Latest news with #Théberge
Ottawa Citizen
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
Five things public servants need to know about new language requirements
For federal public servants, workplace language rights have been a decades long struggle. Article content New language requirements for supervisors in bilingual areas will go into effect on June 20. The changes, which apply to supervisors with positions deemed bilingual, are meant to ensure workers can comfortably use their language of choice with their supervisor. Article content Article content In an interview with the Ottawa Citizen, Official Languages Comissioner Raymond Théberge called the changes 'a very positive move on the part of government to ensure that the language rights of public servants are respected.' Article content Article content He added that the policy has something his predecessors 'have asked for many, many times.' Article content Article content The requirements, Théberge said, will help language rights within the public service, as well as bilingual service delivery. Article content So what are the changes and how will they impact public servants? Here's everything you need to know. Article content For the public service, the language requirements for supervisors in bilingual regions has been BBB, which means intermediate levels in reading, writing and oral conversation. Article content On June 20, those requirements will increase to CBC, meaning proficient levels in reading and oral conversation, with only intermediate levels in writing. Article content Bilingual regions for the federal government include parts of Quebec and Ontario, New Brunswick and the National Capital Region. Article content To limit the operational impact of the changes, the Treasury Board Secretariat said that the new rules will only apply to new appointments. Article content Article content Supervisors that currently do not meet the new language requirements will be grandfathered in won't be mandated to take language training. Article content Article content However, the Treasury Board Secretariat said that if one of these supervisors changes roles they will be required to meet the new language requirements. Article content Supervisors that do not meet the new requirements 'are also encouraged to work towards CBC (or equivalent) proficiency to assist them in their current role and in their career progression,' Rola Salem, a spokesperson for the Treasury Board Secretariat, said in an emailed statement.
Ottawa Citizen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
New language requirements for public service supervisors don't go far enough, says official languages commissioner
Article content New second-language requirements for supervisors do not go far enough to protect the language rights of public servants, a new report from the official language commissioner found. Article content In the report, Official Languages Commissioner Raymond Théberge said that exemptions will limit the success of new language requirements for public service supervisors in bilingual regions. Article content Article content Article content The new Treasury Board requirements will come into effect on June 20 and the rules will require supervisors in those areas to have a CBC in their second-language. A CBC level means having the highest proficiency levels in reading and conversation with an intermediate level in writing. Article content Article content The previous required levels of language of supervisors was BBB — an intermediate proficiency in oral, reading and writing. Article content However, the requirements will only apply to new supervisors, and those already employed in the public service will not have to improve their credentials until they leave their current position. Article content 'I applaud this initiative as a step in the right direction, but I am concerned about what might happen to employees who are supervised by incumbents of unilingual supervisory positions or by incumbents of bilingual positions who do not meet the CBC second-language requirement,' Théberge wrote in the report. Article content Article content Théberge recommended implementing a 'monitoring mechanism' to ensure the language rights of public servants who wish to be supervised in French or English. Article content Article content The monitoring mechanism would ensure the new language requirements are followed in bilingual regions. Article content In another recommendation, Théberge warned of cutting language training in light of budget cuts across the public service. The commissioner recommended that deputy heads take measures to ensure language obligations and rights in any budget reductions. Article content 'Unfortunately, experience has shown all too often that in this type of situation, official languages obligations are seen as superfluous in federal institutions and end up being the subject of budget cuts,' Théberge wrote. Article content Théberge's report also detailed complaints filed by public servants about language in the workplace. Most of these complaints were submitted in the Ontario side of the National Capital Region, with 101 complaints. In contrast, the Quebec parts of the NCR had 40 such complaints. Meanwhile the rest of Quebec had 56 complaints and Ontario had 21.
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
