FACT SHEET

Implementation of part VII of the Official Languages Act:

ADVANCEMENT OF ENGLISH AND FRENCH
WHO	WHEN	WHAT
ALL FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS	Strategic planning Development of policies or programs	To DETERMINE impacts on official language minorities and the promotion of linguistic duality, from the initial development of policies through to their implementation, including the devolution of services.
	Implementation of policies or programs	To CONSULT interested parties as required, especially representatives of official language minority communities.
	Accountability	To describe the actions and DEMONSTRATE THAT THE INSTITUTION HAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION the needs of these communities or the requirements for promotion of linguistic duality.
	Communications	If there are impacts, to PLAN activities accordingly, prepare results evaluation mechanisms and present expected results.

KEY QUESTIONS
Planning and development	Implementation	Accountability	Communications
At first glance, what impacts could the initiative have on official language minorities and the enhancement of both languages? How to validate this assessment? - Should research activities be undertaken? - Should minorities be consulted? Does the initiative reflect the results of the research and consultations undertaken? Do the implementation principles take the impacts into account? In case of a negative impact, are disadvantages corrected? Have the expected results and performance measurement indicators been identified? Are the selected approaches well described and documented?	Does the initiative ensure that obligations regarding official language minorities and the promotion of linguistic duality are taken into account during the whole process of its implementation? - For example, by maintaining contact with minorities? Will the initiative involve a third party? If yes, what actions are taken to ensure the third party's commitment to foster the development of official language minorities and the promotion of both languages?	What are the immediate, intermediate and final results obtained concerning the implementation of the federal commitment towards the development of official language minorities and the promotion of official languages? Does the evaluation reveal that adjustments are necessary? Are existing mechanisms concerning the measurement of results and accountability satisfactory?	Do the strategies and communication plans take the official language minority communities into account? What communication tools are used to communicate with these communities? Among others, are existing media in the language of the minority being used?

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