French-language Services Coordinating Committee
This legislated interdepartmental committee collaborates with the Office of Acadian Affairs to help increase the provincial government’s capacity to develop and deliver French-language services. The Committee is responsible for advising the Minister of Acadian Affairs on the implementation of the French-language Services Act.
The role of a committee member is to assist and advise the deputy head or CEO of his or her department, office or agency on the implementation of the French-language Services Act. Reporting directly to the deputy head or CEO on matters relating to the Act, the committee member has an important responsibility. Part of this responsibility is to assist in the development of a departmental French-language Services Plan that outlines what progress the department intends to make in French-language services during the following fiscal year. The French-language Services Plan supports the Nova Scotia Strategic Plan for French-language Services.
The French-language Services Coordinating Committee sets and oversees the implementation of annual corporate objectives that contribute to improving government services in French. Deliverables planned by the Committee for 2009-2010 include:
- Develop and implement an action plan to review the French-language services offered by the Government of Nova Scotia for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the French-language Services Regulations in achieving their objective. This review must be completed by July 31, 2010.
- Develop an action plan related to the delivery of services in French by third parties which provide services on behalf of government.
- Support the roll-out of the Bonjour! Award for Excellence in French-language Services Program.
- Develop human resources guidelines in relation to French-language services and support the Public Service Commission with their implementation.
Some of the Committee’s past deliverables included establishing communication guidelines and public consultation guidelines, assisting in the consultations leading to the development of the French-language Services Regulations, and developing the Nova Scotia Strategic Plan for French-language Services.
