GNWT responds to recommendations made in independent report on French language communications and services

News Releases

Yellowknife — June 7, 2023

 

Today the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) published its response to recommendations made in an independent report on the French Language Communications and Services for the 2018-2023 Strategic Plan.

Conducted by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton, the independent report offered 23 recommendations to the GNWT. The GNWT agrees with 22 of the recommendations. The recommendation that the GNWT does not agree with is recommendation 2.2, which was to raise the recognition of accreditation of nurses, as this responsibility does not fall under the GNWT.

Findings from Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton’s report reflect that effectiveness of the GNWT’s French language communications and services has remained consistent since the previous evaluation, with a notable improvement in the delivery of bilingual communications.

Findings from the report include:

  • Leaders at all levels promoted and supported a positive vision of the Strategic Plan.
  • The capacity of the GNWT to implement the Strategic Plan 2018-2023 was strong.
  • Overall, the Strategic Plan was deemed valuable to the Francophone community and its implementation has yielded positive outcomes regarding significant improvements for the availability of communications in terms of signage and advertising.
  • Overall, the GNWT increased its monitoring and reporting capacities in comparison to the last Strategic Plan.
  • GNWT employees viewed the Francophone Affairs Secretariat as supportive.
  • In general, recruitment of staff was difficult; however, it was even more difficult to recruit and retain bilingual staff.

The recommendations from this report will be used inform the development of the next French Language Communications and Services five-year strategic plan.

Quotes:

“The GNWT has been making meaningful progress in the provision of French language communications and services. This independent review provides valuable recommendations as we continue to make improvements to better serve our residents.”

- R.J. Simpson, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment

Quick Facts:

  • The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) contracted Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Consulting Inc. to evaluate the Strategic Plan in 2022 to determine the overall success and value of the plan and to inform the development of the next five-year plan.
  • The third-party evaluation included two surveys and two focus group sessions with departmental French Language Service Coordinators (FLSCs) and members of the Francophone community, review of documentation, and interviews with GNWT staff, including Deputy Ministers, FLSCs, members of the Francophone Affairs Secretariat as well as with leaders of the Francophone community.
  • The last third-party evaluation of the Strategic Plan occurred in 2017.

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For media requests, please contact:

Briony Grabke

Manager, Public Affairs and Communications

Department of Education, Culture and Employment

Government of the Northwest Territories

Briony_Grabke@gov.nt.ca

867-767-9352 ext. 71073