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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. Case update (2024-2025 Annual Report) … Services in French at ServiceOntario …
/en/our-work/investigations/ongoing-investigations/services-french-serviceontario-locations

Parting words

A Francophone man was let go from his position as a volunteer firefighter with a municipality. He complained to us that the municipality sent him a letter explaining his termination in English only. He asked if we could help him connect with someone who could send it in French, given that his …
A Francophone man was let go from his position as a volunteer firefighter with a municipality.
/en/our-work/case-stories/parting-words

One for the price of two

A man sought our help in getting money back from his municipality for a nonexistent water line. He told us that when he bought the property, he was told there were two water lines, and he would be billed for both. He said municipal staff assured him the second line was there, even though it was not …
A man sought our help in getting money back from his municipality for a nonexistent water line.
/en/our-work/case-stories/one-price-two

Sudden shutoff

A woman who was in hospital sought our help after water service was cut off to her home, where her son, who has autism and medical needs, was receiving at-home care in her absence. She told us she had a payment plan with the water service provider and had paid her bills. She was worried for her …
A woman who was in hospital sought our help after water service was cut off to her home, where her son, who has autism and medical needs, was receiving at-home care in her absence.
/en/our-work/case-stories/sudden-shutoff

Saved, not sold

A man called us in distress, saying he would become homeless if he could not immediately pay nearly $25,000 in property tax arrears and fees. He said he had just learned that his municipality had seized his properties for unpaid taxes and put them up for auction. The properties would go to the …
A man called us in distress, saying he would become homeless if he could not immediately pay nearly $25,000 in property tax arrears and fees.
/en/our-work/case-stories/saved-not-sold

Signs of the times

We noticed that signs put up by Metrolinx around the construction site of the Scarborough subway extension were in English only. Metrolinx is a government agency and its communications, including signage, are required to be in English and French. Result: We pointed these signs out to Metrolinx …
We noticed that signs put up by Metrolinx around the construction site of the Scarborough subway extension were in English only.
/en/our-work/case-stories/signs-times

Eclipse of the chansons

As part of a promotion of places in Ontario to view the total solar eclipse in April 2024, Destination Ontario posted a playlist of eclipse-themed songs on its website, such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “I Can See Clearly Now.” A Francophone man complained to us that all of the songs on the playlist …
As part of a promotion of places in Ontario to view the total solar eclipse in April 2024, Destination Ontario posted a playlist of eclipse-themed songs on its website, such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “I Can See Clearly Now.”
/en/our-work/case-stories/eclipse-chansons

Legal obligation

A Francophone woman complained to us after she went to a provincial courthouse for a family court case in a region that is designated under the French Language Services Act (meaning services in French must be available by law). She said she was unable to obtain services in French at the clerk’s …
A Francophone woman complained to us after she went to a provincial courthouse for a family court case in a region that is designated under the French Language Services Act (meaning services in French must be available by law).
/en/our-work/case-stories/legal-obligation

Submission regarding proposed changes to the municipal code of conduct and integrity commissioner framework

Submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding proposed changes to the municipal code of conduct and integrity commissioner framework Paul Dubé Ombudsman of Ontario February 2025 Overview The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is seeking feedback on proposed changes to …
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the municipal code of conduct and integrity commissioner framework for Ontario municipalities, in connection with legislative amendments that were proposed in Bill 241, the Municipal Accountability Act, 2024.
/en/our-work/submissions-government/submission-regarding-proposed-changes-municipal-code-conduct-and-integrity-commissioner-framework

Inside Job

O N TA R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G Inside Job Investigation into matters relating to the Regional Municipality of Niagara’s hiring of its Chief Administrative Officer, and its administration of his contract OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario November 2019 O N TA R I O O N TA …
Investigation into matters relating to the Regional Municipality of Niagara’s hiring of its Chief Administrative Officer, and its administration of his contract
/en/our-work/investigations/inside-job

By-law Surprise

O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G By-law Surprise Investigation into the reasonableness and transparency of by-law enforcement and billing practices in the Township of St. Clair and the County of Lambton Ombudsman Report Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario April 2018 1-800-263-1830 www.ombudsman.on.ca …
Investigation into the reasonableness and transparency of by-law enforcement and billing practices in the Township of St. Clair and the County of Lambton.
/en/our-work/investigations/law-surprise

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 Overview The Ministry of Francophone Affairs is seeking input on its plan to amend the list of …
The Ministry of Francophone Affairs is seeking input on its plan to amend the list of areas designated under the French Language Services Act.
/en/our-work/submissions-government/submission-regarding-designation-areas-under-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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/unscientific-translations

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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/screens-bus-say-we-speak-french

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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/real-cost-free-translation-tool

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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/future-bilingual

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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/tailor-made-forms

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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/settling-bills

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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/right-target

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.
/en/our-work/case-stories/one-fare-two-languages