Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 7 minutes ago
French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard released his Annual report on December 7, 2023 and called on Ontario government ministries and agencies to train all frontline staff on how and why they are required to provide services in French. They should also ensure their social media accounts are in French as well as English.
The Commissioner’s report reviews the 386 cases received by the French Language Services Unit within the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. This represents a 40% increase in complaints and inquiries over the same period last year, and is the highest yearly total since the Ombudsman’s Office was given responsibility for monitoring compliance with the French Language Services Act in 2019.
Mr. Bouchard was appointed Commissioner by Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé on Monday, December 4, after serving as Interim Commissioner for the past nine months, and Director of Operations of the French Language Services Unit since February 2020.
The Commissioner makes four recommendations in this report:
• That, within the next 12 months, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs develop and communicate guidelines for all government agencies, third parties and institutions of the Legislature to ensure all social media accounts comply with Regulation 544/22, and provide a copy of these guidelines to the Commissioner.
• That Treasury Board direct every government ministry and agency within its mandate to provide regular training and reminders to all frontline staff where an obligation exists to provide services in French.
• That, as part of the directions, Treasury Board require these government ministries and agencies to attest annually that they are compliant.
• That, within the next 12 months, Treasury Board provide the Commissioner with a copy of the directions, and confirmation of their implementation.
ombudsman.on.ca/resources/reports,-cases-and-submissions/annual-reports/2022-2023-annual-report-of-the-french-language-services-commissioner-of-ontario
NOTE : The original French audio has been voiced over in English by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's interpreter. English subtitles are available.
French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard released his Annual report on December 7, 2023 and called on Ontario government ministries and agencies to train all frontline staff on how and why they are required to provide services in French. They should also ensure their social media accounts are in French as well as English.
The Commissioner’s report reviews the 386 cases received by the French Language Services Unit within the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023. This represents a 40% increase in complaints and inquiries over the same period last year, and is the highest yearly total since the Ombudsman’s Office was given responsibility for monitoring compliance with the French Language Services Act in 2019.
Mr. Bouchard was appointed Commissioner by Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé on Monday, December 4, after serving as Interim Commissioner for the past nine months, and Director of Operations of the French Language Services Unit since February 2020.
The Commissioner makes four recommendations in this report:
• That, within the next 12 months, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs develop and communicate guidelines for all government agencies, third parties and institutions of the Legislature to ensure all social media accounts comply with Regulation 544/22, and provide a copy of these guidelines to the Commissioner.
• That Treasury Board direct every government ministry and agency within its mandate to provide regular training and reminders to all frontline staff where an obligation exists to provide services in French.
• That, as part of the directions, Treasury Board require these government ministries and agencies to attest annually that they are compliant.
• That, within the next 12 months, Treasury Board provide the Commissioner with a copy of the directions, and confirmation of their implementation.
ombudsman.on.ca/resources/reports,-cases-and-submissions/annual-reports/2022-2023-annual-report-of-the-french-language-services-commissioner-of-ontario
NOTE : The original French audio has been voiced over in English by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's interpreter. English subtitles are available.
