SSHRC invites feedback on its draft policy statement on Section 41 of the Official Languages Act

SSHRC is launching a consultation on a draft policy statement related to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada. This policy will guide SSHRC in responding to the requirements of Part VII (Section 41) of the Official Languages Act.

Part IV of the Official Languages Act requires that services be provided in both official languages. In addition, Part VII (Section 41) of the Act requires all federal organizations, within the scope of their respective mandates, to take positive measures to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada; to support and assist their development; and to foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

SSHRC has developed a draft policy statement to guide the implementation of Section 41 in the context of its mandate under the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Act.

The draft policy has been informed by the recommendations of a management review of SSHRC’s activities and results in support of official languages conducted by R.A Malatest & Associates Ltd. in 2011. We thank the numerous universities, researchers and stakeholders who provided input into this review. SSHRC also commissioned Ronald Bisson et associé.e.s and Associates Inc. to provide expert advice in the development of the policy and measurement tools as well as to review the results of the management review.

SSHRC is committed to the support of research excellence through its rigorous, internationally recognized standards for adjudication. The draft policy statement focuses on communications and engagement with postsecondary institutions serving Official Language Minority Communities (French communities outside Quebec and English or bilingual communities within Quebec) to support their researchers and students in taking full advantage of SSHRC’s funding opportunities. SSHRC is also committed to continuing to fund research on linguistic duality and promoting the use of English and French in Canadian society.

By implementing this policy, SSHRC will formalize many of its ongoing activities, develop new initiatives, and enhance its oversight structure for implementation in order to better align all of its activities under the common objectives outlined in Section 41 of the Official Languages Act. The policy will be reviewed on a three-year cycle.

SSHRC encourages you to review all of the consultation material (draft policy statement, management review by R.A Malatest & Associates Ltd. and the summary of the report by Ronald Bisson et associé.e.s and Associates Inc.) and to engage stakeholders in participating in the consultation. We will be pleased to receive comments and suggestions on any aspect of the draft policy statement.

Please provide your feedback by email at consultation-OLP-PLO@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca by February 23, 2012.

For more information about the consultation, contact Sylvie Paquette, Manager, Policy and International Affairs, SSHRC, at 613-992-3146.

Thank you very much in advance for your contribution.

Carmen Charette
Executive Vice-President, SSHRC