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Planning and Reporting
Results-Based Status Report on the Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act 2006-2007
Status of Women Canada
Table of Contents
Summary of Key Results - 2006-2007
Awareness
Consultations
Communications
Coordination and Liaison
Funding and Program Delivery
Accountability
- Acronyms and Abbreviations
- Detailed Status Report
- Initiatives Undertaken by Official Language Minority Women's Organizations
- Initiatives Targeting Official Language Minority Women
General Information
Status of Women Canada |
MacDonald Building |
Minister responsible : |
The Honourable Beverley Oda, P.C., M.P. |
Senior official(s) responsible |
Clare Beckton |
Mandate :
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The mandate of Status of Women Canada (SWC) is to "coordinate policy with respect to the status of women and administer related programs." The mandate is further guided by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and by Canada's adherence to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and its renewed commitment to implement the United Nations' Beijing Platform for Action (1995 and 2005). |
National coordinator |
Valerie Lavergne |
Regional Coordinators (on March 31, 2007) |
Lorraine Cameron, Regional Director Deborah Welch, Regional Director Joanne Poulin, Acting Regional Director Thérèse Lamartine, Regional Director Nicole Bujold, Acting Regional Director |
Regional Coordinators (as of April 1, 2007) |
Deborah Welch, Regional Director Thérèse Lamartine, Regional Director Nicole Bujold Huguette Leclerc, Chief, Program Delivery |
Action Plan Highlights
SWC facilitates the full participation of all women in the economic, cultural and social life of the country. This strategic outcome flows from SWC's mandate and is strengthened by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canada's adherence to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
In fulfilling its mandate, SWC is committed to contributing to the vitality of official language minority communities, assisting in their development, and fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society. SWC continues to work in collaboration with key partners, including Canadian Heritage, Canadian organizations and other stakeholders to carry out its legislative obligations under the Official Languages Act (OLA). SWC provides support for projects that help to facilitate the full participation of official language minority women in the economic, social and cultural life of Canadian society.
The implementation of section 41 of the OLA is carried out in the context of SWC's broad mandate and within a framework that identifies community needs and expected results. SWC uses different mechanisms, such as program delivery, gender-based analysis, communications and consultations, and continues to work with official language minority women's (OLMW's) organizations, collaborate with key stakeholders within the federal Public Service, other levels of governments and communities.
The key elements of the SWC Multi-Year Action Plan 2006-2009 are identified below:Community Needs
SWC continues to monitor and identify the needs of OLMW through various consultation mechanisms. The key community needs fall under four areas:
- Access to government programs, services and information: access to health and social programs and services, information on relevant federal, provincial/territorial programs and information materials (e.g. reports, tools, research publications).
- Financial, material and technical assistance: funding and technical assistance for projects designed to address issues pertaining to OLMW.
- Greater participation in official language minority communities and the efforts to achieve the full participation of women: to become full and active participants in their own communities and to advance women's participation in the economic, social and cultural life of Canadian society.
- Opportunities to contribute to the public policy process: greater recognition, by departments and agencies, of the presence, realities and issues of OLMW, as well as mechanisms to facilitate their participation in the public policy process.
Activity Categories and Expected Results
The main activities in the Action Plan fall under the six categories identified for section 41. The activities under each category are designed against expected results that, in turn, contribute to the SWC outcomes under section 41 of the OLA:
Awareness
- Some of the main expected results under this category include enhanced and more visible leadership and a greater management role in supporting section 41, increased staff awareness about the legislation, knowledge of SWC obligations under the Act, increased exchange of information among directorates and greater integration of the section 41 action plan in the corporate planning and reporting activities.
Consultation
- We expect that the availability of timely and accurate information to staff will increase, SWC planning and reporting exercises will be supported by data pertaining to section 41 and SWC staff are aware of new and emerging issues affecting the target group.
Communications
- Some of the expected results under this category include improved communication between SWC and its partners, particularly OLMW, who will be informed of SWC programs, services and activities via different communication mechanisms.
Coordination and Liaison
- SWC expects to broaden and improve its existing partnership with different stakeholders at different levels and benefit from the best practices and lessons learned from others in enhancing its strategy to implement section 41.
Funding and Program Delivery
- In delivering the Women's Program, SWC will seek to ensure access to its grants and contributions by OLMW's organizations to carry out projects that promote the full participation of women in the economic, social and cultural life of Canadian society.
Accountability
- SWC expects to see heightened awareness of OLMW issues among accountability function teams and officers.
- SWC will ensure that its strategic planning process, including the priority setting exercises, integrates the needs of official language minority women.
The following pages provide the 2006-2007 context within SWC and the key results in six categories: awareness, consultation, communications, coordination and liaison, funding and program delivery, and accountability.
Summary of Changes to SWC and Key Results - 2006-2007
Context
In 2006, the Terms and Conditions of the Women's Program (WP) were renewed in compliance with the Policy on Transfer Payments. The renewal of the WP has resulted in changes to the program framework, including the mandate, objective, outcomes and funding recipients. The Terms and Conditions serve as guidelines for funding projects that have a direct impact on women in their communities.
In September 2006, the Government announced a $5 million savings in the administrative budget of Status of Women Canada (SWC), effective April 1, 2007. As a result, SWC has consolidated the agency's operations and streamlined the core work of its policy advisory role. Through the amalgamation of the previous Policy, Gender-Based Analysis and Research directorates, the new Policy Directorate will offer core policy advice and work in partnership with selected departments and central agencies to implement gender-based analysis and to monitor progress. It will also carry out gender-based analysis trends and gaps analysis and also establish comparisons with global best practices.
In March 2007, the Government of Canada announced that an additional $5 million would be invested in the WP, with $4.5 million in grants and contributions. The new resources have increased the grant and contribution level from $10.8 million to $15.3 million, representing an increase of 42%. The WP Terms and Conditions were subsequently modified to reflect the creation of the following two components:
Women's Community Fund ($12.3 million)
Women's Partnership Fund ($3.0 million)
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SWC will focus on initiatives in line with government priorities that directly affect women, including OLMW, and simultaneously ensure the integrity and coherence of its core functions and activities, taking into account its financial situation. As such, the WP will continue to work closely with Aboriginal women's and other organizations on issues such as violence, economic security and self-governance. In addition, contribution funding will continue to the Sisters-in-Spirit initiative to address sexualized, racialized violence against Aboriginal women.
As of April 1, 2007 the four SWC points of service are:
- West-Edmonton Office serves British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and Yukon
- National and Ontario Region-Ottawa office serves Ontario, plus national organizations
- Quebec-Montreal office serves Quebec and Nunavut
- Atlantic-Moncton office serves New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
The results identified under the Multi-Year Action Plan for Section 41 (2006-2009) are linked to the strategic outcome of SWC. As such, OLA results are consistent with and complement the SWC strategic outcome. In implementing section 41 of the OLAin 2005-2006, SWC used its different roles and activities, including program delivery, communications and consultations, policy work, and gender-based analysis. As SWC continues to make progress in implementing section 41 of the OLA, the results achieved annually contribute to the corporate outcomes as well as to the horizontal results of the Government of Canada, under the legislation.
Given the strengthening of the OLAwiththe adoption of Bill S-3, SWC will review its Multi-Year Action Plan 2006-2009 to determine if there are additional positive measures it could undertake to support OLMCs. Moreover, in view of the context described above, SWC will review its action plan in 2007-2008, including the role of regional coordinators, so as to ensure effective implementation of its commitment.
The following section highlights the key results achieved in relation to the various initiatives carried out in the reporting year.Awareness
SWC is committed to meeting its responsibilities under s. 41 of the OLAthrough the effective implementation of the Multi-Year Action Plan (2006-2009), including increasing staff knowledge, providing timely information on recent developments regarding s. 41 and improving the use of both official languages. In 2006-2007, there was visible leadership and management support for s. 41 and an increased exchange of information among directorates. Various tools and resources were shared with managers and other staff, including PCH performance measurement tools and guides to the preparation of status reports and action plans; Bulletin 41-42; Annual Report 2005-2006 of the Official Languages Commissioner; e-mails and other materials from PCH and other departments; reports and presentations by OLMCs and by federal departments at meetings of national and regional coordinators, s. 41, etc. Thirty-one employees participated in part-time language training to enhance their language proficiency or for career development purposes. Two others were in full-time training to meet the OL requirements of their position. Both official languages were increasingly used during staff meetings and conference calls.
Consultations
SWC continued its efforts to provide opportunities for OLMW to raise issues unique to their communities. For example, the agency proposed three Manitoba OLMW's organizations as participants at the meeting of national and regional coordinators, s. 41, held in Winnipeg on June 1, 2006. This event provided an opportunity for federal departments to learn more about the concerns and issues of OLMW in Manitoba, and to consider OLMW needs within the provincial OLMC.
At the October 4, 2006 meeting of national coordinators, s. 41, SWC heard from OLMC representatives of the three territories, who spoke about the challenges they face in carrying out projects. As well, SWC attended several activities of OLMW's organizations, often held within the context of projects funded by the Women's Program (WP). For example, WP staff heard from over forty young women on March 16-17, 2007 at the forum Le pouvoir, c'est osé! Jeunes femmes francophones, relevons les défis, organized by the Alliance des femmes de la francophonie canadienne. The priorities of OLMW continued to be taken into consideration in program delivery at local, regional and national levels. SWC continued to encourage the involvement of OLMW and their organizations in activities commemorating key dates, including International Women's Day, Women's History Month, and the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.Communications
In order to respond to the need identified by OLMW for greater access to government programs, services and information, SWC used different communication mechanisms to inform OLMW, including its Web site, news releases, speeches, fact sheets, materials for commemorative events, responses to e-mails. It also provided information, through its toll-free and local numbers, SWC staff participated in various OLMC events and regular contacts between staff and organizations.
Coordination and Liaison
SWC maintained its ongoing communication, consultation and partnership with PCH, by participating in the regular interdepartmental meetings of OL national coordinators, s. 41, and by benefiting from training opportunities on performance measurement tools and guides to preparing the annual status report and action plan. This collaboration existed at various levels, liaison with provincial/territorial counterparts and participating in Federal Council meetings. Due to the challenges associated with the transition period, SWC partnership activities were limited; however, the funding collaboration through IPOLC continued, thus providing financial and technical support to projects carried out by OLMW's organizations to address challenges faced by the target group.
Funding and Program Delivery
In 2006-2007, OLMW benefited from the services, outputs and outcomes obtained through projects funded by the WP. SWC approved funding totalling $794,502 and provided technical assistance for 12 projects, designed to facilitate the participation of OLMW in Canadian society by addressing their economic, social and cultural situation through Canadian organizations. This support included $529,960 for seven projects carried out by OLMW's organizations, of which two were new clients to SWC. Five other projects, which were carried out by organizations other than OLMW's, targeted different groups, including OLMW.
As well, OLMW benefited from other SWC-supported projects that had a direct impact on women in their communities. These projects produced outputs and outcomes that contributed to the SWC Action Plan and the results expected under the OLA.
- SWC continued, for a third year, to partner with PCH through the Interdepartmental Partnership with the Official-Language Communities (IPOLC) and co-funded the following six projects:
- Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes-Sensibilisation et démarches entreprises auprès des décideurs afin de contrer la violence institutionnelle faites aux femmes ["Awareness and Action Undertaken with Decision Makers to Address Institutional Violence against Women"]
- Agence de promotion et de développement des francophones de Toronto-Planification stratégique portant sur le renforcement des capacités des femmes au sein de l'Agence de promotion et de développement des francophones de Toronto ["Strategic Planning Regarding the Skill Development of Women within the Agence de promotion et de développement des francophones de Toronto"]
- Collectif des franco-manitobaines-Agrandir l'espace des femmes francophones au Manitoba ["Expanding the Space of Francophone Women in Manitoba"]
- Comité réseau-Accessibilité vers l'égalité et l'équité ["Access to Equality and Equity"]
- Femmes Équité Atlantique (FÉA) working group-L'Équité économique et les femmes acadiennes et francophones en situation minoritaire dans les provinces atlantiques : se faire entendre ["Economic Equity and Acadian and Francophone Minority Women in the Atlantic Provinces: Making Ourselves Heard"]
- OPALE - Regroupement francophone de femmes handicapées-Profil de la femme handicapée francophone : implantation des recommandations ["Profile of Francophone Women with Disabilities: Implementing Recommendations"]
- SWC also funded a project of the Coalition for Pay Equity in New Brunswick, Pay Equity: A Continuing Issue.The group received funding to act as a catalyst, drawing on the knowledge of its membership, and to promote a better understanding of the benefits of pay equity among decision makers, partners, women and the general public. Its work toward passing a provincial law is achieving results through forums, targeted meetings, involvement with other Francophone and Anglophone women's organizations, and effective news releases. Because of its credibility and expertise in this area, the group has been invited to participate in discussions with working committees created by the province, such as the Women's Forum on the Wage Gap, the province's Self-Sufficiency Task Force and Community Non-Profit Task Force.
Accountability
There was a greater integration of the SWC's s. 41 action plan in the corporate planning (RPP) and reporting/accountability (DPR) activities. The performance measurement tools and guide to the development of the agency's official language status report, provided by the Interdepartmental Coordination Directorate, PCH, were used to prepare the Results-Based Status Report 2006-2007.
Communication Plan
Distribution List
- SWC staff
- Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages
- Members of the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages
- Commissioner of Official Languages
- Key Official Language Minority Community Organizations at national, regional and local levels
This report will be available, in downloadable format, on the SWC Web site (http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/rc-cr/pub/index-eng.html)
Signatures
Date
Valerie Lavergne
National Official Languages Section 41 Co-ordinator
Status of Women Canada
Telephone : (613) 947-0932
Date
Clare Beckton
Co-ordinator
Status of Women Canada
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Commemorative Dates
- International Women's Day (March 8)
- Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case
- Women's History Month (October)
- International Day of the Girl
- National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (December 6)
- Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada
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