Report on Results 2009-2010 Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act
E. Funding and Delivery of Programs
Expected Result
The OLMC are part of the federal institution’s regular clientele and have appropriate access to its programs and services; the needs of the OLMC (e.g.: geographic dispersion, development opportunities) are taken into account.
Activities carried out to achieve the expected result
Through its programs and initiatives, the Department maintained its support for the Communities by granting funds and implementing programs and services. To this end, the Department:
Provided funding to the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta (AJEFA) to develop material resources in French and develop and conduct family law workshops for parents in the province’s parenting centres.
Output
Workshops were offered in 15 parenting centres. 19 pamphlets were translated and 4,000 copies were distributed. 14 information sheets are available on the AJEFA website.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
This project provided French language tools to families undergoing separation or divorce and also enabled Francophones to better understand the procedures. The workshops were offered in provincial parenting centres to better reach the target clientele, such as separated or divorced parents, and took into account the realities in Alberta where family law is an area of shared jurisdiction.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
Provided funding to the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Colombie-Britannique (AJEFCB) to offer information sessions to French-speaking teachers on parents’ rights and obligations toward their children, divorce and separation, and alimony payments.
Output
A public legal education and information kit was produced. It was distributed in francophone schools and is available to the general public on the AJEFCB website. A kit was developed for parents and was distributed in francophone schools in British Columbia.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
This project provided the francophone and francophile community with a better understanding of their family rights. By being better informed about their rights, this community becomes confident in its ability to deal with situations that are often difficult and complex.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
Provided funding to the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Saskatchewan (AJEFS) to create and distribute documentation on family law and offer a series of information sessions.
Output
The guide was distributed to franco-saskatchewanian schools in Ponteix, Gravelbourg and Saskatoon. Over 250 people attended the launch of the guide. The Coalition sur la petite enfance [early childhood coalition] of the Réseau fransaskois distributed 180 guides to its clientele. Over 150 kits will be distributed in many of the province’s municipalities.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
This project enabled teachers, parents and Saskatchewan’s francophone community to acquire new knowledge regarding children’s rights, methods for obtaining out-of-court settlements and collaborative family law in their province.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
Provided funding for the Réseau des chercheures africaines to conduct educational talks to build the capacity and knowledge of francophone men, women and young people from racial and ethnocultural minorities and stakeholders from organizations that provide assistance in dealing with the family justice system.
Output
Nine workshops were conducted. There were 40 participants in Windsor and 50 participants in Toronto.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
This project helped to provide francophone families and stakeholders from racial and ethnocultural minorities with a better understanding of government policies on family law.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
Provided funding to the Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française de common law inc. to prepare 17 summaries of court decisions pertaining to parental agreements, child support guidelines and enforcement measures.
Output
In all, 17 French language abstracts of court decisions were produced. The project was presented and promoted as part of the Symposium on family law held in Moncton on November 7 and 8, 2008.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
This project increased the number of French language terminology resources in the field of family law for jurists and other Frenchspeaking stakeholders living outside of Quebec.
Activities carried out to achieve the expected result
Description of the funded projects attached to this document. (Appendix A)
Outputs
- Regional meetings / conferences between service providers and stakeholders in the sectors of education, employment, housing and recreation, where participants reviewed methods for improving the way youth services are coordinated.
- Regional meetings / conferences that provided an opportunity to present the shortcomings identified in the services provided to youth who participate in activities involving guns, gangs and drugs. These forums also helped increase our knowledge and recognition of promising practices and models for young offenders involved or at risk of being involved in activities related to guns, gangs and drugs.
- Resource guides, databases and electronic tools were created to enable police to catalogue the community programs and services for young people involved in the justice system, so that these young people can be referred to the appropriate program to address their mental health or substance abuse problems.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- The agencies and stakeholders involved in minority language communities and working with young offenders became better equipped to cope with new challenges in the youth criminal justice system.
- Regional events were organized to provide the opportunity to convey information on programs and services. Best practices, the knowledge acquired and opportunities for multi-sector solutions to help youth who participate in activities involving guns, gangs and drugs and are involved with the criminal justice system were presented.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
Law Day 2009, a $3,354 project which was held April 17, 2009 in Halifax.
Output
Ensured that the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse (AJEFNE) participated in Law Day.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Young people were made aware of issues relating to access to justice in both official languages, and English-speaking participants and partners were provided with information on AJEFNE and justice and laws. AJEFNE’s involvement ensured that young francophones participated in the day.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$56,640 in funding granted to the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Colombie-Britannique.
Output
Criminal justice terminology training program for francophone defence lawyers in British Columbia.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Increased participants’ ability to provide sound French language services. Increased the ability of the justice system and its stakeholders to provide legal services in both official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
Funding of $44,100 granted to the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Nouvelle-Écosse.
Output
Offered six on-line courses for francophone jurists on criminal law, the legal system, language rights, pleading, family law and the drafting of legal documents.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- Improved jurists’ ability to address the court in French.
- Increased knowledge regarding the effectiveness of on-line training.
- Easier for jurists to offer services in French and, by extension, greater access to justice for French language minority communities.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$92,600 in funding granted to the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Saskatchewan.
Output
Symposium on linguistic rights in Western Canada to provide a forum to discuss the many issues raised by the judgement at trial in R v. Caron. The conference touched on legal, historical and contemporary issues. Articles will be published after the symposium.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Participants received information on and were made aware of the fundamentals of language rights. Better understanding and development of possible approaches to changes in the rights of Francophones and the Métis Nation.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$20,245 in funding granted to the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Saskatchewan.
Output
Training day for young Francophones in Saskatchewan. The information was about the rights of Francophones, child rights, family rights, history, case law that advanced language rights, French education in Saskatchewan, the nature of law in Canada, the justice system in Canada, access to French-language laws and forms in Saskatchewan and new developments in the provision of legal services in French.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Francophones became more aware of their rights and language rights.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$14,820 in funding for the Association des juristes d’expression française de la Saskatchewan.
Output
Criminal law tool used to inform the francophone population about societal changes, tangents and needs, procedure and all stakeholders who seek protection, deterrence and rehabilitation. The tool pays particular attention to language needs and rights.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Increased awareness of the francophone community with respect to the administration of justice in both official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$141,924 in funding for the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta.
Output
Development and presentation of legal information sessions for young people in francophone schools in Alberta. Information sessions included a legal play for young people developed for this project, which addressed the issue of bullying. In addition, the information sessions will be used to promote careers and to present mock trials. The play and the mock trials will be recorded on DVD as a teaching aid for teachers.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- This project is expected to educate young people on issues related to victims and access to justice in both official languages.
- Improved knowledge of careers in the field of justice.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$40,000 in funding for the Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française de common law inc.
Output
Preparation of 17 summaries of criminal law rulings. The summaries were written for jurists and many other stakeholders working in the field of criminal law. The texts were summaries written in French and not translations of court decisions rendered in English.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Increased number of French language terminological resources.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$27,300 in funding for the Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française de common law inc.
Output
Two-day meeting in Ottawa in the fall of 2009. Meeting of two types of organizations receiving core funding from the Department, i.e. the seven associations of French-speaking jurists and their federation, and the 10 designated public legal education and information organizations. The purpose of the meeting was to allow both groups to become familiar with their respective mandates and projects in order to enhance partnerships and encourage cooperation.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Establishment of joint projects aimed at improving access to justice.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$77,000 in funding for the Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française de common law inc.
Output
Three-year plan for promoting careers and recruitment in the justice sector.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- Better promotion of careers in justice at the national level and recruitment at the national level.
- Better definition of partnerships for the purpose of promoting careers in justice and recruiting people at the national level.
- Increased knowledge of FAJEF and its actions in this area and better sharing and exchanges with AJEFs to promote better cooperation at this level.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$80,550 in funding for the Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française de common law inc.
Output
A national study on opportunities, challenges, specific issues and possible paths to consider in order to promote justice-related careers to francophone newcomers living in minority situations.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The project is expected to increase the number of bilingual people in the justice sector in order to improve access to justice in French.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$101,500 in funding for the Institut Joseph-Dubuc.
Output
Provision of professional training in French legal terminology in the fall of 2009 to jurists with a good command of French. The training was offered in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The participants’ ability to provide services in French was increased.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$59,500 in funding for the Institut Joseph-Dubuc.
Output
Development of a French legal terminology course consisting of two three-hour workshops specifically designed for legal support staff who already have a knowledge of French.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
This project helped increase the participants’ ability to provide good French language services.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$133,400 in funding for the Institut Joseph-Dubuc.
Output
Development of a series of legal and linguistic tools. These tools included legal document forms, training sessions and the production and distribution of documents that explain legal terms and issues relating to access to justice in both official languages.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Increased ability of legal professionals, academics, students and legal translators to provide their clients with better services in order to improve access to justice in both official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$30,000 in funding for the Joint Committee of the Bar of Québec and the Québec Chamber of notaries on the English version of the Québec Civil Code.
Output
The project involves activities that are needed to ensure that the English version of the Québec Civil Code accurately reflect the French version. A representative of the committee met with officials from the Quebec Department of Justice to discuss the English version and propose improvements to the English text and occasionally to the French version.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
This project helps improve access to justice in both official languages in Quebec because the Civil Code is a basic legal instrument and a key component of the culture of civil law.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$151,000 in funding for the McGill University - Québec Research Centre for Private and Comparative Law.
Output
The purpose of the project was to produce linguistic and legal tools.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Improved access to justice in English in Quebec.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$134,000 in funding for the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario – Office of the Coordinator of French Language Services.
Output
The purpose of the project was to develop a website providing on-line training in French legal terminology. The teaching resources for the site, which were adapted from the tools and courses developed for the French Language Institute of Professional Development (FLIPD), are uploaded to the Crown prosecutors’ Intranet and made accessible to Crown prosecutors, court employees, the Ontario Victim Services Secretariat, legal aid lawyers, police officers, etc.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The project helps increase the participants’ ability to provide French language services.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$1,023,500 in funding over four year for the Ministry of the Attorney General Ontario – Office of the Coordinator of French Language Services.
Output
Annual one-week French legal terminology training sessions for francophone jurists who lack the confidence and vocabulary they need to provide high-level French language services to their clients. The participants were the Crown prosecutors, support staff, justices of the peace, duty counsels, police and personnel from certain social services agencies that deal with social issues involving victims and family law.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- The participants’ awareness of issues relating to language rights was increased, as was their knowledge of current case law regarding language rights.
- The provinces’ ability to comply with the language provisions of the Criminal Code was increased, as was their ability to improve access to justice in both official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$70,400 in funding for the Provincial Court of Manitoba.
Output
French courses, including items relating to French language common law legal terminology for four Manitoba Provincial Court justices, and two justices of the peace.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- Increased ability of all Manitoba courts to provide French language services.
- Contribution to the creation of a francophone provincial itinerant court.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$4,000 in funding for the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service.
Output
One-week training session at the École des poursuivants du Québec in Nicolet for two French-speaking Crown attorneys to improve their legal vocabulary and increase their confidence to perform their work in French.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The participants’ ability to provide services in French is increased.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$50,000 in funding for the Université de Moncton, Faculty of Law.
Output
Enhanced training in French legal terminology and jurilinguistics. The project sought to enable students who had a good command of French or were interested in jurilinguistics to improve their knowledge and skills in this area and possibly consider jurilinguistics as a career.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- Students became more aware of the importance of language in law and careers in the field of jurilinguistics.
- Possible increase in the number of undergraduates entering into this field, and in particular, through the University of Ottawa’s Master's in Legal Translation.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$60,000 in funding for the Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario.
Output
Educational day camps for franco-ontarian students from grades 5 to 10 during the 2009-2010 academic year.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
Increased awareness of students and teachers on issues relating to access to justice in both official languages, the justice system and careers in the field of justice (language rights and justice-related careers), legal mechanisms and French language services in Ontario.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$26,905 in funding for the Association des juristes d’expression française du Manitoba.
Output
Conference on November 28, 2009 to inform AJEFM members about many new developments that could affect provincial French language services and access to justice in French in Manitoba.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- Increased capacity of the Manitoba legal system and stakeholders to provide legal services in both official languages.
- The legal community and the official language minority community are encouraged to exercise their respective rights. They become more aware of issues relating to access to justice in both official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$276,820 in funding for the Centre for translation and legal documentation in Ottawa.
Output
Development of a series of legal and linguistic tools. These tools included the production of Ontario French-language jurisprudence, the standardization of French common law terminology, translation and linguistic revision of original documents.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The project increased the ability of jurists, academics, law students and legal translators who use the services of the Centre to better serve their clients for the purpose of improving access to justice in both official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$188,000 in funding for the Centre de traduction et terminologie juridiques de Moncton.
Output
Development of a series of legal and linguistic tools. These tools included lexicographical production such as the standardization of French common law terminology, the development of the Juridictionnaire and the Juriterm database. As well, the Centre provided support services and repositories of documents, and was working on an Internet portal in collaboration with other jurilinguistics centres.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The project increases the ability of jurists, academics, law students and legal translators who use the services of the Centre to better serve their clients for the purpose of improving access to justice in both official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$21,291 in funding for the Centre de traduction et de terminologie juridiques de Moncton.
Output
Offered professional training sessions in legal terminology in the fall of 2009 to jurists with a good command of French, in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The participants’ ability to provide services in French was increased.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$99,000 in funding for the Department of Justice and Attorney General, Provincial Court of Alberta.
Output
French language courses, including items relating to French common law legal terminology, to eight judges of the Alberta Provincial Court, in order to prepare them to sit on the Itinerant Francophone Provincial Court Bench.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- Basic component and first step towards creating a francophone itinerant court in Alberta to ensure the right of the accused to be tried in the language of his/her choice.
- Increased French language services in Alberta courts.
- The project increases access to justice for Alberta Francophones and increases the capacity of the justice system and its stakeholders to provide legal services in both of Canada’s official languages.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$29,988 in funding for Éducaloi.
Output
First bilingual symposium in Quebec for adolescents in secondary 3 and 4. The project included identifying and presenting three legal issues that young people are interested in, creating a workshop on careers in the justice system and creating a workshop for secondary school teachers on integrating legal information in their courses.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
- The project raised student and teacher awareness of the importance of law in everyday life.
- Increased knowledge and confidence in the justice system.
- Increased knowledge of careers in the field of justice.
Activity carried out to achieve the expected result
$301,629 of funding over three years for Éducaloi.
Output
Development, adaptation and dissemination of legal information in plain language to the anglophone community in Quebec, and building partnerships with this community. The products are in electronic format for posting on the Éducaloi website and in paper format for distribution in English schools and organizations serving the anglophone community. The products were designed not only for Anglophones in general, but also for the needs of young people and aboriginals. In addition, the project paid special attention to language rights.
Progress made in achieving the expected result
The project increases the Quebec anglophone community’s awareness of issues relating to access to justice in both official languages.
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