Media Room
Speeches
Speaking notes
for the Honourable Scott Brison,
Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada
On the occasion of the
Ministerial Consultations with
Official Languages Communities
Ottawa, Ontario
October 27, 2004
Check against delivery
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen.
Bilingualism and respect for our two official languages is at the
very core of my department's daily activities. Our commitment is
to ensure respect for English and French as the official languages
of Canada, to safeguard the equal status, rights and privileges
for these languages, and to support the development of English-
and French-language minority communities.
At Public Works and Government Services Canada, there are two groups
working directly in the area of official languages.
First, the Translation Bureau. Its mandate is to provide translation,
revision and interpretation services to Parliament, the judiciary
and federal departments and agencies in English, French and foreign
languages, as well as the standardization of terminology for the
whole government.
Second is the Official Languages Directorate. It is responsible
for all aspects of the implementation of the Official Languages
Act in the Department.
Let me summarize some of the initiatives that my department has
in place to help official language minority communities and outline
several of the actions that my department has taken to promote linguistic
duality.
These initiatives are the outcomes of my department's 2002-2005
action plan on official languages.
First, we are making it easier for language minority groups to
do business with the government. This year, through Contracts Canada,
we are continuing to offer seminars on writing effective bid proposals
for contracts with the federal government.
Recently, Public Works and Government Services Canada renewed its
federal government hotel rates program for minority language associations.
This initiative offers reduced rates at some 350 participating hotels.
Public Works and Government Services Canada is working with Industry
Canada to make computer equipment available to non-profit organizations
involved in developing and enhancing English and French minority
communities. Last year, close to 100 computers were distributed
to minority language associations across the country.
Our Official Languages Directorate is helping community organizations
produce work of professional quality. This year alone, they provided
20 copies of Termium to community organizations. Termium contains
more than 3.5 million English and French terms, and it's an indispensable
tool for writers and translators across the country. We plan to
continue distributing this valuable reference tool.
The Translation Bureau is studying the possibility of creating
a portal on the Internet. This portal would group all of the government's
current tools, including Termium. It would be available to all Canadians.
We are also helping to support important events in the francophone
community. For example, we have made available up to $20,000 to
cover the costs of translation for the 2005 Games of La Francophonie.
We also helped cover the translation costs for the Congrès
Mondial Acadien held last summer in Nova Scotia.
In May 2003, the Translation Bureau created the National Terminology
Council working with representatives of the provincial and territorial
departments responsible for francophone affairs. It's aimed at helping
the provinces and territories support official language minority
groups and to offer bilingual services.
The Translation Bureau also supports the development of linguistic
skills within various communities through its partnership and COOP
programs. Thanks to partnerships with 10 universities, more than
750 young students have benefited from these practicums since the
program was introduced.
In conclusion, I would like to mention three other initiatives
of Public Works and Government Services Canada, which aim to promote
the official languages.
In March, we worked with the Human Resources department to organize
a Rendez-vous de la Francophonie event to promote
the status of French in the federal public service.
Another important initiative has to do with bilingual clauses in
our commercial leases. Public Works and Government Services Canada
has 600 commercial leases across the country, with half of them
in the National Capital Region. Since 2000, two language clauses
have been added to all new leases. The first clause encourages tenants
to post signs in both official languages, while the second suggests
that service to the public be provided in English and French. We
are now working closely and consulting regularly with the commercial
tenants.
Public Works and Government Services Canada has now formed an alliance
with the City of Ottawa on a pilot project to assist businesses
wishing to improve their English and French client services.
Lastly, we are making progress on implementing recommendations
contained in the 2002 report of the Commissioner of Official Languages.
For example, we have developed a language-related clause for contracts
with advertising and placement agencies. We will also be delivering
training sessions to federal institutions that deal with official
languages and advertising. And we have made amendments to the Advertising
Guide to bring it in line with the Official Languages Act.
There's more. But I hope that I have at least been able to give
you a good sense of what we are doing. I look forward to hearing
your comments and suggestions.
Thank you.
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