FCFA Unveils a New Approach for the Full Implementation of the Official Languages Act
OTTAWA – The full implementation of the Official Languages Act requires much more than a minimalist approach; it requires us to go back to the original intent of the Act. That is the essence of the message delivered this morning by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada, as it released a document looking back at four decades of official languages policy on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Official Languages Act.
In its publication “The Implementation of the Official Languages Act : a New Approach – A new Vision”, the FCFA recognizes that the Act has resulted in significant progress for Francophone communities, particularly in helping them develop schools, services and institutions throughout the country. However, the FCFA also describes the actual implementation methods as a “failed approach.”
“In the past 40 years, there has been a lack of political and administrative will to ensure the full application of the Act. As a result, nowadays several federal institutions are not even complying with the bare minimum,” comments FCFA President Marie-France Kenny. “Why is it that three-quarters of federal offices that are designated bilingual still cannot provide us with a simple ‘Hello, bonjour’, or that on the eve of the Olympics we are still unsure as to whether the Vancouver and Toronto airports will be able to welcome visitors in both official languages? Clearly, this is not an approach that has delivered.”
The FCFA is proposing a new implementation approach which is centered on the spirit, intent and objectives of the Official Languages Act: substantive equality of French and English, promotion of linguistic duality throughout the country and support for the development and enhancement of English- and French-language minorities. Among other things, the FCFA recommends completely reviewing the regulation which currently defines where government services are offered in both official languages; assigning the ultimate responsibility for official languages to the Privy Council; and systematically consulting with French-speaking communities to determine their needs. The FCFA is also recommending that federal institutions be made accountable to demonstrate how they take into account the needs of official language minority communities when developing programs and services. Finally, the FCFA feels that the possibility of conferring increased powers on the Commissioner of Official Languages should be explored, in order to enable him to demand corrective measures from federal institutions that do not comply with their obligations.
“We are introducing this new approach with the goal of initiating a dialogue with the government and key stakeholders; we want to work together to find solutions to issues that have been ongoing for decades. We do not want to have to return with the same assessment in ten years,” states Ms. Kenny. “The central issue here is respect for the rights of both French- and English-speaking Canadian citizens.”
The FCFA is a national organization that includes the Francophone advocacy associations of nine provinces and the three territories, as well as ten national organizations. Its role is to defend and promote the rights and interests of French speakers outside Quebec.
Information: Serge Quinty, Communications Director, FCFA du Canada
Tel.: (613) 241-7600 s.quinty@fcfa.ca