Initiative in Support of Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Evaluation

Appendix C: On-line Survey

Survey Questionnaire for Recipient Organizations

Introduction

Welcome to the survey for beneficiaries of the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Initiative (the Initiative), by the Department of Justice Canada.

You will need roughly 15 minutes to answer the questionnaire. Please note that you are the only person connected with your organization to receive this invitation. Therefore, if needed for answering our questions, do not hesitate to consult other people who took part in the project(s) that your organization undertook. To that end, please note that you can answer the questions in more than one session.

The information provided is confidential and the survey results will be presented in roll-up format only. The survey is available until November 4, 2011.

The survey is part of the evaluation of the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Initiative. That evaluation also includes a literature review, a series of interviews and expert panels. Once the final evaluation report is approved, the Department of Justice Canada will publish it on their website.

Your participation in this process is completely voluntary. For any questions about the survey, please contact Brigitte Bouchard-Morris from PRA, at bouchard-morris@pra.ca. If you experience technical difficulties, please contact support@pra-surveys.ca.

Background

To begin, we would like to know a bit more about the organization with which you are connected.

1. In which province or territory is your organization located? (Check one answer)

2. During the period that began April 1, 2008, how many projects submitted by your organization were funded (in whole or in part) by the Department of Justice Canada under the Initiative? (Check one answer)

3. Again during the period that began April 1, 2008, did you officially submit a funding application under the Initiative that was not selected by the Department of Justice Canada? (Check one answer)

4. Which language group(s) is(are) involved in your organization’s projects that were funded by the Initiative? (Check one answer)

5. Which clients are involved in the projects for which you received funding through the Initiative? (Check all answers that apply)

6. Which of the following categories best defines your organization? (Check one answer)

Needs in relation to access to justice

In view of the changing needs in relation to access to justice in both official languages, please indicate the importance that you currently assign to the following areas (Check one answer in each case)

Question Very important Important Less important Not important Don’t know
7. Networking among community stakeholders working in the justice system
8. Promotion and awareness activities among official language communities
9. Canvassing and awareness work done by jurist groups
10. 10.Language training for members of the judiciary
11. 11.Language training for lawyers
12. Language training for court officials (court clerks, bailiffs, registry officers, etc.)
13. The creation of jurilinguistic tools

The funding mechanism

Now, please indicate your level of satisfaction with the following aspects of the funding process for the Initiative (Check one answer in each case)

Question Very satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Very dissatisfied Don’t know
14. The documentation pertaining to the funding process
15. The support provided by the Department of Justice Canada during the funding application process
16. The timeframe leading to a decision on project funding
17. The explanations given regarding the decision on  project funding
18. The contribution agreement signed with the Department
19. The reporting process

If you answered “dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” to any of questions 14 to 19:

20. How could the process be improved?

Results achieved

Based on what you have been able to see as trends over the last five years, please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements (Check one answer in each case)

Question Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know
21. I have seen significant growth in terms of language training opportunities connected with criminal law
22. The organizations working in the area of justice, such as the Bars, court managers or judiciary groups, place greater importance on the issue of access to justice in both official languages
23. Litigants from official language minority communities are much less hesitant to exercise their language rights
24. The ability of members of the judiciary to work in both official languages has increased
25. The ability of Crown attorneys to work in both official languages has increased
26. The ability of private lawyers to work in both official languages has increased
27. The ability of legal aid systems to operate in both official languages has increased
28. The ability of court officials to work in both official languages has increased

Priorities

In closing, we invite you to think about the Initiative’s future. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements (Check one answer in each case):

Question Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree Don’t know
29. The Initiative should focus more on language training for justice stakeholders
30. The Initiative should focus more on awareness and promotion among official language communities
31. The Initiative should focus more on awareness and promotion among organizations connected with the court system (courts, Bars, judiciary groups, etc.)
32. The Initiative should focus more on areas other than criminal law

33. Can you think of other areas that should receive greater attention from the Initiative?

34. Please describe that/those area(s):

Conclusion

35. Do you have any other observations to make about the Initiative?

No other observations

End: The survey is finished.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.