LANG Committee Report

Recommendation 1

That the regular program funding of the Cooperation with the Community Sector subcomponent of the Community Life Component, Development of Official Language Communities Program, be increased by 50% for fiscal year 2008-2009 compared to current levels of financing, and then be increased proportionally with the overall budgets for Canadian Heritage’s Official Languages Support Programs, in order to reflect the growing and changing needs of the official language minority communities and the general rise in the cost of living.

Recommendation 2

That the Government of Canada favour multi-year funding over a five-year period and assess the possibility of further accelerating the allocation of funding.

Recommendation 3

That the Government of Canada develop, in cooperation with the community organizations, a clear and transparent formula including various factors to be considered in allocating funding under the collaboration accords in a fair and equitable manner reflecting the unique needs of each community, including adequate qualification-based compensation for people working for community organizations.

Recommendation 4

That Canadian Heritage, in cooperation with the community organizations, review accountability measures to reduce the burden they impose so that they do not impede the community organizations' ability to carry out their development mandate but still guarantee adequate accountability.

Recommendation 5

That the Department of Canadian Heritage assess the possibility of developing, in cooperation with the community organizations, a list of performance indicators to facilitate more results-based reporting.

Recommendation 6

That Canadian Heritage commit to delivering funding responses by the deadline.

Recommendation 7

That Canadian Heritage commit to delivering funding within 30 days following the date of the funding response and that, in the event funding is not paid within this time limit, the department be required to reimburse interest charges incurred as a result of the delay.

Recommendation 8

That the collaboration accords be signed with the Government of Canada, represented by the Department of Canadian Heritage, to reflect the federal government's obligations under Part VII of the Official Languages Act.

Recommendation 9

That, while working with the existing decision-making process, the Department of Canadian Heritage place greater emphasis on community perspectives and priorities, as identified by the communities themselves.

Recommendation 10

That the Department of Canadian Heritage clearly communicate its rules and criteria for evaluating funding requests, comply with its own procedures and substantiate its funding choices to the communities.