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Three-Year Action Plan for Official Languages 2015-2018
Implementation of Section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA)

General Information

Federal institution:
Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
www.crtc.gc.ca
Minister responsible:
The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage
Senior officials responsible for implementation of Part VII of the OLA:
Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairperson
Danielle May-Cuconato, Secretary General
Scott Hutton, Official Languages Champion
Mandate of the federal institution:

Established by Parliament in 1968, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is an independent public authority constituted under the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-22, as amended). The CRTC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

The CRTC is vested with the authority to regulate and oversee the Canadian broadcasting and telecommunications systems. The CRTC derives its regulatory authority over broadcasting from the Broadcasting Act (S.C. 1991, c. 11, as amended). Its telecommunications regulatory powers stem from the Telecommunications Act (S.C. 1993, c. 38, as amended) and the Bell Canada Act (S.C. 1987, c. 19, as amended).

Acting national coordinator responsible for implementation of section 41:
Frédéric Janelle
Acting Senior Manager
French-language Policy and Programming
819-997-4608
frederic.janelle@crtc.gc.ca
Official languages legal counsel:
Eric Bowles
Legal Counsel
819-953-5204
eric.bowles@crtc.gc.ca
Sectoral coordinators:
Lynn Asselin
Senior Radio Analyst
819-997-9382
lynn.asselin@crtc.gc.ca
Caroline Bédard
Analyst, Industry & Policy Monitoring
819-639-3168
caroline.bedard@crtc.gc.ca
Michel Murray
Director
Telecommunications Dispute Resolution
819-997-9300
michel.murray@crtc.gc.ca
Claude Brault
Senior Analyst
Distribution Policy and Applications
819-997-6064
claude.brault@crtc.gc.ca
Michael Craig
Manager
English Television Applications
819-997-9394
michael.craig@crtc.gc.ca

Summary of progress expected according to the following categories

For 2015-2018, under section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA), the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC or Commission) intends to continue the following activities: awareness, consultation, communications, coordination, liaison and accountability.

As an administrative tribunal, the CRTC neither manages programs or services, nor does it fund activities. Nevertheless, a number of its activities, such as the development of regulatory policies, the review of existing policies, the granting or renewal of licences and the approval of tariffs, contribute to the implementation of section 41 of the OLA.

Awareness

The CRTC continuously organizes awareness and information sessions on section 41 of the OLA and on the specific needs of official language minority communities (OLMCs). To ensure a sound understanding of the obligations of Commission staff toward OLMCs, awareness and information sessions will be provided for all commissioners, senior managers, employees and sectoral coordinators to inform them of their roles and responsibilities. The Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities page on the Commission’s website will be updated in a timely manner to include the latest versions of official languages reports, action plans for implementation of section 41 of the OLA, and information about the CRTC-OLMC discussion group (mandate, work plan, membership list, meeting minutes and agendas, etc.).

In the next three years, the CRTC will continue its awareness-raising efforts by providing reminders of the Commission’s obligations and of the roles and responsibilities of all employees, including at orientation sessions for new employees held as part of mandatory CRTC University (CRTC-UFootnote 1) training, and at Commission, management and team meetings.

Also with a view to informing and raising the awareness of its staff, the CRTC will enhance the Communications Monitoring Report section dedicated to OLMCs.

Furthermore, the CRTC will adopt a new dynamic approach to increasing staff awareness of official languages and OLMCs. It will implement diversified activities to promote Canada’s linguistic duality which also honour the country’s heritage and history.

Consultations

Communications

The CRTC will continue to systematically and regularly inform OLMCs of public proceedings concerning them in order to seek their participation.Footnote 2 There are two mechanisms through which OLMCs can receive information: through the sending of emails as proceedings are posted on the CRTC’s website, and through social media sites, i.e., Twitter and Facebook. In addition, hyperlinks that could be useful and could provide additional or complementary information for OLMCs are also available on the CRTC’s Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities webpage. As indicated above, the Commission’s public notices are posted on its website.

Coordination and liaison

To promote the sharing of information, the CRTC will continue to work with its federal partners, including Canadian Heritage (PCH) and the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. The CRTC will attend national coordinators’ meetings organized by PCH in the National Capital Region. In addition, the Official Languages Champion will attend champions’ meetings. The CRTC will consult the best practices and the tools posted on the section 41 portal and will identify a federal partner with which to share practices and initiatives for implementation of the objectives of section 41 of the OLA.

CRTC activities related to the implementation of section 41 of the OLA

The CRTC’s activities, such as the issuance, renewal and amendment of licences, the development of new regulatory policies or the review of existing policies, and the supervision of all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system, carried out under the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act, will contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in section 41 of the OLA.

Accountability

As required, the CRTC will develop measuring instruments to assess progress achieved following the activities implemented under the following categories: awareness (A), consultations (B), and communications (C).

A. Awareness

The CRTC will use innovative methods to inform, educate and further raise the awareness of its staff and commissioners of their obligations under section 41 of the OLA, linguistic duality and OLMC rights, with a view to continuing to instil an organizational culture in this federal institution that is attuned to the needs of OLMCs.

Planned activities to achieve the expected outcome Expected outputs Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected outcome Expected outcome(s)
Provide awareness and information sessions for staff and senior management on section 41 of the OLA and on the impact of the CRTC’s proceedings on OLMCs
  • at team, senior management and Commission meetings;
  • at orientation sessions for new CRTC employees and commissioners as part of CRTC-U;
  • at Internal Official Languages Committee meetings, chaired by the Commission’s OL Champion
  • Planned session schedule and agendas
  • Sessions for employees, senior managers and commissioners
  • Number of employees, commissioners attending the sessions
  • Degree of employees’ and commissioners’ knowledge about their commitment and about the CRTC’s obligations and the impact of the Commission’s proceedings on OLMCs
  • Level of incorporation of OLMC-related issues:
    • Number of proceedings
    • Number of decisions
  • Degree of awareness of obligations and responsibilities
  • Instil an organizational culture attuned to the needs of OLMCs: all employees, senior managers and commissioners understand their responsibilities under section 41 of the OLA
  • Analysts are able to identify OLMC-related issues and to incorporate them into their impact analyses;
  • Commissioners and the Chairperson are able to better understand the impact of their decisions on OLMCs
Collect information from OLMCs to better identify their needs
  • Two meetings with the discussion group: meeting minutes
  • Understanding of OLMCs’ needs and concerns
Update, obtain approval from the Chairperson and CEO, publish, disseminate and implement the revised policy and internal guidelines on official languages incorporating the CRTC's obligations under the Broadcasting Act, Telecommunications Act and Official Languages Act
  • Internal policies and guidelines posted on the intranet
  • Internal newsletters
  • Presentation at a CRTC staff meeting
  • Self-identification of stakeholders from OLMCs when filing interventions (using the online form)
  • Degree of awareness, understanding and knowledge of OL, the CRTC’s obligations and the accountability structure
Add relevant information to the CRTC’s Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities webpage
  • Presentation of statistical data on official languages
  • OLMC profiles
  • Web links to relevant sites for OLMCs
  • Degree of staff’s understanding of what “OLMC” means, who belongs to OLMCs and the geographic dispersion of OLMCs
Update the Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities webpage
  • Reports on official languages;
  • Action plans for implementation of section 41;
  • Information about the CRTC-OLMC discussion group (background, mandate and activities)
    • Work plan
    • Membership list
    • Minutes
    • Meeting agendas
    • Sub-committees (as applicable)
  • Degree of knowledge about what is done at the CRTC to ensure that the institution fulfills its obligations with respect to OLMCs and official languages

B. Consultations (CRTC-OLMC discussion group)

The CRTC created a forum for informal and formal dialogue with OLMCs: the CRTC-OLMC discussion group. Established in 2007, the group’s mandate is to identify ways to take the action required to maximize OLMCs’ participation in the CRTC’s public proceedings. The CRTC is thus able to take the realities of OLMCs into account more effectively in its analyses and deliberations leading to the decisions it makes, as the Commission bases its decisions on the public record. For more information, see http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/5000/lo_ol/olb-lob.htm.

Planned activities to achieve the expected outcome Expected outputs Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected outcome Expected outcome(s)
Organize quarterly CRTC-OLMC discussion group meetings
  • Participation by Commission staff, including experts, analysts, legal counsel and managers of the broadcasting and telecommunications sectors
  • Agendas
  • Minutes
  • Two meetings per year
  • Significant participation among OLMC representatives
  • Degree of mutual satisfaction
  • Level of OLMCs’ understanding of the Commission’s public proceedings
  • Level of understanding of Commission staff, including sectoral coordinators, of OLMC-related issues
  • Degree of discussion and level of cooperation between OLMCs and Commission staff
  • Maintenance of lasting relationships between the Commission and OLMCs;
  • In-depth and mutual understanding of respective mandates;
  • The Commission, sectoral coordinators and managers are aware of the needs and priorities of OLMCs and share information with their colleagues and employees;
  • OLMC members are better informed of relevant proceedings and take part in them;
  • OLMC members are better informed of the Commission’s mandate under its enabling legislation
Attend various meetings with OLMCs coordinated by Canadian Heritage and/or other departments, central agencies and community organizations

C. Communications (Transmission of information to OLMCs)

Attuned to the issues and needs of OLMCs, Commission staff will provide up-to-date information on relevant proceedings for OLMCs so that they can participate.

Planned activities to achieve the expected outcome Expected outputs Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected outcome Expected outcome(s)

Update and manage the content of the Official Languages and Official Language Minority Communities webpage on the Commission’s site

Insert relevant information and hyperlinks

 Webpage:
  • Action plans
  • Reports
  • CRTC-OLMC discussion group mandate
  • Work plan
  • Group membership list
  • Minutes
  • Agendas
  • Relevant hyperlinks
  • Degree of OLMC access to current information
  • Quality and relevance of the content of materials disseminated
  • Level of visibility of the CRTC’s proceedings and activities
  • Level of OLMC participation in the Commission’s proceedings
  • OLMCs demonstrate an increased understanding of respective mandates and expectations;
  • OLMCs receive relevant and up-to-date information about Commission proceedings concerning them so they can participate;
  • OLMCs participate fully in the Commission’s public proceedings

Regularly inform OLMCs of relevant CRTC practices and proceedings by email and through social media and informal discussions

Respond to enquiries, calls and questions from OLMCs, by involving sectoral coordinators and experts
  • Emails
  • Social media: Twitter and Facebook
  • Telephone calls

D. Coordination and liaison

Working with multiple partners will continue to promote the development and vitality of OLMCs and will also result in the sharing of best practices.

Planned activities to achieve the expected outcome Expected outputs Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected outcome Expected outcome(s)

Create and maintain regular contact with federal partners for implementation of section 41

Participate in interdepartmental groups

Attend national coordinators’ meetings and workshops

  • Meetings
  • Shared tools
  • Effectiveness of participation
  • Level of cooperation and information sharing
  • Sharing of best practices internally with other federal partners
  • Sharing and adaptation of our tools in other organizations
Share information among CRTC sectoral coordinators to discuss and coordinate meeting outcomes
  • Degree of incorporation of outcomes into analyses
  • Degree of knowledge of OLMC realities
Conduct, as required, studies and research (basic data; trends; geographic breakdown and diversity of OLMCs; impact of technology)
  • Study and research reports

E. Funding and delivery of CRTC programs and activities related to the implementation of section 41 of the OLA

As an administrative tribunal, the CRTC does not manage programs or services, nor does it fund activities. However, the CRTC, in carrying out its broadcasting mandate, assigns, renews or amends broadcasting licences, develops new policies or reviews existing policies, and regulates and oversees all aspects of the Canadian broadcasting system. These activities are carried out under the Broadcasting Act. In addition, the Commission exercises its powers and performs its duties under the Telecommunications Act in order to implement the Canadian telecommunications policy objectives and ensure that Canadian carriers provide services and charge rates in accordance with section 27 of the Act. A number of these activities contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in section 41 of the OLA.

Expected outcomes

Planned activities to achieve the expected outcome Expected outputs Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected outcome Expected outcome(s)
Inform OLMCs to maximize their participation in public proceedings that have an impact on them with respect to:
  • the issuance, renewal and amendment of broadcasting licences
  • the development of new policies or the review of existing policies and other decisions;
    • by implementing lens 41, i.e., taking into account the impact of proceedings on OLMCs
  • As applicable, conditions, expectations and encouragements taking OLMC needs into account in Public Notices, regulatory policies and decisions made
  • Rate of participation/ involvement by OLMCsFootnote 3
  • OLMCs participate in proceedings that have an impact on them

F. Accountability

Planned activities to achieve the expected outcome Expected outputs Indicators to measure progress in achieving the expected outcome Expected outcome
Better incorporate the objectives of section 41 of the OLA into annual reports (RPP and DPR) Paragraphs in annual reports (RPP and DPR) Planning mechanisms and reports incorporate the objectives of section 41 Full incorporation of section 41 of the OLA and the perspective of OLMCs into the Commission’s practices

Distribution List

Graham Flack
Deputy Minister
Canadian Heritage
25 Eddy Street
Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5
Graham Fraser
Commissioner of Official Languages
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
30 Victoria Street, 6th floor
Gatineau, Ontario K1A 0M6
Georges Ekota
Clerk of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages
House of Commons of Canada
131 Queen Street, 6th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Maxell Hollins
Clerk
Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages
Senate of Canada
Chambers Building, Room 1051
40 Elgin Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4
Suzanne Bossé
Serge Quinty
Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada (FCFA)
Place de la francophonie
450 Rideau Street, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Eric Dubeau
Simone Saint-Pierre
Fédération culturelle canadienne-française (FCCF)
Place de la francophonie
450 Rideau Street, Suite 405
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Benoit Henry
Alliance nationale de l’industrie musicale (ANIM)
390 Rideau Street, P.O. Box 20171
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Y0
Guy Rodgers
English Language Arts Network (ELAN)
460 Sainte Catherine Street West, Suite 610
Montreal, Quebec H3B 1A7
François Coté
Alliance des radios communautaires du Canada (ARC)
325 Dalhousie Street, 2nd Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7G2
Chantal Nadeau
Alliance des producteurs francophones du Canada (APFC)
66 Muriel Street, Suite 210, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 4E1
Sylvia Martin-Laforge
Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN)
1255 University Avenue, Suite 1000
Montreal, Quebec H3B 3W6
Hugh Maynard
Quebec Association for Anglophone Community Radio (QU’ANGLO)
P.O. Box 100, St. Augustine, Quebec G0G 2R0
Gaël Corbineau
Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador (FFTNL)
65 Ridge Road, Suite 233
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador A1B 4P5
Aubrey Cormier
Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin (SSTA)
5 Maris Stella Avenue
Summerside, Prince Edward Island C1N 6M9
Marie-Claude Rioux
Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse (FANE)
La Maison acadienne, 54 Queen Street
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 1G3
Peter Hominuk
Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (AFO)
1173 Cyrville Road, Suite 306
Ottawa, Ontario K1J 7S6
Daniel Boucher
Société franco-manitobaine (SFM)
383 Provencher Boulevard, Suite 212
Saint Boniface, Manitoba R2H 0G9
Marc Masson
Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise (ACF)
2445 13th Avenue, Suite 101
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 0W1
Isabelle Laurin
Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta (ACFA)
303-8627 91st Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6C 3N1
Mylène Letellier
Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique (FFCB)
1575 West 7th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia V6J 1S1
Léo-Paul Provencher
Fédération Franco-Ténoise (FFT)
P.O. Box 1325
Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2N9
Roch Nadon
Association Franco-yukonnaise (AFY)
302 Strickland Street, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2K1
Kirwan Cox
Quebec English-language Production Committee (QEPC)
5 St-Anselme,
Rigaud, Quebec J0P 1P0
Éric Corneau
Association des francophones du Nunavut (AFN)
P.O. Box 880, Iqaluit, Nunavut X0A 0H0
Bruno Godin
Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB)
702 Principale Street, Suite 204
Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick E8J 1V1
Laurence Véron
Vital Kasongo
Front des réalisateurs indépendants du Canada (FRIC)
450 Rideau Street, Suite 405
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Jean-Pierre Caissie
Association acadienne des artistes professionnel.l.e.s
du Nouveau-Brunswick (AAAPNB)
140 Botsford Street, Suite 29
Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 4X5
Shelley Robinson
National Campus and Community Radio Association (NCRA)
180 Metcalfe Street, Suite 608
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P5
Natalie Bernardin
Association des professionnels de la chanson et de la musique (APCM)
450 Rideau Street, Office 401
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5Z4
Nicole Matiation
On Screen Manitoba
003-100 Arthur Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 1H3
Jean-Sébastien Jolin-Gignac
Voice of English-speaking Quebec (VEQ)
1270 Sainte-Foy Road, Suite 2141
Jeffery Hale Pavillion
Quebec City, Quebec G1S 2M4
René Savoie
New Brunswick Producers’ Association Inc.
Community Productions
34 Pleasant Street
Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 2T6
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