January 27, 2020
Province Releases 2018-2019 Annual Report on French Language Services
– – –Report Provides Overview of Public Bodies' French-Language Activities and Plans: Squires
The Manitoba government has released the 2018-2019 Annual Report on French Language Services, providing an overview of the activities undertaken by public bodies in support of Manitoba’s francophone population, Municipal Relations Minister Rochelle Squires, minister responsible for francophone affairs, announced today.
“This report marks the use of a new format, in which all public bodies are reporting against their multi-year strategic French-language service plans,” said Squires. “By learning from one another’s accomplishments and challenges, public bodies will be better equipped to meet the needs of francophones and ensure the success of their French-language services plans.”
Squires noted this year’s annual report provides a baseline of existing French-language services from which to measure future progress. Priorities include:
• building bilingual capacity,
• improving consultation and collaboration with the community,
• increasing awareness of the concept of active offer, and
• building concrete strategies to better support Manitobans who choose to live in French.
The Francophone Affairs Secretariat received reports from 34 public bodies setting out the measures taken to enhance the vitality of Manitoba’s francophone community and support its development. The annual report includes information about the activities of the secretariat and the Bilingual Service Centres, and a number of recommendations aimed at helping public bodies to better meet their overall objectives to improve their delivery of services in French.
“The secretariat is very encouraged by the efforts public bodies have been making to improve their delivery of services in French,” said Teresa Collins, executive director, Francophone Affairs Secretariat. “The annual report includes examples of positive practices which can be adopted by other public bodies to enhance their own results.”
Statistics relating to bilingual capacity across public bodies show an increase in the number of bilingual employees, with over 1,400 staff able and willing to offer services in French.
The development and implementation of multi-year, strategic French-language service plans is a key element of The Francophone Community Enhancement and Support Act, which was adopted in 2016. This is the first year the Francophone Affairs Secretariat can report on the targets established by the public bodies in their plans.
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