French on the Internet: the Canadian government says it’s doing its part

A March 2002 report on the status of French on the Internet pointed out several areas where the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages felt the federal government could improve its delivery of services, including cultural content online(CNM, April 8/02). The government’s response to that report has now been made public. Following is the conclusion from that report. The full report is available online. The study by the Commissioner of Official Languages entitled French on the Internet: Key to the Canadian Identity and the Knowledge Economy identified and brought forward a number of important questions in regard to the crucial concerns surrounding French on the Internet. As this report shows, the Government has made several efforts to act on the 19 recommendations in this second study by the Commissioner. The Government is continuing to take this matter very seriously, as can be seen in the account provided here of the efforts undertaken, which can be measured by the nature and extent of the concrete results achieved under each of the three main approaches suggested by the Commissioner. One can say now, with no hesitation, that Canada provides major support for the development and expansion of access to a critical mass of French language content on the Internet, that it has taken measures to create conditions in which its language industry can structure itself strategically in order to meet the challenges posed by the increasing multilingualism of the Internet, and that its foreign policy helps to ensure that the international Francophonie is more firmly entrenched in the Information Society. We should also emphasize that, in order to have a lasting, structuring effect in all these areas, the Government has put particular emphasis on the importance of its departments and agencies working in partnership with one another and with public institutions elsewhere in the country, non-profit organizations and the private sector. The government has also taken steps to ensure that all its activities surrounding French on the Internet will ultimately benefit from the governance and accountability framework described in the Action Plan for Official Languages released in March 2003. In a globalizing world, though, the place of French on the Internet requires continuous effort and the vigilance of all authorities. A number of initiatives are therefore being studied or developed at the present time in certain crucial departments, often in partnership with civil society and the private sector, to ensure that French on the Internet remains a priority in the design and implementation of government policy and programs and actually does remain "key to the Canadian identity." The development of a strong, vibrant language industry in Canada is certainly one of the most promising approaches taken in this regard. Canadian experience and expertise in technolinguistics is a major asset in meeting the challenges of a multilingual Internet. In addition, this industry provides a unique opportunity to create solutions that reinforce our efforts to meet the requirements of bilingualism here in Canada. We have made Canada one of the most connected countries on Earth. Innovative Canadian IT solutions are exported around the world. Our vision and strategy for putting information technology at the service of the citizenry provides a model for others to follow. Our ability to innovate will remain "key to the knowledge economy" and will ensure the maximum vitality of the French language and Francophone culture on the Internet.

French on the Internet: the Canadian government says it’s doing its part

News | 05/28/2004 4:00 am EDT

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