Collaboration Accord Between Canadian Heritage and the Community Sector of the Acadian and Francophone Community of Prince Edward Island

Parties have signed the attached copy of the Collaboration Accord in its French version. The translated version of the Accord is for information only and does not bind the parties.

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INTRODUCTION

The Government of Canada and Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community sector have a long history of working together for the common good of French-speaking Canadians living in Prince Edward Island. We share a commitment to improving the quality of life of our fellow citizens and to fostering the development of vibrant, healthy communities. The presence of official-language minority communities contributes to the improvement of quality of life for all Canadians. Our relationship is built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect.

The Government of Canada has undertaken, via the Official Languages Act, to enhance the vitality of linguistic minority communities in Canada (Anglophones in Quebec and Francophones outside Quebec), to assist their development and to promote the full recognition and use of both official languages in Canadian society.

This Collaboration Accord between Canadian Heritage and the Community Sector of the Acadian and Francophone Community of Prince Edward Island mirrors the accord signed in December 2001 by the Prime Minister and representatives of Canada's voluntary sector. (An Accord between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector).


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Background

The relationship between the Government of Canada and the official-language minority communities has led to significant progress since 1970. Over the two cycles of Canada-Community Agreements from 1994 to 2004, new organizations have emerged and networks have grown stronger. Despite these achievements, the assimilation of official-language minority communities remains a major concern.

The Action Plan for Official Languages adopted in March 2003 reaffirms the Government of Canada's commitment to linguistic duality. The Action Plan creates a horizontal accountability and coordination framework to report to Canadians on the results achieved in three main areas: an exemplary public service, education and the development of official-language minority communities. The framework applies to all federal institutions. In addition, ten departments and agencies receive funding under the Action Plan. Within both government and the communities themselves, community development architects and partners have grown more numerous and more diverse.

According to the 2001 Census, the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island increased in numbers for the first time since 50 years. This shift in trends attests to the positive value of the time and effort invested toward the increased vitality of the community to counter assimilation. Nonetheless, the Acadian and Francophone community's relative demographic weight has remained stable.

Thanks to the significant percentage of Anglophone (and sometimes Francophone) students who have benefited from French immersion over the years in Prince Edward Island, the number of individuals who have a knowledge of French has increased substantially since the 1950s. Currently, a total of 16,090 individuals have the capacity to speak French in the province; this is equivalent to 12% of the province's population. With regard to persons entitled to receiving their education in French, a total of 669 Francophone students were enrolled in the six French-language schools of the province in 2003-2004; in comparison, 554 students were enrolled in two schools in 1990-1991.

In 1997, the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island undertook a planning process that lead to the crafting of a strategic development plan. The community is a pioneer in matters of community-government cooperation, since it was the first to conclude, in1997, a tripartite partnership (community, federal government, and provincial government) aimed at community development.

As the community progresses, more and more resources are required to maintain or even accelerate growth. Certain tangible achievements, such as the school-community centres, have given new life to their communities. Such institutions require an extensive planning outlook and medium and long-term stability, so that they can maximize their impact on community development.

During the period covered by the previous agreement, the community prioritized the following sectors of economic activity:

  • Cultural tourism, highlighted during the 400thanniversary of Acadia, which was quite a success;
  • Community economic development;
  • Support to small and medium-sized enterprises and to the cooperative movement: currently, 370 Francophones have their own company;
  • Use and development of information and communications technologies and establishing a cybercommunity, the Island Francophone Telecommunity (télécommunauté insulaire francophone); and
  • Human resources development: the Société éducative de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard offers postsecondary training in French and a distance training service since 1995.

The French Language Health Services Network, established in 2003, seeks to improve access to a full range of French language health services by providing advice to the provincial Minister of Health for the crafting of a plan to better answer the needs of the Acadian and Francophone clientele.

In April 2000, the Government of Prince Edward Island proclaimed the French Language Services Act, and committed to promoting the development of its Acadian and Francophone community and ensuring the continuity of linguistic duality in the province. In October 2002, during the Ministerial Conference on Francophone Affairs, the Minister of Acadian and Francophone Affairs, on behalf of the provincial government, signed a declaration of principles through which it is recognized that the leadership of provincial governments is vital fro the future of the Francophonie. The Government of Prince Edward Island must follow up on its legislative and political commitments by delivering comparable French language services. The federal government supports the Government of Prince Edward Island in its efforts to provide French language services, through the Canada-Prince Edward Island Agreement on French language services, an instrument with very important benefits for the development of the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island.

As a community development architect, the community sector is one of three pillars of Canadian society, along with the public and private sectors. Our quality of life, our economic strength and the vitality of our democratic institutions depend on the vibrancy of these interdependent sectors and the support they provide to one another. Volunteers and staff working in community sector organizations are actively involved in making a difference and improving their communities, and in working towards the global development of the community. They deliver services critical to Canadians, advocate for common causes, and support economic and community development in Canada.

The Canadian community sector has also been instrumental in the development of most of the public services we rely on today as essential manifestations of a caring society, such as schools, hospitals, support for the underprivileged, and care for children in need. All of these services began as volunteer initiatives. Currently, the public and volunteer sectors both take part in providing these services. In communities, the community sector still remains a key purveyor of services in the minority official language. The Government of Canada acknowledges the important contribution of the Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island to the vitality of the province's Acadian and Francophone community.

Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community has made progress thanks to the mobilizing of the entire Acadian and Francophone civil society, which has adopted its own institutions, and thanks to advocacy work. The development of the Island's Acadian and Francophone community hinges on the creation of community institutions benefiting from stable resources for their operations.

Community sector organizations bring their knowledge, expertise and compassion in working with communities and individuals to public policy debates and identify priorities to governments. By encouraging people to participate and work together for common causes, the sector strengthens citizen involvement, gives voice to the voiceless, allows for multiple perspectives to be heard on a variety of issues, and provides opportunities for people to practice the skills of democratic life.

Community sector organizations provide opportunities for volunteers to contribute to the life of their communities. The term "volunteer" refers to all who work by choice, without remuneration, on causes or for people outside their personal sphere. People volunteer formally, through organizations, or informally by participating and helping others. Volunteering takes different forms in different cultures and different regions of the country. Women and men who volunteer are committed to making a difference and believe deeply in the work they are doing.

Volunteers are involved in all three sectors, but the community sector is the only one developed by volunteers and that fully solicits their involvement. The community benefits enormously from the rich contribution of its volunteers, who make a range of services accessible to women, youth and seniors among others, in several areas such as health and early childhood. The rich network of organizations, called the community sector, helps make Canada the humane, caring and prosperous nation it is, and is one of the strengths for which Canada is known around the world.


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The Parties to this Accord

The Acadian and Francophone Community Sector of Prince Edward Island

This Accord applies to the Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island. The sector consists of organizations that exist to serve a public benefit, are self-governing, do not distribute any profits to members, and depend to a meaningful degree on volunteers. Membership or involvement in these organizations is not compulsory, and they are independent and distinct, as institutions, from the formal structures of government and the private sector. Although many Acadian and Francophone community sector organizations rely on paid staff to carry out their work, all depend on volunteers, at least for their governance.

The Department of Canadian Heritage

This Accord applies to the Department of Canadian Heritage, by virtue of the Official Languages Act.

Scope of the Accord

The Accord's focus is on the relationship between the Acadian and Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage. Both the Department and the Acadian and Francophone community sector have relationships with other federal departments and agencies, other levels of government (provincial and local), private sector entities and government and quasi-government bodies. Each of these relationships has its own history and dynamics. The Accord recognizes the importance of these relationships but has no bearing on them.

The Accord also recognizes that many Acadian and Francophone community sector organizations do not work directly with Canadian Heritage but nevertheless contribute to enhancing the vitality of Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community. The parties acknowledge that there are circumstances where Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community organizations may advocate different courses of action or choose to tackle issues of common interest separately.

Reason for the Accord

Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage share a long tradition of joining forces to achieve common goals. Both sides believe, however, that there is benefit in formalizing the relationship with an accord that will facilitate greater mutual understanding and more cooperative ways of working together.

Both the Acadian and Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage are large and diverse. It is important for each to know what to expect from the other, and to appreciate the roles, goals, and perspectives of the other.

Ten years of cooperation through two cycles of Canada-Community Agreements have helped the relationship between the Department and the Acadian and Francophone community sector evolve towards the shared goal of community-driven governance and development. This Accord builds on previous efforts and seeks to improve the relationship, while respecting limitations of each party.

THE ACCORD

PART I - PURPOSE OF THE ACCORD

The purpose of the Accord is to strengthen the ability of both Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage to better serve Acadians and Francophones living in Prince Edward Island.

This Accord derives its strength from the evolving relationship between the Acadian and Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage. While the Accord is not a legal document, it is designed to guide the evolution of this relationship by identifying the common values, principles and commitments that will shape future practices. It focuses on what unites the Acadian and Francophone community sector and government, honours the contributions of both, and respects their unique strengths and different ways of working.

The Accord attests to a public commitment of Canadian Heritage and of Acadian and Francophone community sector organizations to work together in an open, transparent, consistent and collaborative way. When working together, the Department and Acadian and Francophone organizations seek to fulfil the commitments set out in the Accord, and in so doing enhance the quality of life of French-speaking Canadians living Prince Edward Island.

PART II - VALUES

The Accord is based on the following seven Canadian values that are most relevant to the relationship between Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector. These values are closely interrelated and together create a climate for improving and enhancing the lives of all Canadians:

Linguistic Duality

  • Enhancing the vitality of official-language minority communities, supporting and assisting their development, and promoting the full recognition and use of both official languages in Canadian society;

Democracy

  • Upholding the right to associate freely, to express views freely and to engage in advocacy;

Active citizenship

  • Accepting the active involvement or engagement of individuals and communities in shaping society, whether through political or voluntary activity or both;

Equality

  • Respecting the rights of Canadians under the Constitution Act of 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and the Official Languages Act;

Diversity

  • Respecting the rich variety of cultures, languages, identities, interests, views, abilities, and communities in Canada;

Inclusion

  • Accepting the expression and representation of diversity and upholding the right of each to speak and be heard; and

Social Justice

  • Ensuring full participation in the social, economic and political life of communities.

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PART III - PRINCIPLES

The Accord is based on the following guiding principles:

Independence

Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector are autonomous, have unique strengths and separate accountabilities, and agree that:

  • Canadian Heritage, within the mandate given to it by Parliament, is accountable to all Canadians for its actions, and has a responsibility to identify issues of national concern and mobilize resources to address them, establish policies and make decisions in the best interest of all Canadians;
  • Acadian and Francophone community sector organizations are accountable to their supporters and to those they serve in providing services, organizing activities and giving collective voice at the local, provincial, national and international level;
  • The independence of Acadian and Francophone community sector organizations includes their right within the law to challenge public policies, programs and legislation and to advocate for change; and
  • Advocacy is inherent to debate and change in a democratic society and, subject to the above principles, it should not affect any funding relationship that might exist.

Interdependence

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage recognize that:

  • The actions of one can directly or indirectly affect the other, since both often share the same objective of common good, operate in the same areas of Canadian life, and serve the same clients; and
  • Each has complex and important relationships with others (such as other federal departments and agencies, provincial and local governments, business, labour, etc.), and the Accord is not meant to affect these relationships, but rather facilitate them.

Dialogue

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage, recognizing that sharing of ideas, perspectives, and experiences contributes to better understanding, improved identification of priorities, and sound public policy, agree that:

  • Dialogue should be open, respectful, informed, sustained and welcoming of a range of viewpoints;
  • Dialogue should respect each party's confidential information, should build and maintain trust; and
  • Appropriately designed processes and governance structures are necessary to achieve sustained dialogue.

Cooperation and Collaboration

Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector agree that the social fabric of communities is strengthened and civic engagement is increased when they work together to address issues of mutual concern, and that:

  • Working together to identify common priorities or complementary objectives will facilitate cooperation and collaboration; and
  • Working relationships should be flexible and respect what others contribute, as well as the challenges and constraints under which they operate.

Accounting to Canadians

In addition to their separate accountabilities, the Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage are accountable for maintaining the trust and confidence of Canadians by:

  • Ensuring transparency, high standards of conduct and sound management in their work together; and
  • Monitoring and reporting on the results.

Transparency

Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector must promote a mutual understanding of the context in which they operate, and a clear understanding of the factors affecting decisions on each side. They agree that Acadian and Francophone organizations and the Department must communicate information on their functioning, practices, intentions, objectives and results in a timely manner.

PART IV – COMMITMENTS TO ACTION

The values and principles of the Accord are the basis for the development of the relationship between Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector. Success in building the relationship will depend on the actions and practices of both Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector for the benefit of French-speaking Canadians living in Prince Edward Island. In moving forward, the following commitments will be essential.

Shared commitments

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage commit to:

  • Act in a manner consistent with the values and principles in this Accord;
  • Develop the mechanisms and processes required to implement the Accord;
  • Work together as appropriate to achieve shared goals and objectives;
  • Support global, sustainable, community-driven development;
  • Promote awareness and understanding of the contributions that each makes to Canadian society.

Canadian Heritage Commitments

Canadian Heritage, within its mandate under Part VII of the Official Languages Act, commits to:

  • Recognize and consider the implications of its legislation, regulations, policies and programs on the Acadian and Francophone community, including the importance of funding policies and practices for the further development of the relationship and the strengthening of the Acadian and Francophone community sector's capacity; and
  • Recognize its need to engage the Acadian and Francophone community and its community sector in open, informed and sustained dialogue so that the sector may contribute its experience, expertise, knowledge, and ideas in developing better public policies, in the design and delivery of programs, and in the implementation of the interdepartmental and intergovernmental roles as defined in Part VII of the Official Languages Act.

Prince Edward Island Acadian and Francophone Community Sector Commitments

The Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island commits to:

  • Continue to identify important or emerging issues and trends in communities, and act on them or bring them to the attention of Canadian Heritage, under its mandate (Part VII of the Official Languages Act), and of the Government of Canada, in keeping with its Action Plan on Official Languages;
  • Serve as a means for the voices and views of as many Acadian and Francophone organizations as possible to be represented and be heard by Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada, ensuring the mobilization and engagement of the various elements of the community; and
  • Recognize its need to engage an open, informed and sustained dialogue within the Acadian and Francophone community sector, so that it may:
    • Articulate its common vision with respect to its overall development and a sequence of strategic priorities, in the form of a Global Development Plan; and consequently
    • Make informed choices required for the Acadian and Francophone community sector to account for results targeted in the Plan.

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PART V - APPLICATION OF THE ACCORD

The Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island and Canadian Heritage agree on:

  • The common results they wish to attain to enhance the development and vitality of Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community, taking into account the key community issues they have identified;
  • The appropriate organizational structures to implement the provisions of the Accord, at the Department of Canadian Heritage and in the Acadian and Francophone community sector; and
  • The processes for implementing the Accord, for reporting to Canadians on the status of the relationship and the results that have been achieved, for agreeing on next steps, and for considering strategic opportunities for future collaboration.

The aim is that the Accord and its implementation plan will provide a framework for helping the Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage better serve French-speaking Canadians living in Prince Edward Island.

1. Key Community Issues and Common Results

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage take note of the key issues affecting the community and agree that the Global Development Plan articulates a series of results that contribute to the development and vitality of the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island.

1.1. Key Community Issues

The key community issues facing the Acadian and Francophone community in Prince Edward Island are the following:

  • People whose mother tongue is French as are older than the average of Prince Edward Island's population. According to the 2001 Census, among individuals whose mother tongue is French, close to one quarter (23%) is aged 65 or older, while this proportion is 12.8% for the province's total population.
  • In terms of assimilation, there is certain stability in the number of people whose mother tongue is French since 1991; this gives hope for a better future for French in the daily lives of French-speaking families. However, the rate of assimilation remains very high, especially in those regions that did not benefit, until the year 2000, from French language schools or school-community centres. The rate of assimilation of the Acadian and Francophone community (56%) is higher than the national average (31.3%).
  • The Acadian and Francophone population of Prince Edward Island is concentrated in six main areas, each with their school-community centre. Consultations have shown that these centres are vital assets for the community's development, particularly on a regional scale. Acadians and Francophones are aware of the role these centres play in their coming together and in giving visibility to their culture, among Francophones as well as Anglophones.
  • The development of the Island's Acadian and Francophone community hinges on the creation of community institutions benefiting from stable resources for their operation.
  • The future of education and the number of people entitled to education in French are a key concern of the province's Acadian and Francophone community. A study showed that the Island is home to 2,400 entitled persons. Of this total, only 669 are enrolled in French schools.
  • There are also a significant number of exogamous families in Prince Edward Island; these families account for 66% of entitled persons. The Acadian and Francophone community must encourage young parents to make the choice of offering a life in French to their children, so that French language and culture are part of family life from the birth of their very first child.
  • In regions experiencing a revival, culture and heritage pave the way to the development of Acadian pride.
  • The community must continue its efforts to meet the needs of preschool children, at an age that is crucial in terms of language acquisition, thus helping to counter assimilation.
  • The community must continue to build an economy that departs from traditional dependence on the primary sector and seasonal activities.
  • Finally, an increased presence of Acadians and Francophones in influential public service positions will represent a great asset for the community's development.
1.2. Common Results

Canadian Heritage takes note of the results set out in provincial Vision Plan. This plan focuses on community development for the period 2004-2009 and touches all community development activity areas. It prioritizes three fundamental pillars of community development and sets the strategic objectives for each. This plan the Acadian and Francophone community's Global Development Plan, in the following six priority areas: communications, culture, economic development, education, youth training, and health and community and social affairs. These results are as follows:

1) Social and economic well-being:

  • Improve the population's quality of life;
  • Increase opportunities for and access to lifelong learning;
  • Encourage sustainable economic development;
  • Value Acadian and Francophone culture and the French language; and
  • Increase the French-speaking population.

2) Support and mutual aid:

  • Facilitate the establishment of healthy partnerships;
  • Improve the effectiveness of the entire community sector and its different components by reorganizing resources and networks; and
  • Increase and improve the involvement and commitment of organizations and community members.

3) Participation and commitment:

  • Help the Acadian and Francophone population understand and take responsibility for the Vision Plan;
  • Provide people and organizations responsible for implementing the plan with communications and evaluation tools;
  • Implement methods for information sharing and ongoing cooperation; and
  • Facilitate access to knowledge and sharing of knowledge to analyze and understand the trends and the community's needs.

Common results aimed for within the framework of this Accord are as follows:

  • Work to consolidate the structures of the different areas of community development.
  • Ensure the continuity of direct French language service offering in the different areas of activity, with priority given to the following sectors:
    • Early childhood;
    • Education and training;
    • Government services;
    • Leadership development among youth;
    • Growth and stabilization of the French-speaking population; and
    • Cultural development and heritage.
  • Provide specific support for initiatives that:
    • Aim to counter the effects of assimilation;
    • Aim to improve access to French language services;
    • Aim to raise awareness among the Island's population on the value-added to all of having two dynamic, culturally rich and diverse linguistic communities; or
    • Are linked to the implementation of the Prince Edward Island Acadian and Francophone community's Global Development Plan (Vision Plan).

As part of its legislative mandate, Canadian Heritage will use the tools at its disposal to support the community sector's efforts to achieve these results. These tools notably include collaboration with the community sector and interdepartmental and intergovernmental cooperation, as described in Part V below.

The community sector is responsible for calling on the resources of the various departments and levels of government and initiating dialogue with representatives based on their areas of expertise and responsibilities in the provision of public services.


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2. Cooperation and Collaboration

2.1. Community Cooperation and Cohesion

The vitality of Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community hinges on the joint efforts of many development architects, namely community networks and their individual organizations, community institutions, public and para-public institutions (at the federal, provincial and municipal levels), and the private sector. It also hinges on getting people to volunteer their time and effort for a cause or the public good, and thus contribute to the life of their community.

This collaboration Accord aims at encouraging community cooperation and cohesion among all architects of community development. It will require the joint effort of all community development architects. These may include groups that are funded by Cooperation with the Community Sector, as well as institutions and organizational networks that do not receive funding from that envelope, for example, organizations working in the health, community economic development and education sectors.

Community Cooperation Forum: Nature and Role

The Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island has a responsibility to cooperation and optimal efficiency among all community development architects. To do so, it establishes a preferred mechanism for provincial community cooperation called the Community Cooperation Forum (Forum de coopération communautaire).

The Community Cooperation Forum gives structure to the community development process and the selection and sequencing of strategic priorities. It facilitates the crafting of a Global Development Plan that integrates the contributions of all community development architects.

The Forum is the mechanism where dialogue with various institutional and community architects is initiated. It seeks to include emerging or marginalized groups in Acadian and Francophone networks and institutions of Prince Edward Island, and to welcome any group wishing to contribute to the Acadian and Francophone community of the province, with special attention to the needs of youth, women and seniors..

The Community Cooperation Forum brings together the provincial Acadian and Francophone organizations of Prince Edward Island and includes organizations with sectoral responsibilities. The Acadian and Francophone community's consultation mechanisms reflect local and regional realities and take into account factors such as demography, geography, gender, and racial and ethnocultural minorities.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage agree to work on maintaining and strengthening existing mechanisms of cooperation and set as a common objective for the period 2005-2009 to mobilize community development architects to be actively involved in articulating the global vision, in the setting of strategic priorities, and in the implementation of the Vision Plan.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island recognizes that the Community Cooperation Forum currently exists through quarterly encounters and the community cooperation forum held as part of the Annual General Meeting of the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin.

Operational Responsibility

The Acadian and Francophone community sector recognizes the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin as the organization responsible for the convening of the community forum and for the operational management of provincial cooperation.

On behalf of the Acadian and Francophone community sector, the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin:

  • Implements appropriate consultation mechanisms;
  • Ensures the global administrative efficiency of cooperation mechanisms within the Acadian and Francophone community sector; and
  • Develops a communications strategy in order to inform French-speaking citizens living in Prince Edward Island and to promote community cooperation and cohesion.
Governance and Democratic Representation

The Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island defines the fora and structures where community cooperation takes place, as well as governance and democratic representation mechanisms. The Acadian and Francophone community may redefine these fora, structures and mechanisms as needed. Decisions will be communicated to the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Department recognizes the democratic choices of Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community.


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2.2. Canadian Heritage-Acadian and Francophone Community Sector Collaboration

The broad social project and the achievement of specific objectives within the community's Global Development Plan sometimes require the collaboration or contribution of other stakeholders. These may include public, para-public, private, institutional and community organizations, Francophone or non-Francophone. This collaboration is most likely to be productive when all appropriate parties bring their services, programs, resources and knowledge to the table. This Accord promotes adopting this approach by creating a flexible, dynamic mechanism called the Collaborative Circle (sectoral tables).

Collaborative Circle (Sectoral Tables)

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and the Department of Canadian Heritage agree to create a Collaborative Circle to serve as an active forum for the sharing of information, promotion of awareness, planning of initiatives, and discussion of their relationship. The Collaborative Circle will always include, but not be limited to, the Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage. The participation of other stakeholders in the Collaborative Circle shall be flexible. They will be called upon based on the nature, extent, and reach of the objectives being pursued.

The workings of the Collaboration Circle will be agreed upon by the Acadian and Francophone community sector and the Department in accordance with objectives to be pursued, and with respect to principles of independence, interdependence, dialogue, cooperation, and accountability to all Canadians.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector will define the process of designating community participants in the Collaborative Circle from time to time, depending on the nature, scope and extent of objectives. The identity of designated participants, depending on the issues at hand, will be communicated to Canadian Heritage so as to promote constructive exchange.

Mobilizing Public Resources: Interdepartmental and Intergovernmental Cooperation

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage recognize the importance of continuing to work to mobilize public resources at all levels of government in order to advance toward the achievement of common results and of the community's development objectives. Some efforts to mobilize public resources will stem from the work of the Collaborative Circle. Some initiatives will aim to mobilize resources in order to help various types of community organizations provide services to the public.

Relationship Between the Acadian and Francophone Community Sector and the Government of Canada in Prince Edward Island

As stipulated in Part VII of the Official Languages Act, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, in consultation with other ministers of the Crown, shall encourage and promote a coordinated approach to the implementation by federal institutions of the commitments to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada, to support and assist their development, and to foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage will work together to ensure that the members of the community have a better knowledge of the programs and services offered by federal institutions, and that the federal institutions get better acquainted with the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island, its mechanisms and structures, its developmental priorities and its particular characteristics in relation to their activities, programs and services.

The Department of Canadian Heritage supports Acadian and Francophone community sector organizations' efforts to work with other federal institutions in order to facilitate the implementation of the Global Development Plan's expected results. Notably, Canadian Heritage leads the Interdepartmental Partnership with the Official-Language Communities, an element of the Community Life program component which aims to encourage lasting partnerships between federal departments and official-language minority community associations or organizations. Canadian Heritage will use various levers at its disposal to support the efforts of the Acadian and Francophone community sector.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island and Canadian Heritage work together to identify those community development priorities which require an interdepartmental approach. The means of consultation and collaboration depend on the issues and on structures established at the federal, provincial or local levels, according to the areas of responsibility.

The Department of Canadian Heritage will continue to support the Prince Edward Island Federal Council in developing a sustainable relationship with the Acadian and Francophone community of Prince Edward Island, so that, as provincial forum for federal government interdepartmental matters, it can fully contribute to the implementation of the Global Development Plan and the vitality of the community.

Relationship Between the Acadian and Francophone Community Sector and the Government of Prince Edward Island and its Municipalities and other Public Entities

In addition to Cooperation with the Community Sector, Canadian Heritage leads another key element of the Community Life program component – Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services, which aims to help provincial and territorial governments and municipalities provide official-language minority communities with services in their own language, along with the necessary infrastructure to provide these services.

Canadian Heritage encourages the provincial government to take the objectives of the community's Global Development Plan into account in its French-language services plan. Canadian Heritage maintains close ties with officials of the Acadian and Francophone Affairs Division of Prince Edward Island to assert the importance of the expected results of the Global Development Plan and the common results aimed for in this Accord.

Canadian Heritage also leads Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Education, which aims to help provincial and territorial governments, directly or through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), to offer to members of official-language minority communities an education in their own language.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island is responsible for mobilizing resources in the areas of responsibility of other levels of government. It strives to emphasize those aspects of its Global Development Plan that normally require the involvement of provincial or arm's length public agencies in providing public services. This exercise may inform the Acadian and Francophone community sector's cooperation and advocacy efforts. Canadian Heritage will use various levers at its disposal to support the efforts of the Acadian and Francophone community sector.

Interdepartmental and Intergovernmental Collaboration

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage agree to work on continued cooperation on many levels; existing mechanisms that may sustain such cooperation include the Management Committee for the tripartite agreement on economic development and human resources development, and the Consultative Committee of Acadian Communities of the Government of Prince Edward Island.


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2.3. Advocacy

In keeping with the values and principles stated in this Accord, the Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island seeks to engage in a dialogue on public policy. It hopes to interact with the different levels of government through the various stages of the public policy process in order to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience, and develop the best possible public policies that take fully into account the aspirations of French-speaking citizens living in Prince Edward Island

The Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island and the Department acknowledge the importance of advocacy. The strengthening of the sector's advocacy capacities aims at a better understanding of the processes through which governments and public institutions make their decisions; a greater ability to influence these processes; a better understanding of the determining factors in community development; and knowledge-based decision making.

Key Community Advocates

The Acadian and Francophone community sector recognizes the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin (SSTA) as the sector's key interlocutor in advocacy and dialogue on public policy.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector further recognizes community network leaders as key advocates on issues of special interest.

The Department of Canadian Heritage recognizes the democratic choices of Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community sector in selecting its key advocates.

3. Implementation of the Accord

In addition to the tools described in the previous sections, the collaboration between Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage includes a financial component. This section describes the financial elements of the Cooperation with the Community Sector and the accompanying accountability mechanisms.

3.1. Commitment of a Budget Envelope

The budget envelope set aside for Cooperation with the Community Sector in Prince Edward Island comes from the Development of Official-Language Communities Program and falls under its Community Life component. The program will be reviewed by Treasury Board in 2008-2009, with a view to its renewal.

The amounts, allocation and duration of this budget envelope are set out in Appendix B.

The size of the budget envelope is subject to the annual approval of appropriations by Parliament and to the continuance of current and projected budget levels of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program.

Canadian Heritage will seek to harmonize procedures to facilitate joint funding of projects when several departments or government entities are working on the same initiative, or on several initiatives with the same Acadian and Francophone community organization.

Canadian Heritage's financial commitments will be made by means of contribution agreements and grants. The Department may use multiyear funding agreements, when the situation is appropriate and in accordance to its policies and procedures, in order to enhance the stability of organizations and their ability to engage in long-term planning. Canadian Heritage commits to introduce a reasonable and flexible period of transition, with prior notice to the Community Cooperation Forum, when major changes to funding must be made.

3.2. Program - Supporting Action

According to the Program's terms and conditions, these investments are intended to support the communities' involvement in their own development and to provide community organizations with the ability to take action to achieve concrete and measurable outcomes that will contribute to the sustainability of the communities.

The Department is primarily interested in supporting activities that:

  • Provide structure or have a structural effect on the overall development of the communities or of a particular sector;
  • Contribute to enriching community life, developing a sense of identity and welcoming diversity; and
  • Target outcomes compatible with the objectives of the Community Life component and conform to the Department's priorities.

The Department will give priority to supporting activities aimed at achieving the common results of collaboration identified in this Accord.

The community forum, all the organizations receiving such support, and the organization managing the Community Cooperation Forum, can have access to multiyear funding in order to carry out their mandates and implement their action plans.

3.3. Project - Supporting Innovation

According to the Program's terms and conditions, these investments are intended to encourage innovation in the development of official-language minority communities.

The Department is primarily interested in supporting projects that:

  • Are innovative and target the development of best practices;
  • Are compatible with the Department's priorities; or
  • Address topical issues.

The Department will give priority to supporting projects aimed at achieving the common results of collaboration identified in this Accord.

The Funding Evaluation and Recommendations Committee referred to in this Accord may recommend support for ad hoc or cyclical activities for which implementation does not require ongoing funding.

3.4. Interprovincial Collaboration

Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector agree that the development of Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community is stimulated by joint action with the minority Francophone communities in other provinces. The Acadian and Francophone community sector will seek to support, through the provincial budget envelope, activities of an interprovincial nature that contribute to the implementation of the Global Development Plan and the realization of common results. The terms and conditions governing these projects will be subject to prior agreements between the participating provincial communities.


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3.5. Process for Recommendations and Decisions
Community Proposals

Over the last two Canada-Community agreements (1994-2004), best practices across the country have shown that a community-based process of resource allocation can become a great strength for community cohesion. In Prince Edward Island, the Acadian and Francophone community sector has refined its mechanism leading to choices on strategic priorities; it has also gained some experience in defining the means to be used to determine and facilitate the distribution of the budget envelope.

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage recognize the importance of the continuum between priority setting and funding allocation. The objective for this cycle is to fine-tune the community-based mechanisms leading to funding allocation decisions.

All funding allocation procedures will be subjected to the requirements of Treasury Board policies.

Funding Evaluation and Recommendations Committee

The Forum communautaire francophone de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador will establish a Funding Evaluation and Recommendations Committee. The Committee will be mandated to make recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the distribution of funds available via the provincial Cooperation with the Community Sector budget envelope. These proposals concerning the allocation of funding per organization will be linked to the objectives and priorities of the Global Development Plan and the common results sought in this Accord. They will also take into account the need for equity between Acadian regions of Prince Edward Island, the organizations' stage of development and the proposed activities' long-term impact locally and provincially. Members of the Committee will be required to respect confidentiality rules.

The Committee will use evaluation criteria and analytical tools developed by the Department in collaboration with the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin, the organization responsible for the operational management of the community forum.

The Community Cooperation Forum will establish the selection process for members of the Funding Evaluation and Recommendations Committee. This process will respect the principles of good governance, democracy, transparency, and independence. It may be linked to other structures of the Acadian and Francophone community sector and may be revised as needed. The Department will be informed of decisions regarding this process and the composition of the Committee. Once set up, the Committee will function independently from any other community structure and from the Collaboration Circle.

The Committee's recommendations will be guided by community interest; the Committee's analyses and decisions will be made without regard to the specific interests of any given organization.

The Committee is made up five (5) members. Three (3) members are chosen outside of the Acadian and Francophone community sector's governance structures and Community Cooperation Forum. Two (2) members are chosen among the members of the Forum. A resource person from the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin will support the work of the Committee.

Members of the Funding Evaluation and Recommendations Committee must ensure that confidential information concerning funding decisions to which they have access is not disclosed to third parties without the written consent of the Department.

Canadian Heritage's Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Department to analyze requests, examine them critically in a broader context, make final recommendations to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and manage the decisional and administrative process. In its analysis of requests, the Department will take into consideration the proposals of the Funding Evaluation and Recommendations Committee regarding the allocation of funding.

The Minister is responsible for making the final decision on the specific allocation of funding in accordance to terms and conditions in force at the Department.

In order to maintain transparency, the decision regarding allocation of funds will be communicated to the Funding Evaluation and Recommendations Committee and to the public, following the Minister's approval.

Canadian Heritage is responsible for determining procedures and tools relating to the presentation and analysis of requests. The Department will provide the necessary support and act as the secretariat for the Evaluation and Recommendations Committee. The Department recognizes the consequences that its policies and funding practices may have on the evolution of the relationship and on the strengthening of the Acadian and Francophone community sector's capacity for action, and takes them into consideration. Tools will be developed with due attention to simplifying the administrative requirements, while respecting the terms and conditions of the Program and the Department's accountability framework, which may be modified from time to time.

Management Best Practices

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and the Department agree to jointly identify management best practices.

In compliance with Treasury Board policies, the Department has adopted a risk management approach, in order to assess and monitor the initiatives and ensure that the approach suits the level of funding as well as the size and nature of the organization. The Risk-Based Audit Framework for Official Languages Support Programs entails a recipient audit plan. Some organizations will be asked to participate in this monitoring exercise.

With a focus on ongoing performance improvement, Canadian Heritage may ask selected Acadian and Francophone community sector organizations to participate in an organizational audit to be conducted according to a framework established by the Department. Participating groups will be financially compensated.


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3.6. Results and Performance

The Acadian and Francophone community sector and Canadian Heritage agree on the importance of reporting to Parliament and to the citizens of Canada, on the progress achieved towards results with the funds invested.

Canadian Heritage and the Acadian and Francophone community sector recognize that community development is a long-term process, that some fundamental results may be achieved only over long periods, possibly decades, and that it is important, at this time, to set strategies and means that will allow the assessment of results over the long term.

Canadian Heritage's Official Languages Support Programs are structured in accordance with the two types of results based on the commitments set out in Section 41 of the Official Languages Act: Strong minority communities supported by many partners and Linguistic duality recognized and valued by all Canadians.

To report on the progress achieved towards these results, Canadian Heritage must refer to the Results-Based Management and Accountability Framework for Official Languages Support Programs.

Activities supported by the Cooperation with the Community Sector sub-component must contribute to the attainment of intermediate and long-term results targeted by the Official Languages Support Programs.

The Government of Canada is developing community vitality indicators in consultation with the communities. These indicators will set benchmarks and allow a more precise measurement of the evolution of communities over time. Information on outputs produced by Acadian and Francophone organizations must be organized so that it feeds into the measurement of these vitality indicators.

Canadian Heritage will establish mechanisms for the standardization, gathering and management of information on outputs towards 2007-2008, in consultation with the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin. In establishing these processes, Canadian Heritage will be sensitive to minimizing the administrative burden.

There are three levels of performance evaluation: an annual evaluation of outputs by groups receiving funds from the Cooperation with the Community Sector; an evaluation of this Accord within the framework of a national evaluation of progress achieved through community sector accords in 2007-2008; and the Program evaluation, to take place in 2008-2009.

Annual Outputs of Investments in the Cooperation with the Community Sector

Each funded organization reports on its annual outputs as linked to its contribution to the advancement of the Global Development Plan and the common objectives of the Accord.

Cooperation with the Community Sector Progress Evaluation

The Department will undertake an evaluation of its collaboration with the community sector and of progress made towards common results targeted in all community sector accords. This evaluation will include a component on collaboration with Prince Edward Island Acadian and Francophone community sector and will focus on the efficiency of collaboration mechanisms, the clarity and relevance of respective roles, and the quality and relevance of outputs, in relation to the stated common objectives. This evaluation will be done in 2007-2008 in order to allow adjustments to the collaboration mechanisms and guide their renewal at the end of the term.

The Prince Edward Island Community Cooperation Forum agrees to participate in the development of evaluation parameters, and to collaborate in the evaluation itself according to the final modalities set out by Canadian Heritage. The Department will be responsible for executing the evaluation.

Official-Language Communities Program Evaluation

At term end in 2008-2009, the Department of Canadian Heritage must provide the Treasury Board with a summative evaluation of the Development of Official-Language Communities Program. The Corporate Review Branch, a third party independent of the Official Languages Support Branch, is responsible for conducting this evaluation.

To conduct program evaluations, the Department uses several methods. These include:

  • A review of relevant documents (e.g., record of achievements, annual report, plan of action);
  • A review of literature (e.g., sociological research, statistical studies);
  • Gathering and compiling of information (e.g., analysis of financial data, compilation of outputs, trend studies);
  • Interviews with key contributors (e.g., representatives of community organizations and institutions, program managers, researchers);
  • Polling (e.g., public opinion polls, questionnaires); and
  • Discussion groups (for example, with parents, with young people).

The Acadian and Francophone community sector will be called upon to participate in many of these evaluation activities.


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CONCLUSION

Canadians expect a strong, vibrant and engaged Prince Edward Island Acadian and Francophone community, and seek to build a solid, just and inclusive society where values and principles count, where the full range of human activities is encouraged, and where individuals and communities can realize their full potential. To better serve Canadians and help them achieve the society they want, Canadian Heritage and Prince Edward Island's Acadian and Francophone community sector seek to strengthen their relationship. This Accord is the start of that journey.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage and the President of the Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin, on behalf of the Acadian and Francophone community sector of Prince Edward Island, have signed this Collaboration Accord.

This Accord was concluded this 3rdday of February 2006.

  • (Signed) Judith A. LaRocque
    Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage
  • (Signed) Eddie Cormier
    President, Société Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin

IN THE PRESENCE OF

  • (Signed) Hubert Lussier, Witness
  • (Signed) Lizanne Thorne, Witness

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Accountability
The basic rules that the Department must follow in making decisions, allocating funding, and demonstrating the results achieved through the use of public funds. Many of these rules also apply to the organizations that receive these public funds. These organizations also have their own accountability frameworks defined by legislation, by their own by-laws, and by their internal governance policies.
Advocacy
Advocacy is defined as "the act of speaking or of disseminating information intended to influence individual behaviour or opinion, corporate conduct or public policy and law." Advocacy is one of many ways of participating in the process of developing public policies.
(see: www.vsi-isbc.org/eng/relationship/the_accord_doc/index.cfm)
Community development architects
Community development architects are individuals and institutions and organizations in the community, private, government, and quasi-government sectors that contribute to the development of their communities. Prominent among these architects are the leaders of community associations and institutions, as well as community opinion leaders and different levels of government.
Evaluation
The systematic collection and analysis of information on the performance of a policy, program or initiative to make judgements about relevance, progress or success and cost-effectiveness and/or to inform future programming decisions about design and implementation.
Indicator
A statistic or parameter that provides information on trends in the condition of a phenomenon and has significance extending beyond that associated with the properties of the statistic itself.
Output
Direct products or services stemming from the activities of a policy, program or initiative, and delivered to a target group or population.
Planned Results (Targets)
Clear and concrete statement of results (including outputs and outcomes) to be achieved within the time frame of parliamentary and departmental planning and reporting (1-3 years), against which actual results can be compared.
Quasi-governmental bodies or arm's length public agencies
Public agencies refers to schools, hospitals, etc. that are at arm's length (to varying degrees) from government, but are mandated and funded by government.
Result
The consequence attributed to the activities of an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results is a general term that often includes both outputs produced and outcomes achieved by a given organization, policy, program or initiative. In the government's agenda for results-based management and in Results For Canadians, the term result is more specific and does not include outputs. Results may be described as immediate, intermediate or final, direct or indirect, intended or unintended.
Strategic Outcome
A long-term and enduring benefit to Canadians that stems from a department's mandate, vision and efforts. It represents the difference a department or agency wants to make for Canadians and should be a clear measurable outcome within the department or agency's sphere of influence.
Support for action: details
Funds in support of action shall aid regular and continuing activities such as:
  • Citizens' participation and good governance (e.g., elements of democratic life – AGM and Board of Directors, administrative infrastructure, statements of account);
  • Basic activities of the organization serving the development and improvement of community life (e.g., leadership training in youth groups, basic operations of a community centre, large public events);
  • Mobilization of community and public resources (e.g., analysis and research into support for advocacy and the skills needed to request support from various funding bodies).
Support for innovation: details
Funds to support innovation shall aid intermittent or cyclical activities that do not require permanent funding. Such activities are of limited duration ranging from a few months to a few years. For example:
  • Pilot or demonstration projects designed to learn about influences on development and about services to the public;
  • Establishing and building new construction sites for community development;
  • Retooling the Acadian and Francophone community sector to respond to new challenges;
  • Development of advocacy strategies linked to a particular initiative or a major decision in public policy.