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Cision Canada
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Tabling of the 2024-2025 annual report: A year of transition for official languages Français
GATINEAU, QC , /CNW/ - Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Raymond Théberge tabled his 2024–2025 annual report in Parliament today. Two years ago, the modernized Official Languages Act gave the Commissioner new powers to help ensure that federal institutions comply with the Act and to help guarantee respect for Canadians' language rights. After working to lay the necessary foundations for the use of these powers in 2023–2024, the Commissioner and his team continued their efforts in 2024–2025 with the launch of a new mediation service and the implementation of the power to enter into compliance agreements, make orders and publish investigation summaries. However, some of the key elements needed to fully implement the modernized Act are still missing. Until strong regulations are in place and the required orders have been made, particularly for Part VII (Advancement of equality of status and use of English and French) and for administrative monetary penalties, we will be limited in our ability to achieve the objectives of the modernized Act. This is in addition to the efforts to bring into force the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, which will extend the Commissioner's investigative powers. The 1,163 admissible complaints filed with the Office of the Commissioner in 2024–2025 show that non-compliance with the Act continues to be an issue and that there is a real need for the Act to be fully implemented. In his annual report, which reflects a year of transition on many levels, the Commissioner has made four recommendations regarding commissions of inquiry, language of work, and language rights and obligations amid budget cuts in the federal public service. Quote "We've made significant progress with the modernization of the Official Languages Act, but the work is far from complete. It's crucial to ensure that we have the means, including strong regulations, to carry out the major societal project of fully implementing the modernized Act, as much for official language minority communities as for federal public servants and the Canadian public." In 2024–2025, the Commissioner of Official Languages received a total of 1,163 admissible complaints under the Official Languages Act. Of that number: 766 concerned communications with and services to the public (Part IV); 255 involved language of work (Part V); 20 were about the participation of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians (Part VI); 33 were related to the advancement of equality of status and use of English and French (Part VII); 71 were about the language requirements of positions (Part XI, section 91); and 18 concerned other parts of the Act (parts I, II, III, VIII and IX). Recommendations made in the 2024–2025 annual report: The Commissioner recommends that by June 30, 2027, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages identify and catalogue the issues faced by temporary commissions of inquiry in relation to non-compliance with the Official Languages Act and that it suggest legislative or other means of improving compliance with their language obligations. In parallel with Recommendation 1, the Commissioner recommends that by June 30, 2026, the Clerk of the Privy Council develop and implement a plan so that whenever a commission of inquiry is established, the Clerk shall: provide the head of the commission and their team with comprehensive information about their official languages obligations, including their duty to serve the public in both official languages at all stages of the commission's work; and work with the head of the commission and their team to identify the exact needs of the commission so that it is fully equipped to meet its official languages obligations, and provide the commission with the resources it needs to operate optimally in both official languages. The Commissioner recommends that by September 30, 2026, the President of the Treasury Board implement a monitoring mechanism for federal institutions to ensure that they take and maintain measures to protect the language rights of employees in designated bilingual regions who are supervised by incumbents of unilingual positions or by incumbents of bilingual positions who do not meet the CBC second-language requirement. The Commissioner recommends that by May 30, 2027, the deputy heads of federal government institutions take the necessary measures to ensure that their institutions' language obligations and their employees' language rights are respected and taken into account during any budget reduction exercises in the federal public service.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tabling of the 2024-2025 annual report: A year of transition for official languages
GATINEAU, QC , June 17, 2025 /CNW/ - Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Raymond Théberge tabled his 2024–2025 annual report in Parliament today. Two years ago, the modernized Official Languages Act gave the Commissioner new powers to help ensure that federal institutions comply with the Act and to help guarantee respect for Canadians' language rights. After working to lay the necessary foundations for the use of these powers in 2023–2024, the Commissioner and his team continued their efforts in 2024–2025 with the launch of a new mediation service and the implementation of the power to enter into compliance agreements, make orders and publish investigation summaries. However, some of the key elements needed to fully implement the modernized Act are still missing. Until strong regulations are in place and the required orders have been made, particularly for Part VII (Advancement of equality of status and use of English and French) and for administrative monetary penalties, we will be limited in our ability to achieve the objectives of the modernized Act. This is in addition to the efforts to bring into force the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, which will extend the Commissioner's investigative powers. The 1,163 admissible complaints filed with the Office of the Commissioner in 2024–2025 show that non-compliance with the Act continues to be an issue and that there is a real need for the Act to be fully implemented. In his annual report, which reflects a year of transition on many levels, the Commissioner has made four recommendations regarding commissions of inquiry, language of work, and language rights and obligations amid budget cuts in the federal public service. Quote "We've made significant progress with the modernization of the Official Languages Act, but the work is far from complete. It's crucial to ensure that we have the means, including strong regulations, to carry out the major societal project of fully implementing the modernized Act, as much for official language minority communities as for federal public servants and the Canadian public." Raymond Théberge, Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Highlights In 2024–2025, the Commissioner of Official Languages received a total of 1,163 admissible complaints under the Official Languages Act. Of that number: 766 concerned communications with and services to the public (Part IV); 255 involved language of work (Part V); 20 were about the participation of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians (Part VI); 33 were related to the advancement of equality of status and use of English and French (Part VII); 71 were about the language requirements of positions (Part XI, section 91); and 18 concerned other parts of the Act (parts I, II, III, VIII and IX). Recommendations made in the 2024–2025 annual report: The Commissioner recommends that by June 30, 2027, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages identify and catalogue the issues faced by temporary commissions of inquiry in relation to non-compliance with the Official Languages Act and that it suggest legislative or other means of improving compliance with their language obligations. In parallel with Recommendation 1, the Commissioner recommends that by June 30, 2026, the Clerk of the Privy Council develop and implement a plan so that whenever a commission of inquiry is established, the Clerk shall: provide the head of the commission and their team with comprehensive information about their official languages obligations, including their duty to serve the public in both official languages at all stages of the commission's work; and work with the head of the commission and their team to identify the exact needs of the commission so that it is fully equipped to meet its official languages obligations, and provide the commission with the resources it needs to operate optimally in both official languages. The Commissioner recommends that by September 30, 2026, the President of the Treasury Board implement a monitoring mechanism for federal institutions to ensure that they take and maintain measures to protect the language rights of employees in designated bilingual regions who are supervised by incumbents of unilingual positions or by incumbents of bilingual positions who do not meet the CBC second-language requirement. The Commissioner recommends that by May 30, 2027, the deputy heads of federal government institutions take the necessary measures to ensure that their institutions' language obligations and their employees' language rights are respected and taken into account during any budget reduction exercises in the federal public service. Related links Annual Report 2024–2025 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube SOURCE Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
27-01-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Report on Commissioner Théberge's interventions before the courts from 2018 to 2025: The importance of building a foundation for language rights
GATINEAU, QC, Jan. 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Raymond Théberge today published his report called Protecting Language Rights: Report on the Commissioner's Interventions Before the Courts (2018–2025). The report highlights 13 interventions in which the Commissioner participated, including two appeals concerning Canada's Official Languages Act that he himself initiated. Also of note are his five interventions before the Supreme Court of Canada to put forth innovative arguments regarding the right to minority‑language education. The document enables readers to fully appreciate the need for the Commissioner to take a position before the courts in order to contribute to the protection of language rights and the advancement of case law in this field. Specifically, Commissioner Théberge has defended fundamental rights such as access to the courts in the language of one's choice, the public's right to receive services and communications in the language of their choice and the right to work in the official language of one's choice in the public service. In this way, the Commissioner has directly contributed to the rich heritage of case law that Canadians can rely on to ensure that their language rights are respected. Significant effort and resources are required to file proceedings or appeal a decision. While the Commissioner's interventions have helped advance the language rights of Canadians, it is important to note that it would be better to prevent violations rather than try to resolve them once the damage has been done. Decision makers must take concrete measures and propose long-lasting solutions to ensure the protection of language rights in Canada. Quote 'The decisions obtained during my interventions before the courts have been favourable to the protection of language rights in Canada. Each decision has helped enrich the case law that is the very foundation Canadians stand on to claim their language rights when it comes to accessing justice, education and even the vitality of official language minority communities. Nevertheless, the progress achieved during my mandate is not immutable. We must all stay vigilant against anything that would erode our language rights.' - Raymond Théberge, Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Highlights Seven cases in which the Commissioner intervened under Canada's Official Languages Act (the Act) 2018 Mazraani v Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc., 2018 SCC 50, in regard to Part III of the Act 2019 Thibodeau v Air Canada, 2019 FC 1102, in regard to Part IV of the Act Thibodeau v Halifax International Airport Authority, 2019 FC 1149, in regard to Part IV of the Act Dionne v Canada (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions), 2019 FC 879, in regard to Part V of the Act 2020 Thibodeau v St. John's International Airport Authority, 2022 FC 563, in regard Part IV of the Act Thibodeau v Greater Toronto Airports Authority, 2024 FC 274, in regard to Part IV of the Act 2022 St. John's International Airport Authority v Thibodeau, 2024 FCA 197, in regard to Part IV of the Act Two cases in which the Commissioner intervened under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 2020 Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique v British Columbia, 2020 SCC 13, in regard to Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 2023 Commission scolaire francophone des Territoires du Nord-Ouest v Northwest Territories (Education, Culture and Employment), 2023 SCC 31, in regard to Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Two cases in which the Commissioner intervened under the Criminal Code 2019 Bessette v British Columbia (Attorney General), 2019 SCC 31, in regard to Section 530 of the Criminal Code and section 133 of the Offence Act, RSBC 1996, c 338 2023 R v Tayo Tompouba, 2024 SCC 16, in regard to Subsection 530(3) of the Criminal Code Two appeals initiated by the Commissioner under the Act 2018 Canada (Commissioner of Official Languages) v Canada (Employment and Social Development), 2022 FCA 14, in regard toParts IV and VII of the Act 2021
