Contraventions Act Fund for Implementation of Language Obligations Evaluation
Appendix B:
Interview Guides
Interview Guide - Representatives of the Department of Justice Canada
Introduction
The Department of Justice Canada hired PRA Inc. to conduct the evaluation of the Fund for Implementation of the Language Obligations under the Contraventions Act (hereinafter the Implementation Fund). That evaluation will cover the relevance of the Implementation Fund, its design and the associated success factors. Our methodological approach includes a set of interviews with stakeholders who took part the activities supported through the Implementation Fund.
The information gathered will be used solely for this study and will be managed, stored and destroyed in accordance with the Privacy Act. No information gathered during the interviews will be associated with a stakeholder, and every participant enjoys the right of access to information and the right to protection of his/her personal information. Moreover, your involvement in this interview is voluntary, and you can withdraw from the study at any time.
Lastly, please note that the information gathered during the interviews will be fully shared with Justice Canada’s Evaluation Division.
Relevance
The Implementation Fund is directly tied to implementation of the Contraventions Act. In that context, we will first address the significance of this legislation for your ministry.
- 1. Please describe how the implementation of the Contraventions Act fits into your ministry’s activities and priorities?
- 2. Can you describe the reasons that led your ministry to include the Implementation Fund among the activities undertaken through the Roadmap?
- 3. How do you see the Implementation Fund changing in the future, especially during the post-Roadmap period?
Implementation of the initiative
- 4. Please describe your level of satisfaction with the process leading to the signing of agreements with the provincial governments for implementing the Contraventions Act.
- 5. Can you describe the process leading to identification of activities required by a province and funded through the Implementation Fund? In your opinion, how adequate is the list of currently funded activities?
- 6. Can you now describe the activities that your ministry has undertaken with jurisdictions where there are no agreements that include activities funded by the Implementation Fund? What are your projections with respect to the funding of activities funded by the Implementation Fund in those jurisdictions?
- 7. In particular, how do you foresee the implementation of the Contraventions Act in the three territorial jurisdictions?
- 8. As needed, can you describe what you consider to be the main challenges that your ministry faced in connection with the Implementation Fund? What is your strategy for dealing with those challenges?
- 9. In terms of the reports provided by the recipient provinces of the Implementation Fund, can you tell us to what extent they provide you with information pertaining to management of this Implementation Fund?
Outcomes
- 10. In your view, to what extent has the Implementation Fund enabled the federal government to meet the language obligations connected with the Contraventions Act?
- 11. If applicable, please describe strategies, other than those of the Implementation Fund, that would make it possible to achieve the same outcomes, but in a more effective manner?
Conclusion
- 12. Do you have any other comments?
Thank you for your participation.
Interview Guide - Representatives of the Department of Justice Canada
Introduction
The Department of Justice Canada hired PRA Inc. to conduct the evaluation of the Fund for Implementation of the Language Obligations under the Contraventions Act (hereinafter the Implementation Fund). That evaluation will cover the relevance of the Implementation Fund, its design and the associated success factors. Our methodological approach includes a set of interviews with stakeholders who took part the activities supported through the Implementation Fund.
The information gathered will be used solely for this study and will be managed, stored and destroyed in accordance with the Privacy Act. No information gathered during the interviews will be associated with a stakeholder, and every participant enjoys the right of access to information and the right to protection of his/her personal information. Moreover, your involvement in this interview is voluntary, and you can withdraw from the study at any time.
Lastly, please note that the information gathered during the interviews will be fully shared with Justice Canada’s Evaluation Division.
Implementation of the initiative
- 13. First, please describe how your government identifies its language requirements in connection with implementation of the Contraventions Act. What activities are you undertaking for it and who are the stakeholders consulted?
- 14. Please describe the implementation of your activities funded by the Implementation Fund over the past two or three years. What are your key accomplishments in this connection? And what are the main challenges that you have faced?
- 15. Now please describe your level of satisfaction with the process leading to the signing of your agreement with the federal government for implementing the Contraventions Act.
- 16. What was your experience with the reporting process relating to implementation of the Contraventions Act? Are you able to issue the reports required by your agreement? If not, what are the main challenges that you have faced? How do you plan to overcome those challenges?
Outcomes
- 17. Can you describe the extent to which the courts in your province are able to offer services in both official languages in the following circumstances:
- When an offender comes to the registry to pay a fine in connection with a federal contravention.
- (To the extent that this scenario applies to your province) When an offender contacts a court in the province by phone to receive additional information about the ticket that he/she received.
- (To the extent that this scenario applies to your province) When an offender appears before the court (usually a justice of the peace), to plead guilty in connection with the contravention entered on the ticket, with the intention of providing extenuating circumstances in order to reduce the fine imposed.
- When an offender wishes to challenge the charge written up in the ticket for committing a contravention.
- 18. In your opinion, what are the most significant outcomes arising from the Implementation Fund? What are the most significant challenges that still exist in connection with that?
- 19. If applicable, please describe strategies, other than those of the Implementation Fund, that would make it possible to achieve the same outcomes, but in a more effective manner?
Conclusion
- 20. In closing, can you think of any other stakeholders who we could contact as part of this evaluation? If yes, would you be able to provide us with their contact information?
- 21. Do you have any other comments?
Thank you for your participation.
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