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Services in French at ServiceOntario locations

Media release, "French Language Services Commissioner to investigate in-person service delivery at ServiceOntario" (April 1, 2025) Investigation into services in French at ServiceOntario locations. Announced April 1, 2025. … Services in French at ServiceOntario …

Direct education payment programs

Media release, "Ombudsman to investigate direct education payment programs" (December 11, 2023) Case Update (Annual Report 2023-2024) Investigation into the Ministry of Education’s direct payment programs for parents and students. Announced December 11, 2023. … Direct education payment …

Submission regarding the designation of areas under the French Language Services Act

Submission to the Ministry of Francophone Affairs regarding the designation of areas under the French Language Services Act Carl Bouchard French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario January 2025 Submission to the Ministry of Francophone Affairs regarding the designation of areas under the …
The Ministry of Francophone Affairs is seeking input on its plan to amend the list of areas designated under the French Language Services Act.

Unscientific translations

A Francophone father contacted us after visiting the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto with his family in the summer of 2023. He told us that there were five staff members at the admissions counter, but none of them could speak any French beyond “bonjour.” He asked, in English, if he could be …
A Francophone father contacted us after visiting the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto with his family in the summer of 2023.

The screens on the bus say “we speak French”

GO Transit, the public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is a division of government agency Metrolinx. A Francophone reported to us that the Black History Month messages displayed on the electronic destination signage of GO Transit buses were in English only (as were many …
GO Transit, the public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is a division of government agency Metrolinx.

The real cost of a “free” translation tool

A Francophone from British Columbia received a ticket from an Ontario municipality requiring him to pay thousands of dollars in fines. Although the notice was bilingual, the website of the Provincial Offences Court was in English only. The Francophone also tried to get telephone service in French …
A Francophone from British Columbia received a ticket from an Ontario municipality requiring him to pay thousands of dollars in fines.

The future is bilingual

The future Ontario line will be a 15.6-kilometre subway line in Toronto. A Franco-Torontonian who wanted to know how work on the line was coming along complained to us that the social media content on X (@OntarioLine) for this Metrolinx project was in English only. He told us he felt it was …
The future Ontario line will be a 15.6-kilometre subway line in Toronto. A Franco-Torontonian who wanted to know how work on the line was coming along complained to us that the social media content on X (@OntarioLine) for this Metrolinx project was in English only.

Tailor-made forms

The Child and Family Services Review Board conducts reviews and hearings on a number of matters that affect children, youth and families in Ontario. The Board is one of 13 tribunals that make up Tribunals Ontario. It sent a mediation report in English to a Francophone mother, despite the fact that …
The Child and Family Services Review Board conducts reviews and hearings on a number of matters that affect children, youth and families in Ontario.

Settling the bills

In the Commissioner’s 2022-2023 Annual Report, we mentioned a Francophone who had received a bill from the Ministry of Transportation’s Highway Incident Claims Unit following a car crash in the Ottawa area. She did not receive services in French when she contacted the Ministry of Transportation. As …
In the Commissioner’s 2022-2023 Annual Report, we mentioned a Francophone who had received a bill from the Ministry of Transportation’s Highway Incident Claims Unit following a car crash in the Ottawa area.

Right on target

A Francophone who was interested in taking a firearm safety course visited the Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario (FSESO) website, as the FSESO offers firearm handling courses. The FSESO is the sole service provider for the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course in the province. He …
A Francophone who was interested in taking a firearm safety course visited the Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario (FSESO) website, as the FSESO offers firearm handling courses.

One fare, two languages

While riding the Viva Blue bus line, operated by York Region Transit (YRT) between Newmarket and Toronto, a Francophone woman noticed that a Metrolinx brochure available in the bus was in English only. The brochure offered information about the new One Fare Program. RESULT: We contacted Metrolinx, …
While riding the Viva Blue bus line, operated by York Region Transit (YRT) between Newmarket and Toronto, a Francophone woman noticed that a Metrolinx brochure available in the bus was in English only.

No time to lose

Two Francophone students who were new to Ontario contacted us to report that the financial aid staff at an English-language college who administer the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) were unable to process their applications, as none of them could review the documents the students had …
Two Francophone students who were new to Ontario contacted us to report that the financial aid staff at an English-language college who administer the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) were unable to process their applications, as none of them could review the documents the students had submitted in French.

No test, no job

After completing truck driver training in Ottawa, a Francophone tried multiple times to get a certified bilingual driver examiner for his test at a DriveTest centre in southern Ottawa, a designated area under the French Language Services Act . He complained to us that despite confirming the …
After completing truck driver training in Ottawa, a Francophone tried multiple times to get a certified bilingual driver examiner for his test at a DriveTest centre in southern Ottawa, a designated area under the French Language Services Act.

New exhibits – on social media

In fall 2023, a Francophone contacted us to report the lack of French in the social media posts of an Ontario museum. He noted that the headings and content of some posts on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook were in English only. RESULT: We brought this concern to the museum, an agency of the …
In fall 2023, a Francophone contacted us to report the lack of French in the social media posts of an Ontario museum.

Making room for French

A Franco-Torontonian looking for a family activity in his neighbourhood was interested in the exhibition called “Lumière: The Art of Light” at Ontario Place. He contacted us after noticing that Ontario Place’s four social media accounts (X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) were in English only. …
A Franco-Torontonian looking for a family activity in his neighbourhood was interested in the exhibition called “Lumière: The Art of Light” at Ontario Place.

Lost in translation

While watching the livestream of the tabling of the province’s 2024 budget on the Government of Ontario’s French YouTube channel, a Francophone noticed that, when the Minister of Finance spoke in French near the end of the video, the interpreter translated what he said into English. The woman …
While watching the livestream of the tabling of the province’s 2024 budget on the Government of Ontario’s French YouTube channel, a Francophone noticed that, when the Minister of Finance spoke in French near the end of the video, the interpreter translated what he said into English.

Long-term solution

A Francophone reached out to us after taking part in a webinar hosted by a non-profit organization that receives funding from the Ministry of Long-Term Care. She had signed up for the webinar as she is part of the family council for a long-term care home. She received a bilingual email from the …
A Francophone reached out to us after taking part in a webinar hosted by a non-profit organization that receives funding from the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Language support

The Ontario Autism Program, administered by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, offers support to families of children and youth on the autism spectrum. A Francophone parent of a child with autism complained to us that the program communicated with them in English, both orally …
The Ontario Autism Program, administered by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, offers support to families of children and youth on the autism spectrum.

Heritage plaques: See other side

We noticed that the same text – in English only – appeared on both sides of the provincial plaque at Old City Hall in downtown Toronto. The Provincial Plaque Program, which commemorates important historical people, places, events, sites and works, is administered by the Ontario Heritage Trust, an …
We noticed that the same text – in English only – appeared on both sides of the provincial plaque at Old City Hall in downtown Toronto.

Ensuring bilingual service

A Francophone man told us about a workplace accident that left him unable to use his legs for a few years. After multiple complex surgeries, he started walking again. His injury claim was submitted to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). He shared a letter with us from the WSIB that was …
A Francophone man told us about a workplace accident that left him unable to use his legs for a few years.