2.4.5

Description: 
We will work collaboratively with the NWT’s francophone community to support French language education.
Lead Dept: 
ECE
Priority: 
2.4
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Social Envelope
Number: 
5
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Social Envelope
Background Information: 

EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Commitment 2.4.5 – We will work collaboratively with the NWT’s francophone community to support French language education.

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is committed to meeting its obligations for admission and administration of French First Language Schools under the:

  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
  • Education Act;
  • Ministerial Directive – Enrolment of Students in French First Language Education Programs and;
  • NWT Court of Appeal decision.

The requirement for French language education is covered under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. During the 2015-2016 school year, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) completed a review of the Ministerial Directive – Enrolment of Students in French First Language Education Programs - and a new Directive was issued in August 2016 (milestone 1). The Directive was designed to regulate the enrolment of students who do not have the right to minority language education under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The new Directive and supporting policy clearly outline ECE’s role in the French first language school admission process and identify three streams of admission for eligible non-rights holder parents:

  • Reacquisition;
  • Non-citizen francophone; and
  • New Immigrant

The new Directive strikes a balance between supporting the sustainment and growth of the French first language community and protecting the integrity of the French first language education program. Parents whose application for enrolment has not been accepted in the past may submit an application to ECE under the new Directive. Since August 2016, all applications for enrolment have met the requirement and have been accepted.

A space sharing agreement was signed in September 2016 between the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1) and the CSFTNO for the use of William MacDonald School in Yellowknife (milestone 2). A revised space sharing agreement was signed in September 2017 between the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 (YK1) and the CSFTNO for the use of William MacDonald School in Yellowknife to reflect the needs of the current school year.

A school addition is being constructed for École Allain St-Cyr and includes a 476 m2 gymnasium with a stage, two multi-purpose classrooms, and instructional space to accommodate students with special needs.

A Design-Build contract was awarded to Clark Builders on April 12, 2017 and final design reviews and foundation excavation and preparation are in progress (milestone 3 and 4). Construction completion is scheduled for the fall of 2018 (milestone 5). ECE and the Commission scolaire francophone will continue working collaboratively to ensure success of the infrastructure improvements to École Alain St-Cyr in Yellowknife.

A space sharing agreement was signed in September 2016 between the Hay River District Education Authority (DEA) and the CSFTNO for the use of school space in various Hay River Schools. A revised space sharing agreement was signed in September 2017 between the Hay River District Education Authority (DEA) and the CSFTNO for the use of school space in various Hay River Schools to reflect the needs of the current school year.

A new 4-year Official Languages Agreement (OLA) between the Government of Canada and the GNWT was signed on March 24, 2017 effective from 2016-17 to 2019-20. This new OLA has increased funding that will support the continued implementation of the GNWT Strategic Plan on French Language Communications and Services, including:

  • The provision of French translation and interpretation services to GNWT departments, the Legislative Assembly, and Boards and Agencies for all documents intended for the public
  • French language services to the public through Services TNO;
  • Advertisement in L’Aquilon and Radio Taiga, web site and staff support to the GNWT departments, the Legislative Assembly, Boards and Agencies; and
  • The translation into French of social media such as Departmental Facebook pages

Related Mandate Commitments:

Commitment 2.4.1 - We will strengthen culture and heritage in the NWT by:

  • Work with the Government of Canada towards a strengthened multi-year Canada-Northwest Territories Co-operation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages; and
  • Develop an action plan for the Culture and Heritage Strategic Framework.