Evaluation of the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Initiative

2. Description

The Initiative is part of the Roadmap, which constitutes Canada’s horizontal initiative to promote official languages and enhance the vitality of OLMCs. It spans a large number of sectors and fields of interest. In addition, it provides financial support to some 15 governmental departments and agencies working in the three key areas of education, immigration and communities.

The Initiative is based on two main pillars: the Information pillar and the Training pillar.

Information Pillar
The Information pillar aims to offer legal information services that help minority Francophone and Anglophone Canadians learn about their rights, obligations and responsibilities in the official language of their choice. More specifically, funding is granted to eligible organizations for the implementation of projects related to access to justice in both official languages. Most of the projects funded under this pillar are direct services to the population, providing useful and accurate legal information in French outside Quebec and in English in Quebec.
Training Pillar
The Training pillar involves the training and development of bilingual justice professionals in order to improve their language skills, thereby increasing their ability to offer services in French outside Quebec and in English in Quebec as part of their work within the justice system, specifically in the area of criminal law. The funded projects enable the development and delivery of language training curriculums for various justice professionals.

Management Structure

Two groups within JUS share the management of activities undertaken as part of the Initiative:

The Official Languages Directorate is responsible for policy development and the coordination of all activities under the Initiative. The Directorate oversees the work of the various advisory committees, helps define the Initiative’s strategic directions, and reports on all Initiative activities.

The Innovations, Analysis and Integration Directorate located in the Programs Branch is responsible for managing all contribution agreements concluded in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Initiative. This group manages the submission, allocation and reporting process in connection with these agreements.

A selection committee comprised of members of both groups is responsible for reviewing funding applications in order to determine eligibility and to make recommendations for funding. Upon request, the committee is supported by a representative of the Department’s Evaluation Division, who advises members on performance measurement issues.

Financial Resources

The Department has set a total budget of $40.2 million for the Initiative, distributed over five fiscal years. The investment period covers fiscal years 2013-14 to 2017-18. A total of $21.2 million is available for the Information pillar (Training, networks and access to justice services – Community Support component) while a total of $19 million is dedicated to the Training pillar (Training, networks and access to justice services – Education component).