In January 2009, the Government of Saskatchewan appointed eight members to the Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs. The mandate of this committee has recently been extended to 2022.
The Committee works with representatives from different provincial Francophone organizations and ministries to offer advice to the government and assist with the implementation of Saskatchewan's French-Language Services Policy to provide better access to services in French.
Terms of Reference
Purpose
Advise the Legislative Secretary responsible for Francophone Affairs through the review and analysis of programs and policies to guide the implementation of Saskatchewan's French-language Services Policy.
Duration of the Committee
The Advisory Committee of Francophone Affairs shall be constituted for a period of three years from the date of its creation through Order-in-Council. Further renewal of its mandate will be considered after appropriate review.
Membership, Composition and Appointment Process
The Advisory Committee shall consist of six to eight members:
- The Chair will be nominated by the Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs and will be a voting member of the Committee.
- The Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise provincial chair will be the only ex official member of this Committee.
- Other members will come from civil society, representatives from Fransaskois community stakeholder organizations, the business community and recognized experts in certain policy fields.
- Members on the committee will be appointed for a period of three years by the Minister following a call for recommendations to community stakeholder groups.
- The committee will ensure a balance between sectors, gender, and regional representation.
Authority and Reporting Relationship
The Chair of the Advisory Committee will be nominated for a term of three years and will report directly to the Legislative Secretary. Members will be appointed for a term period of three years.
With the administrative support of the Francophone Affairs Branch, the Chair will ensure that minutes for each meeting are produced in both official languages and that these as well as recommendations made by the committee are communicated to the Minister within 14 workings days of a meeting.
Activities:
- Establish a dialogue with Francophone stakeholder groups to discuss relevant issues, community needs, and existing government services.
- Establish a dialogue with relevant ministries, Crown corporations, and agencies to seek advice on key issues and discuss current French-language services activities.
- Under referral from the Legislative Secretary, conduct consultations, research, and analysis of policy options in response to specific issues.
- With the support of the Francophone Affairs Branch (FAB), conduct evaluation of current French-language Services Policy and recommend relevant modifications as necessary.
- Provide advice to the Government of Saskatchewan with regards to the implementation of its French-language Services Policy through recommendations to the Legislative Secretary.
Frequency of Meetings
The Advisory Committee shall meet at the request of the Minister or the Chair at least three times in any calendar year. Extraordinary meetings may be convened at the request of the Minister or Chair.
Remuneration of Members
Members of the Advisory Committee shall be compensated based on applicable Treasury Board rates for honorarium, per diem, and travel expenditures.
Administrative Support
The Francophone Affairs Branch within the Office of the Legislative Secretary will provide administrative support to the committee's activities as well as support additional work as mandated by the Minister.
Members
Alpha Barry, Regina
Alpha Barry was born in Senegal, a country famed for its hospitality ("teranga" in Wolof), and has lived in Saskatchewan since 2005. A proud Francophone, husband, and father of three young children, he has been a board member of the Conseil scolaire fransaskois since November 2014, and has been its Chair since 2017. He is also a member of the University of Saskatchewan's Senate, mandated by the Saskatchewan School Boards Association to speak on behalf of the school community, from kindergarten to Grade 12. Mr. Barry holds a degree in Business Administration and is a member of Chartered Managers Canada (CIM). He is part of the administrative team at the University of Regina, as the operations manager and project coordinator for French-language health training for La Cité universitaire francophone of Regina.
Michel Dubé (Chair), Prince Albert
Mr. Michel Dubé was born in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. He has been involved with the Fransaskois community for a long time, notably in community development and education. He was a member of the board of the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise (ACF) from 1999 to 2010, first as community representative from the Prince Albert district and then as president from 2006 to 2010.
Mr. Dubé has been a journalist, consultant and entrepreneur. He has owned several businesses including a produce farm and a fishing lodge. He is now owner of a small store featuring local goods and operates a bison farm north of Prince Albert.
Roger Gauthier, Saskatoon
Living in Saskatchewan for the past 40 years, Mr. Gauthier has been actively involved in the Fransaskois community both as a professional and as a volunteer at the local, provincial and national levels in multiple sectors: communications, economics, community development, cultural and artistic development, education, and involvement with parent and early childhood issues. Over the past seven years, his commitment has focused more specifically on improving access to health services in French through his role in the Réseau Santé en français.
Janice Murphy, Regina
Living in Saskatchewan for almost 20 years, Janice first worked at Collège Mathieu, offering, among other things, computer training for Francophone women in the province. She has volunteered with various Fransaskois associations, including the Fédération provinciale des Fransaskoises (FPF), the Association communautaire fransaskoise de Gravelbourg (ACFG), and the Association canadienne-française de Regina. She founded a family with her spouse from the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, enabling her to experience French education from daycare to Grade 12, and to better understand the challenges and successes of French-speaking newcomers. She currently works as a senior human resources partner with the Crown Corporation, Farm Credit Canada (FCC).
Élizabeth Perreault, Bellevue
Ms. Élizabeth Perreault and her husband own and operate a farm near Bellevue. Ms. Perreault has volunteered within many organizations in her community, including the local Francophone association and the Francophone school in her area. She has represented the St-Isidore school district (Bellevue) on the Conseil scolaire fransaskois since 2008.
Jolanta Bird
Jolanta Bird is a student, entrepreneur and active community member. As an Aboriginal woman, she is keen to learn about First Nation traditions, notably through her involvement with the Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre Company. She graduated from École Valois in Prince Albert where she was president of the student council. She is active in the Francophone community as VP of the Association jeunesse fransaskoise (Fransaskois Youth Association). As a board member at the youth association, she participated in a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act. She currently studies Business at the University of Saskatchewan. She plans to pursue her studies in Law.
Denis Simard
Denis Simard has been involved in the Canadian Francophonie for many years. A graduate of College Mathieu in Gravelbourg, Denis was Executive Director of the Association jeunesse fransaskoise and of the Assemblée communautaire fransaskoise (ACF). An engaged Fransaskois citizen, he first became involved with the Conseil jeunesse francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, the Conseil culturel fransaskois, and the Centre culturel Maillard. He was elected president of the ACF in 2018.