As part of Ombudsman Ontario, the French Language Services Commissioner oversees and encourages compliance with the French Language Services Act (FLSA). The Minister of Francophone Affairs is responsible for administering the FLSA.
The Commissioner can:
- Review or investigate complaints about services in French provided by or on behalf of government agencies and institutions of the Legislature
- Report on investigations
- Monitor the government’s progress in providing services in French
- Advise the Minister of Francophone Affairs on the administration of the FLSA
The Commissioner leads the Ombudsman’s French Language Services Unit. A dedicated team of Early Resolution Officers and Investigators supports this work. Together, they:
- Promote French language rights
- Reach out to the public
- Review complaints
- Investigate concerns
- Make recommendations
- Follow up on the government’s implementation of recommended improvements
The French Language Services Act
Ontario’s French Language Services Act guarantees the right to receive services in French at:
- Head or central offices of government agencies and institutions of the Legislature
- Offices of a government agency or institution of the Legislature located in or serving designated areas of the province
There are 27 designated areas in Ontario. They are listed in the Schedule to the FLSA.
Government agencies that have obligations under the Act include:
- Provincial ministries
- Boards, commissions and corporations where a majority of their members or directors are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council
- Organizations designated as “public service agencies” in Regulation 398/93
Requirements under the Act
The FLSA is quasi-constitutional legislation that guarantees the right to services in French from institutions of the Legislature and government agencies, as defined in the Act.
The “active offer” regulation (O. Reg. 544/22) requires agencies to make French services clearly available. Agencies must proactively offer services in French from the first point of contact to the full delivery of services.
A government agency that hires a third party to provide services on its behalf must ensure the third party fulfills obligations under the FLSA.
How we work
The French Language Services Commissioner’s role was created in 2007. As part of the Office of the Ombudsman since 2019, the Commissioner is fully independent of the government, political parties and special interest groups.
The Commissioner and our French Language Services Unit:
- Promote French language rights in Ontario
- Meet regularly with government and public sector bodies to help improve services
- Engage in outreach
- Review and analyze complaints and trends
- Conduct investigations related to compliance with the FLSA (including on the Commissioner’s “own motion,” without a complaint)
- Prepare reports with recommendations
- Monitor implementation of these recommendations
- Monitor the progress of government agencies in providing services in French
- Advise the Minister of Francophone Affairs on the administration of the Act
What we do when we receive complaints
The complaints we receive allow us to hear directly from people who:
- Feel their rights are not being respected
- Believe they are being treated unfairly by the government
By listening to complainants and making inquiries with government agencies, we have a unique perspective that allows us to assess whether services are provided in accordance with French language rights. We can then make recommendations to fix gaps where it’s needed.
Information sessions
We provide training, presentations and education to government and broader public sector officials. We can:
- Provide information about your obligations under the FLSA
- Give presentations about our role in resolving complaints from the public
- Tell you what to expect if we receive a complaint about French services at your organization
- Share best practices to ensure compliance with the Act
Contact us at info@ombudsman.on.ca for more information.