Employment Service Implementation and French Language Services Presented to SDAG by Robert Dupuis, Director, Eastern Re

1. Employment and Training Division Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Employment Service Implementation and French Language Services Presented to SDAG by Robert Dupuis, Director, Eastern Region March 10, 2009

2. Table of Contents • EO French Language Services (FLS) Framework • EO Designated Areas • FLS Guidelines for Employment Service (ES) Implementation • Next Steps

3. EO French Language Services (FLS) Framework • Under Employment Ontario, the Ministry is now offering French Language services in more communities than those designated under the French Language Services Act (FLSA). • Since the LMDA was implemented in January 2007, the number of areas designated for the provision of services in French has increased from 25 areas designated provincially to a total of 35 areas which include 10 additional areas designated under the Official Languages Act (OLA).

4. EO Designated Areas - FLSA • 1. City of Toronto (All) • 2. City of Hamilton (All of the City of Hamilton as it exists on Dec. 31, 2000) • 3. Regional Municipality of Niagara: Cities of: Port Colborne and Welland • 4. City of Ottawa (All) • 5. Regional Municipality of Peel: City of Mississauga, City of Brampton • 6. City of Greater Sudbury (All) • 7. County of Dundas: Township of Winchester • 8. County of Essex: City of Windsor, Towns of Belle River and Tecumseh; Townships of: • Anderson, Colchester North, Maidstone, Sandwich South, Sandwich West, Tilbury North, Tilbury • West and Rochester • 9. County of Glengarry (All) • 10. County of Kent: Town of Tilbury, Townships of Dover and Tilbury East • 11. County of Prescott (All) • 12. County of Renfrew: City of Pembroke, Townships of: Stafford and Westmeath • 13. County of Russell (All) • 14. County of Simcoe: Town of Penetanguishene, Townships of: Tiny and Essa • 15. County of Stormont (All) • 16. District of Algoma (All) • 17. District of Cochrane (All) • 18. District of Kenora: Township of Ignace • 19. District of Nipissing (All) • 20. District of Sudbury (All) • 21. District of Thunder Bay: Towns of Geraldton, Longlac and Marathon, Townships of • Manitouwadge, Beardmore, Nakina & Terrace Bay • 22. District of Timiskaming (All) • 23. County of Middlesex: City of London • 24. District of Parry Sound: municipality of Callander • 25. County of Frontenac: City of Kingston (effective May 1, 2009)

5. EO Designated Areas – OLA • Additional areas where French Language Services are offered since January 2007 as a result of the implementation of the LMDA include: • 26. Midland • 27. Leamington • 28. Guelph • 29. Belleville • 30. Cambridge • 31. Brantford • 32. Sarnia • 33. Oshawa • 34. Lindsay • 35. Peterborough

6. ES Implementation – FLS Guidelines • Building on the strengths of the existing French Language Services network, ETD reviewed the capacity, experience and effectiveness of current delivery partners in providing employment services in French in areas designated under the FLSA and the OLA as per provisions of the LMDA. • To support regions in this assessment process, ETD developed FLS guidelines. These guidelines were developed based on service provider’s designation criteria under the FLSA and criteria developed by MCSS/MCYS for designated and non-designated FLS transfer payment agencies. • TCU also consulted with the Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs, the Office for Francophone Affairs, and the French Language Services Commission. • Members of ETD’s Employment Ontario Francophone Partners Advisory Committee, a group that includes partners who deliver the full range of EO services in French, reviewed the FLS guidelines and provided comments.

7. FLS Guidelines – Some Highlights • ACCESS TO FLS: All components of Employment Service should be available in French in designated areas and locations serving a designated area. Access to FLS should be considered from the following perspectives: • availability of the service itself; • physical aspects of service delivery i.e., location, signage, etc.; • proximity of service location to Francophone clients; • range of services available to Francophone clients; • number of service units available to respond to Francophone client population; • signage and visibility of available French-language services; and • reception services to greet Francophone clients.

8. FLS Guidelines – Some Highlights • QUALITY OF SERVICES: To ensure the ongoing delivery and continuum of ES in French, the ES service providers should provide French-language services at the advanced or superior level of language proficiency. • COMMUNICATIONS: The ES service provider should respond in French to all correspondence received in French. Documents produced by the ES provider and intended for public distribution should be made available simultaneously in English and French. Forum, meetings or consultation meetings should be conducted in both French and English. • COMPLAINT RESOLUTION: The ES service provider should have a complaint mechanism in place to resolve FLS delivery issues in a timely manner.

9. FLS Guidelines – Some Highlights • DATA COLLECTION/REPORTING: If applicable, the ES provider should collect data and report on the number of individuals who requested and received services in French, the number of activities with the Francophone community, etc. • FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION: The ES service provider should have a sufficient number of Francophones on its board of directors, committees and at management levels to ensure it has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the linguistic and cultural needs of the community. • ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FLS: The ES service provider should demonstrate accountability for French-language services through its by-laws, administrative policies/procedures, and management practices.

10. Next Steps • If it is determined that there will be service gaps for Francophones within the EO network, ETD will work to close these gaps by developing the capacity of selected service providers to deliver services in French or by reaching out to agencies with French Language capacity outside the survey area. • In the longer term, ETD will explore the possibility of designating EO service providers under the FLSA.

11. Questions? Thoughts? Comments?