Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services

The Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services aims to help provincial and territorial governments offer provincial, territorial and municipal services in the language of the official-language minority community, as well as the necessary infrastructure to provide these services.

1. Cooperation framework
2. Eligible recipients
3. Funding decisions and evaluation criteria
4. Eligible expenditures
5. Schedule
6. Funding Terms
7. Applicant's Guide
8. Acknowledgment of the Government of Canada's contribution

I. Cooperation framework

Agreements accompanied by action plans are negotiated with eligible recipients for one or more years. The aims and objectives of a cooperation agreement can vary depending on the priorities of the eligible recipients. Complementary contributions may be made in addition to the bilateral agreements for the purpose of carrying out initiatives that address emerging priorities.
Within the framework of action plans, investments are intended to:

• increase the ability of provincial and territorial governments to develop, improve and offer services, other than education services, in the language of the official-language minority community, including municipal services;
• reinforce federal-provincial/territorial cooperation in the area of services, other than education services, offered to official-language minority communities.

Within the framework of special projects, investments will be restricted to measures not proposed in the action plans and will be intended to:

• contribute to the creation of new provincial and territorial services in the language of the minority in response to emerging or timely needs or support new projects for the long-term maintenance of service infrastructures;
• contribute to the creation of new municipal services in the language of the minority;
• encourage cooperation and sharing of expertise between provincial and territorial governments in the area of minority-language services.

II. Eligible recipients

Provincial and territorial governments and any provincial or territorial government body.

III. Funding decisions and evaluation criteria

Funding decisions are based on available funds, priorities and in accordance with the following criteria:

• Linkages with the objectives of the Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services sub-component.
• Contribution to advancing and structuring the provision by the recipient of services other than education in the language of the minority community.
• Linkages with the priorities of the official-language minority communities being supported.
• Contribution to increased inclusiveness of official-language minority communities, if applicable.
• Projected outcomes and impact on the community.
• Relevance of proposed performance measurements.
• Diversification of partnerships and quality of cooperation with other partners.
• Balance between budget and projected activities.

All funding decisions are made by the Minister of Canadian Heritage.

IV. Eligible expenditures

Eligible expenditures include (but are not limited to):

• costs to set up, deliver and monitor programs, services and activities as negotiated under the agreements signed with the provinces and territories or provincial or territorial government bodies, including costs to establish and maintain the infrastructures needed to develop official-language minority communities.

V. Schedule

Bilateral agreements with eligible recipients are reached based on the particular period of cooperation. Applications for funding for complementary projects may be submitted at any time during the fiscal year.

VI. Funding Terms

Funds are paid under a contribution agreement that specifies the reporting requirements and the terms and conditions of payment.

The Department will assume no responsibility for any contractual commitments entered into by the Applicant prior to confirmation of financial support from the Department.

VII. Applicant's Guide

The content of the application must include:

• Assessment of the situation in the area being applied for (with a description of the facts that led to application or action plan being developed and the rationale for selecting the proposed approach).
• Description of the proposed programs, activities or projects.
• Clear statement of expected outcomes, with performance indicators for the entire action plan/project.
• Linkages with the objectives of the Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services sub-component.
• Linkages with issued related to development of the community or sector being supported and status of community consultations, if applicable.
• Implementation schedule.
• Budget with a breakdown of the projected expenditures and financial contribution of each party for the proposed programs or activities.

Provincial and territorial governments that wish to apply under the Intergovernmental Cooperation on Minority-Language Services sub-component should call the Official Languages Support Programs Branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage
at (819) 994-2222.

VIII: Acknowledgment of the Government of Canada's contribution

Recipients are required to acknowledge the contribution from the Department of Canadian Heritage in any promotion or advertising related to the activities from which funding is provided.