French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario: 2023-2024 Annual Report

In his 2023-2024 Annual Report, released on December 5, 2024, French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard calls on the Ministry of Francophone Affairs to publish a comprehensive digital directory of services covered by the French Language Services Act (FLSA), so Francophones can easily find and access them.
Commissioner Bouchard’s report summarizes the tangible results achieved by the Office of the Ombudsman and its French Language Services Unit. It presents an increase of 2.3% in the number of cases received compared to last year: 395 cases received between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024. This is the highest annual total since the Ombudsman’s Office was tasked with oversight of the application of the French Language Services Act in 2019.
The report presents 27 examples of cases resolved during the past year, which led to the concrete improvement of French-language services in Ontario.
In case after case, Francophones who came forward with their experiences with English-only government websites, signage or phone systems - or poor or nonexistent frontline service in French - saw concrete results thanks to the Office’s intervention. For example:
• The Ministry of the Attorney General ensured that two municipalities that handle speeding tickets and similar fines on its behalf translated their provincial offences court websites into French and improved related in-person and telephone services in French.
• The Ministry of Colleges and Universities advised all financial aid offices across the province’s postsecondary sector that they must accept Ontario Student Assistance Program applications from students in French.
• The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and the Ontario Autism Program committed to providing services to French-speaking clients in their language.
• The Ministry of the Attorney General and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development committed to significantly improving the French versions of websites, while Ontario Place and Metrolinx committed to creating French social media accounts to match existing English ones.
• Cultural institutions, including the Royal Ontario Museum, Upper Canada Village and the (now-closed) Ontario Science Centre made some of their public-facing services bilingual (such as ticket-vending machines, signage or public announcements).
The Commissioner’s report also provides updates on the French Language Services Unit’s two recent investigations and four previous annual reports, which included 41 recommendations in all. Almost all of the recommendations have been accepted by the government and are being implemented.
www.ombudsman....
NOTE : The original French audio has been voiced over in English by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's interpreter. English subtitles are available.