Canadian Government Information on the Internet (CGII)

by Anita Cannon, the Depository Services Program and Contributors

Language -- Federal Information

• Canada in la Francophonie
• Commissioner of Official Languages
• Francommunautés virtuelles
• National Committee for Canadian Francophonie Human Resources Development
• Official Languages
• Official Languages Support Programs, Canadian Heritage
• Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages
• Translation Bureau

Canada in la Francophonie
This Web site by DFAIT's Francophonie Affairs Division has background information on the federal and provincial governments' involvement in the international francophone community. It includes details on the Francophonie Promotion Fund, Canada's goals and priorities as a member of the Francophonie, the major program themes for the summit, a description of the Francophonie, its agencies and institutions, a list of member states and governments, a history of the summits and conferences and a chronology of events in Canada's participation in the Francophonie. There are also brief descriptions of Canada's current aid programs for francophone countries, photographs of Francophonie dignitaries, and links are provided to some related Web sites.
(2003-01-16, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.

Commissioner of Official Languages
This office, its mission, mandate, history, and the role of the Commissioner are described in a section titled "At Your Service" and in the FAQ. The "Language Rights" section highlights the rights Canadian citizens have under the Official Languages Act. It has information needed to file a complaint under the Act, and details on court remedy procedure and legal interventions by the Commissioner. Links are provided to federal legislation on official languages (Official Languages Act, Regulations, and the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms). Other print and online publications can be downloaded or requested. A section on "Duality & Diversity" provides information on some key issues, and award winners and notable achievements in the private sector and all levels of government are listed. There is a section of information for children and youth with teaching resources available on request. The latest news releases, studies, speeches, legal interventions and published reports and "infoaction" newsletter editions are linked to in the "What's New" section. The "Newsroom" has similar information as well as a calendar of events, media contacts, and an online form to subscribe to a distribution list for receiving e-mail updates to this section.
(2003-01-16, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.
http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/home_accueil.asp?Lang=English

Francommunautés virtuelles
The goal of this federal program created by Industry Canada is to increase the French content, applications, and services on the Internet and promote networking among the francophone communities in Canada. The web site has a list of the program's Advisory Committee members, Associate members, and Observers, with contact information, a brief description of the program, the current invitation to submit proposals describing how to apply for funding, and links to the French-language national and regional sites created since 1998-99. Links are also provided to other, similar programs, and to other sites of interest to Francophones.
(2001-04-23, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.
http://francommunautes.ic.gc.ca/index_e.asp

National Committee for Canadian Francophonie Human Resources Development
A different Francophone community in Canada is highlighted here every three months. The twenty-seven federal government departments and agencies which are directly involved in supporting the economic development and enhancing the vitality of Francophone communities in Canada are profiled with details of their relevant programs and services. There is also background information on the Committee and its members, an outline and synopsis of the Official Languages Act, a news bulletin from Sept. 1997 on, and a "business opportunities corner" -- a page for advertisements by entrepreneurs seeking partners.
(1998-10-08, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.
http://www.francophonie.gc.ca/accuei_e.shtml

Official Languages
The Treasury Board Secretariat directs and co-ordinates federal policies and programs related to the Official Languages program under the Official Languages Act. This site contains a great deal of information related to that mandate. There are news releases, the 1997/98 Annual Report, a contact list, plans and priorities for implementing the Official Languages program, and under "Archives", letters outlining Official Languages achievements back to 1992. The "Agreements" section includes links to Canadian Heritage Bulletin 41-42 in .pdf format (a quarterly newsletter for official language minority communities in Canada and for federal public servants who implement sections 41 and 42 of the Official Languages Act), to the National Committee for Canadian Francophonie HR Development, and to the TBS action plans from 1996/97, etc. Also accessible from this site are the Official Languages Act, Regulations, and related legislation, policy on official languages, reference documents such as an audit guide, tools for government offices to prepare their annual assessment, TBS circulars related to Official Languages, and employment statistics from 1992 in a publication called "Chronos". Links are provided to French language associations, regional consultations, a progress report, National Francophonie week, the National Symposium on Canada's Official Languages, workshops and more. The Publications section includes annual reports from 1990 on, reports on the use of official languages in government, audit reviews, and various publications on how to provide service in both languages.
(1998-10-29, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.
http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ollo/index_e.asp

Official Languages Support Programs, Canadian Heritage
This informative Web site has descriptions of the bursaries, exchanges, and other programs that exist to promote the official languages such as the official language monitor, summer language bursary, language acquisition development programs, assistance for interpretation and translation, for linguistic duality and for official language communities, the administration of justice in both official languages, and federal-provincial/territorial agreements. A section on linguistic policy includes a chronology of the evolution of bilingualism in Canada, the Official Languages Act: In Brief, information on official languages in the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and a description of the federal institutions which have responsibility for the Official Languages Act. This Web site has many publications and informational pages on the official languages and related issues such as the Canadian Francophonie, French immersion, etc. These include, among many others, Official Language Annual Reports, Action Plans, and contact information for coordinators, a guide on how to make your organization bilingual, language statistics from the latest Census, outlooks for each province and territory, educational sheets, an information kit on second language learning, and a large collection of links to other related Web sites.
(2000-07-07, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.
http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/index_e.cfm

Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages
Information from this Standing Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons is available on the Parliamentary Internet site. For current information select "Committee Business" from the home page, then select "Joint -- Committee List" followed by Official Languages. The first page for this committee provides contact information for the Clerk of the House of Commons, a list of the committee's studies and press releases, with some of them linked to online versions. For other information, select headings from the frame on the left side of the screen: "List of Members", "Notice of Meetings" showing the committee's meeting schedule with location and type (in-camera, modified or televised), "Minutes of Proceedings" and "Evidence and Index" link to the minutes and the verbal transcript of past meetings. "List of Reports" links to reports tabled in the House. For similar information from earlier Parliamentary sessions, link to the previous sessions available (from 35th Parliament on).
(2001-09-10, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/index.asp?Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=2

Translation Bureau
This agency of Public Works & Government Services Canada provides contact information and details on how to do business with the Bureau. Its products and services in translation, interpretation, terminology, and training are profiled. A zipped demonstration file of TERMIUM, the Bureau's electronic terminology database, is available for downloading. Publications are listed by subject and alphabetically by title, with summaries and ordering information, including an online order form. Available in full text online are English-French, French-English glossaries of terms to do with the Internet, with women and development, and a list of titles of federal, provincial, and territorial Ministers.
(1998-07-09, Anita Cannon, Mount Allison University )

Site available in English and French.
http://www.translationbureau.gc.ca/pwgsc_internet/en/accueil_home_e.htm

Copyright © 2002 Anita Cannon and Public Works and Government Services Canada