The Action Plan for Official Languages Coordination Program Summative Evaluation
5. Conclusions and Lessons Learned
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5.2. Results
5. Conclusions and Lessons Learned
This final section of the report presents conclusions and lessons learned, based on the findings presented in Section 4. The information is structured along the evaluation issues and questions listed in Appendix A.
5.1 Rationale and relevance
As the federal government pursues its implementation of the Accountability and Coordination Framework, it will require the support of the Official Languages Law Group. This is particularly true in the context of the 2005 amendments made to Part VII of the Official Languages Act that create specific responsibilities that are subject to court remedy as needed. Several aspects of the Official Languages Act, including but not limited to Part VII, have yet to be clarified, and the Official Languages Law Group, as the centre of expertise on official languages, is expected to monitor these issues and support departments as required.
The financial support that the Coordination Program is providing to the Official Languages Law Group, combined with the expanded mandate defined in the Accountability and Coordination Framework, allows the Group to play a proactive role in monitoring and responding to legal issues relating to official languages. This approach aligns particularly well with the Department of Justice Canada's legal risk management approach.
Therefore, this evaluation concludes that there is a strong rationale for maintaining the component of the Coordination Program relating to the Official Languages Law Group.
5.2 Results
During the first four years of program implementation covered by this evaluation, the Official Languages Law Group has contributed to the implementation of the Accountability and Coordination Framework through a series of activities:
- It has effectively implemented a monitoring system to scan media for issues relating to official languages and relevant court decisions. This information has been shared with federal departments, particularly with legal counsel within legal services units.
- It has offered multiple training and information sessions on official languages issues to a wide audience throughout Canada, particularly relating to the 2005 amendments to Part VII of the Official Languages Act. These sessions have raised awareness on the impact of these significant legislative changes. Since many dimensions of the Official Languages Act have yet to be clarified, the need for training and awareness activities is expected to remain in the future.
- It has provided legal advice to several federal departments, as they initiate new programs or introduce new policies that may have an impact on official languages. Training and information sessions have contributed to raising the number of requests for legal advice. The Official Languages Law Group has also supported litigant counsel on cases relating to official languages.
- It has actively participated in the various coordinating activities relating to the Action Plan for Official Languages (interdepartmental committees, working groups, reporting, etc.).
These activities have contributed to a heightened awareness throughout the federal government on official languages issues. They have also ensured consistency in the advice given throughout the Department of Justice Canada, particularly its departmental legal services units.
5.3 Cost effectiveness/alternatives
The Coordination Program allocates a total of $500,000 annually to the Official Languages Law Group to cover operational expenditures, mostly related to salaries and benefits for three new positions with the Group. At the time of the evaluation, the Official Languages Law Group had filled all three positions. This is a cost-effective initiative, and no alternatives were suggested or identified during the evaluation process.
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