of lens 41 using the document available on the intranet titled Obligations of the CRTC with respect to section 41 of the Official Languages Act, Part VII, Enhancement of English and French |
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Organize activities to promote the full recognition and use of English and French in Canadian society and stimulate linguistic duality within the Commission. |
Examples of interactive activities:
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Gather information from OLMCs to better identify their needs and realities by identifying barriers |
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Update, obtain approval from the Chairman and CEO, publish, disseminate and implement the revised policy and internal guidelines on official languages incorporating CRTC’s obligations under the Broadcasting Act, the Telecommunications Act and the Official Languages Act. |
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Adding content to the CRTC’s Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities Web page to clarify what “OLMCs” are and who belongs to them |
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Make the information on official languages, OLMCs and the CRTC-OLMC discussion group available on the Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities website |
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Provide pertinent information to the Internal Official Languages Committee on the CRTC’s Official Languages and Official Language Minority Community website and onthe Commission’s intranet site. |
Commission’s site:
Intranet site:
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B. Consultation (CRTC-OLMC Discussion Group)
The CRTC created an informal, structured forum for discussion with OLMCs: the CRTC-OLMC discussion group. Introduced in 2007, the group’s mandate is to identify ways and ensure the follow-up required to maximize the communities’ participation in the CRTC’s public proceedings and take their realities into account in the Commission’s analysis and discussions leading to its decisions. For additional information, go to http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/5000/lo_ol/olb-lob.htm.
Planned activities to achieve the expected result |
Expected outputs |
Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected result |
Expected results |
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Hold bi-annual meetings of the CRTC-OLMC discussion group
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Participate in various meetings with OLMCs, coordinated by Canadian Heritage and/or other departments and central and community agencies. |
C. Communications (Transmission of information to OLCMs)
Aware of OLMC-related issues and needs, Commission staff will convey up-to-date information on the relevant proceedings to the communities so that they can participate in them.
Planned activities to achieve the expected result |
Expected outputs |
Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected result |
Expected results |
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Update and manage the content of the Commission’s Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities page on its website Post information and relevant links |
Webpage:
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Regularly inform OLMCs of relevant CRTC practices and proceedings via email, social media and informal exchanges Reply inquiries, calls and questions from OLMCs by involving sectoral coordinators and experts |
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D. Coordination and liaison
Cooperation with multiple partners to foster OLMC development and vitality and to share best practices.
Planned activities to achieve the expected result |
Expected outputs |
Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected result |
Expected results |
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Create and maintain regular contact with federal partners for the implementation of section 41 Take part in interdepartmental groups Take part in meetings of national coordinators and in workshops |
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Share information among sectoral coordinators within CRTC to exchange and coordinate outcomes of meetings |
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Where necessary, conduct studies and collaborative research (basic data, trends, OLMC diversity and geographic distribution, impact of technology) |
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Consult Gateway 41 on a regular basis |
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E. Funding and program delivery
As an administrative tribunal, the CRTC neither manages programs or services, nor funds activities. However, the CRTC, in carrying out its mandate with respect to broadcasting, issues, renews or amends broadcasting licences, develops new policies and examines existing policies, and regulates and oversees all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system. These activities are carried out pursuant to the Broadcasting Act. Also, the Commission exercises the powers and performs the duties conferred on it by the Telecommunications Act (TA) so as to achieve the Canadian telecommunications policy objectives and ensure that the services and tariffs of Canadian common carriers are in compliance with section 27 of the TA. A number of these activities contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in section 41 of the OLA.
F. Commission activities in connection with implementation of section 41 of the OLA
As an administrative tribunal, the CRTC neither manages programs or services, nor funds activities. However, the CRTC, in carrying out its mandate with respect to broadcasting, issues, renews or amends broadcasting licences, develops new policies and examines existing policies, and regulates and oversees all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system. These activities are carried out pursuant to the Broadcasting Act. Also, the Commission exercises the powers and performs the duties conferred on it by the Telecommunications Act (TA) so as to achieve the Canadian telecommunications policy objectives and ensure that the services and tariffs of Canadian common carriers are in compliance with section 27 of the TA. A number of these activities contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in section 41 of the OLA. The list that follows is not exhaustive.
Targeted results:
- Promoting access to official language minority broadcasting services;
- Encouraging broadcasting licensees’ efforts with a view to increasing production and broadcasting of regionally produced programs;
- Fostering full recognition and use of English and French in Canadian society.
Planned activities to achieve the expected result |
Expected outputs |
Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected result |
Expected results |
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Inform OLMC about upcoming public hearings in order to maximize their participation in hearings affecting OLMCs regarding:
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the Commission’s proceedings contribute to enhancing the reflection of OLMC within the broadcasting system and to increasing access to services in both official languages promoting linguistic duality within Canadian society |
G. Accountability
Planned activities to achieve the expected result |
Expected outputs |
Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected result |
Expected results |
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Create, on occasion, data collection instruments to evaluate progress made following implementation of activities under categories of action (A, B, C) |
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Full integration of section 41 of the OLA and of the OLMC perspective into Commission practices |
Record the proceedings, analysis documents, and decisions that implemented lens 41 |
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Incorporate objectives of section 41 of the OLA into annual reports (RPP and DPR) |
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Develop and coordinate reports on results |
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Distribution list
Colleen Swords
Deputy Minister
Canadian Heritage
25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5
Graham Fraser
Commissioner of Official Languages
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
344 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T8
Suzie Cadieux
Clerk of the Standing Committee on Official Languages of the House of Commons
House of Commons
131 Queen Street, 6th floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Daniel Charbonneau
Clerk
Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages
Senate of Canada
Chambers Building, Room 1051
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4
Suzanne Bossé
Serge Quinty
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada (FCFA)
Place de la francophonie
450 Rideau Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Eric Dubeau
Simone Saint-Pierre
Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF)
Place de la francophonie
450 Rideau Street, Suite 405
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Benoit Henry
Alliance nationale de l’industrie musicale (ANIM)
390 Rideau, PO Box 20171
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Y0
Guy Rodgers
English Language Arts Network (ELAN)
460 St. Catherine Street West, Suite 610
Montreal, Quebec H3B 1A7
François Coté
Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada (ARC)
325 Dalhousie Street, 2nd floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G2
Sylvie Peltier
Natalie McNeil
Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC)
66 Muriel Street, Suite 210
Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4E1
Sylvia Martin-Laforge
Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
1255 University Avenue, Suite 1000
Montreal, Quebec H3B 3W6
Hugh Maynard
Quebec Association for Anglophone Community Radio (QU’ANGLO)
PO Box 100, St-Augustine, Quebec
G0G 2R0
Gaël Corbineau
Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador (FFTNL)
65 Ridge Road, Suite 233
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 4P5
Aubrey Cormier
Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin (SSTA)
5 Maris Stella Ave.
Summerside, Prince Edward Island C1N 6M9
Marie-Claude Rioux
Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE)
La Maison acadienne- 54 Queen Street
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 1G3
Peter Hominuk
Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (AFO)
1173 Cyrville Road, Suite 306
Ottawa, Ontario K1J 7S6
Daniel Boucher
Société franco-manitobaine (SFM)
383 Provencher Blvd., Suite 212
Saint-Boniface, Manitoba R2H 0G9
Marc Masson
Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise (ACF)
2445 - 13 Avenue, Suite 101),
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0W1
Isabelle Laurin
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta (ACFA)
303-8627 91 Street NW,
Edmonton, Alberta T6C 3N1
Mylène Letellier
Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB)
1575 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 1S1
Léo-Paul Provencher
Fédération Franco-Ténoise (FFT)
PO Box 1325
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2N9
Roch Nadon
Association Franco-yukonnaise (AFY)
302 Strickland Street, Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 2K1
Kirwan Cox
Quebec English-language Production Committee (QEPC)
5 St-Anselme
Rigaud, Quebec J0P 1P0
Éric Corneau
Association des francophones du Nunavut (AFN)
PO Box 880, Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0
Bruno Godin
Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB)
702 Main Street, Suite 204
Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick
E8J 1V1
Laurence Véron
Vital Kasongo
Front des réalisateurs indépendants du Canada (FRIC)
450 Rideau Street, Suite 405
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Jean-Pierre Caissie
Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.l.e.s
du Nouveau-Brunswick (AAAPNB)
140 Botsford Street, Suite 29Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 4X5
Shelley Robinson
National Campus and Community Radio Association
(NCRA)
180 Metcalfe Street, Suite 608
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P5
Association des professionnels de la chanson
et de la musique (APCM)
450 Rideau Street, Suite 401
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Nicole Matiation
On Screen Manitoba
003-100 Arthur Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1H3
Jean-Sébastien Jolin-Gignac
Voice of English-speaking Québec (VEQ)
1270 Sainte-Foy Road, Suite 2141
Jeffery Hale Pavillion
Quebec City, Quebec G1S 2M4
Footnotes
- Footnote 1
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As a courtesy service, the members of the discussion group are informed by email of various publications of interest on the Commission’s Internet site. The emails are sent by Commission staff in order to help OLMC representatives participate in Commission proceedings that are of particular interest for them. Commission staff would like to state that this service does not exempt OLMC representatives from informing themselves about Commission proceedings, as all Canadians are expected to do.
- Footnote 2
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Called Frequencies, the main objective of these bulletins is to disseminate information swiftly and efficiently, sent out to all the employees of the CRTC, including regional offices, through emails in French and English as well as a link to the message on the intranet of the CRTC.
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