Report from the Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs

Released on May 28, 2021

Legislative Secretary and Francophone Affairs Liaison Todd Goudy, has received the latest report from the Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs.  Titled Public Health and Emergency Situations the report looks at how increased use of the French language can play a greater role in keeping people safe and healthy.

"I would like to thank the members of the Advisory Committee for their outstanding work during these challenging times and for the thoughtful and relevant recommendations," Goudy said.  "Strengthening citizen-centred services is important to the Government of Saskatchewan and we are pleased that the Committee has made suggestions of how to improve services to the French-speaking residents of our province." 

The committee met with senior officials from the Ministry of Health, the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency, as well as with representatives from Francophone organizations.  The report contains five recommendations:

• That the Saskatchewan Health Authority identify employees with French-language capacity.
• That the Saskatchewan Health Authority strengthen and formalize their relationship with the Réseau santé en français de la Saskatchewan to focus on ways to enhance French-language services.
• That the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health build an ongoing relationship with the Fédération des aînés fransaskois.
• That the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency publish bilingual alerts sent by the federal government in both official languages on SaskAlerts.
• That the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency look into the feasibility of publishing provincial alerts in both official languages

"In public health and emergency situations, it is critical that citizens whose first language is not English clearly understand messages from authorities," Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs Chair Michel Dubé said.  "Communications in both official languages are important.  Our recommendations aim to improve French-language services and communications by the Government of Saskatchewan."

For more information on the Advisory Committee's work and the full report, visit www.saskatchewan.ca/fab.

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