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The Department of Finance French-language Services Plan is prepared pursuant to chapter 26 of the Acts of 2004, the French-language Services Act and Regulations.

Responding to the Public

The Department of Finance makes reasonable efforts to respond to verbal French inquiries in French when possible through previously identified French-speaking staff, and ensures that written French inquiries are responded to in French, usually using the translation services of the Office of Acadian Affairs. The Department currently has no employee positions designated as requiring proficiency in French; however, a French-language point-of-contact has been identified and communicated to staff.

Various Nova Scotia tax services are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, and all those services are available directly from the source in either French or English.

French Language Services Offered

French speaking departmental staff provide verbal French-language communication services, when available and on a “best effort” basis. If these services are not sufficient to meet the needs of the particular situation, the services of the Office of Acadian Affairs are sought.

Written French-language communication and translation services are provided through the Office of Acadian Affairs.

Nova Scotia’s personal income taxes, corporate income taxes, and harmonized sales taxes are administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). All associated forms and correspondence are available through CRA in either French or English.

Although Nova Scotia provides its own statistical reports and publications, this data is provided to Statistics Canada for use in Federal / Provincial and Territorial statistical publications. All publications and reports prepared by Statistics Canada are available in either French or English.

Addressing the Priorities of the Acadian and Francophone Community

The materials prepared and presented by the Department of Finance have not been identified by the Office of Acadian Affairs as being a priority for translation and provision for the French community. However, the department has met with Acadian Affairs to identify potential areas for service provision in French. The statistics prepared by the Community Counts division, in particular those statistics relating to the Francophone community, have been identified as data that the community may want to have available in French. Community Counts will endeavour to determine the needs of the community in this regard.

The translation of certain aspects of the SAP financial reporting system has been identified as a priority for the French-language school board (CSAP). The SAP system is managed by the Corporate Information Systems (CIS) division of the department. There are certain French language modules available in the SAP system that are being used by CSAP. Other translation services have been needed in the past by CSAP.  Translation services have been provided by French speaking staff on a “best effort” basis. Secondary translation services are also provided by the Office of Acadian Affairs as needed.    

Contributing to the preservation or growth of the Acadian and francophone community

The Department of Finance, French-language Services Plan will endeavour to supply information held and delivered by the department, and needed by the Acadian and francophone community in French, if requested to fill a specific requirement and provided that sufficient time is allowed to procure French-language translation services. The plan will look to link up the information and services provided with the needs of the community, helping the community to continue and thrive as part of the societal fabric of Nova Scotia.
 

Progress in Reaching Goals and Objective for 2008-2009

In 2008-2009 the Department made progress towards reaching its goals and objectives.

• The Department prepared and posted its French-language services plan in both French and English.

• The departmental representative on the French-language Services Coordinating committee attended and contributed to a majority of coordinator committee and supplementary meetings.
• The department, in conjunction with the Office of Acadian Affairs developed a process to ensure translation needs for the Francophone School board (CSAP), in regards to SAP financial system, are met.
• Community Counts representatives began preliminary discussions with the Francophone community to determine their needs with regards to statistical outputs from the Community Counts data base.
• The French-language service coordinator contributed to the review of the French –language Services Act regulation and the annual review of French-language services.
• The French-language services coordinator contributed to the development of the Office of Acadian Affair’s 4 year plan with the federal government, which is a requirement for cost shared funding.

 

Goals, Objectives and Measures for 2009-2010

Identified below are government’s objectives with regards to French-language services and the Department of Finance’s associated goals and planned actions/activities in those areas for 2009-2010. 

Corporate Objective 1 - Strengthen the policy, regulatory, and administrative framework in support of the French-language Services Act:

•  Fulfill the department’s obligations as determined by the French-language Services Act. 
• Prepare and report upon the department’s French-language services plan.
  
• Support the work of the Office of Acadian Affairs and the implementation of the French-language Services Act by ensuring representation of Department of Finance on the French-language Services Coordinating Committee.
  
• Contribute to the government’s annual report on French-language services.
•  Improve upon the department’s capacity to deliver French-language Services.
• Develop a policy to ensure French-language services meet the objective of the department and the community.
  
• Support staff in taking French-language training as an approved component of staff development plans.

Corporate Objective 2 - Enabling French-language Services:

• Consult, plan, develop, and deliver French-language services in priority areas.

• Review primary services provided by the various divisions of the department and develop a list of services which could be delivered in French to meet the obligations of the Act and the needs of the community.
• Support the assessment of the French-language ability of staff at the Department of Finance where appropriate.

Corporate Objective 3 - Community Development and Capacity-Building.

• Ensure that the Acadian and Francophone community has resources available for its long-term development and sustainability.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for communicating with the public.
• Prioritize, translate and make available information material in French when requested.
• Work with Webmaster to develop a French-language section on the departmental website.