An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages (S.C. 2023, c. 15)
Full Document:
- HTMLFull Document: An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages (Accessibility Buttons available) |
- PDFFull Document: An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages [795 KB]
Assented to 2023-06-20
An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages
S.C. 2023, c. 15
Assented to 2023-06-20
An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts
RECOMMENDATION
Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts”.
SUMMARY
Part 1 amends the Official Languages Act to, among other things,
(a) specify that all legal obligations related to the official languages apply at all times, including during emergencies;
(b) codify certain interpretative principles regarding language rights;
(c) provide that section 16 of that Act applies to the Supreme Court of Canada;
(d) provide that a final decision, order or judgment of a federal court that has precedential value is to be made available simultaneously in both official languages;
(e) provide for Government of Canada commitments to
(i) protect and promote French,
(ii) estimate the number of children whose parents are rights holders under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
(iii) advance formal, non-formal and informal opportunities for members of English and French linguistic minority communities to pursue quality learning in their own language throughout their lives, including from early childhood to post-secondary education, and
(iv) advance the use of English and French in the conduct of Canada’s external affairs;
(f) clarify the nature of the duty of federal institutions to take positive measures to implement certain Government of Canada commitments and the manner in which the duty is to be carried out;
(g) provide for certain positive measures that federal institutions may take to implement certain Government of Canada commitments, including measures to
(i) promote and support the learning of English and French in Canada, and
(ii) support sectors that are essential to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities and protect and promote the presence of strong institutions serving those communities;
(h) provide for certain measures that the Minister of Canadian Heritage may take to advance the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society;
(i) provide that the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration is required to adopt a policy on francophone immigration and that the policy is to include, among other things, objectives, targets and indicators;
(j) provide that the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of cooperating with provincial and territorial governments;
(k) provide that the Treasury Board is required to establish policies to give effect to certain parts of that Act, monitor and audit federal institutions for their compliance with policies, directives and regulations relating to the official languages, evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and programs of federal institutions relating to the official languages and provide certain information to the public and to employees of federal institutions;
(l) enable the Commissioner of Official Languages to enter into compliance agreements and, in certain cases, to make orders; and
(m) enable the Commissioner of Official Languages to impose administrative monetary penalties on certain entities for non-compliance with certain provisions of Part IV of that Act.
It also makes a related amendment to the Department of Canadian Heritage Act.
Part 2 enacts the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, which, among other things, provides for rights and duties respecting the use of French as a language of service and a language of work in relation to federally regulated private businesses in Quebec and then, at a later date, in regions with a strong francophone presence. That Act also allows employees of federally regulated private businesses to make a complaint to the Commissioner of Official Languages with respect to rights and duties in relation to language of work and allows the Commissioner to refer the complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board in certain circumstances. It also provides that the Minister of Canadian Heritage is responsible for promoting those rights. Finally, Part 2 makes related amendments to the Canada Labour Code.
His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short Title
Marginal note:Short title
1 This Act may be cited as An Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages.
PART 1R.S., c. 31 (4th Supp.)Official Languages Act
Amendments to the Act
2 (1) The fourth paragraph of the preamble to the Official Languages Act is replaced by the following:
AND WHEREAS employees of institutions of the Parliament or government of Canada should have equal opportunities to use the official language of their choice while working together in pursuing the goals of those institutions;
(2) The seventh and eighth paragraphs of the preamble to the Act are replaced by the following:
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing the vitality and supporting the development of English and French linguistic minority communities — taking into account their uniqueness, diversity and historical and cultural contributions to Canadian society — as an integral part of the two official language communities of Canada, and to fostering full recognition and use of English and French in Canadian society;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada is committed to protecting and promoting the French language, recognizing that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada is committed to cooperating with provincial and territorial governments and their institutions to support the development of English and French linguistic minority communities, to provide services in both English and French, to respect the constitutional guarantees of minority language educational rights and to enhance opportunities for all to learn both English and French;
(3) The 10th paragraph of the preamble to the Act is replaced by the following:
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for everyone in Canada to learn a second official language and the contribution of everyone in Canada who speaks both official languages to a mutual appreciation between the two official language communities of Canada;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of supporting sectors that are essential to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities and protecting and promoting the presence of strong institutions serving those communities;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation contributes through its activities to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities and to the protection and promotion of both official languages;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of remedying the decline in the demographic weight of French linguistic minority communities, including by restoring and increasing their demographic weight;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of francophone immigration in enhancing the vitality of French linguistic minority communities, including by restoring and increasing their demographic weight;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the French language to trade and economic activity and the contribution of francophone immigration to the economy;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of including a francophone perspective in funding programs;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the presence of English or French linguistic minority communities in each province and territory;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the diversity of the provincial and territorial language regimes that contribute to the advancement of the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society, including that
the Constitution of Canada provides every person with the right to use English or French in the debates of the Houses of the Legislature of Quebec and those of the Legislature of Manitoba and the right to use English or French in any pleading or process in or from the courts of those provinces,
Quebec’s Charter of the French language provides that French is the official language of Quebec,
the Constitution of Canada provides that English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick, and
the Constitution of Canada provides that the English linguistic community and the French linguistic community in New Brunswick have equality of status and equal rights and privileges;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes that each province and territory has adopted laws, policies or programs guaranteeing service in French or recognizing the contribution of the English or French linguistic minority community to Canadian society;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of maintaining and enhancing the use of languages other than English and French and reclaiming, revitalizing and strengthening Indigenous languages while strengthening the status and use of the official languages;
AND WHEREAS all legal obligations related to the official languages apply at all times, including during emergencies;
3 Paragraph 2(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(b) support the development of English and French linguistic minority communities in order to protect them while taking into account the fact that they have different needs;
(b.1) advance the equality of status and use of the English and French languages within Canadian society, taking into account the fact that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English and that there is a diversity of provincial and territorial language regimes that contribute to the advancement, including Quebec’s Charter of the French language, which provides that French is the official language of Quebec;
(b.2) advance the existence of a majority-French society in a Quebec where the future of French is assured; and
4 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 2:
Government-wide Coordination
Marginal note:President of the Treasury Board
2.1 (1) The President of the Treasury Board is responsible for exercising leadership within the Government of Canada in relation to the implementation of this Act.
Marginal note:Coordination
(2) The President of the Treasury Board shall, in consultation with the other ministers of the Crown, coordinate the implementation of this Act, including the implementation of the commitments set out in subsections 41(1) to (3), and ensure good governance of this Act.
Marginal note:Government-wide strategy on official languages
2.2 (1) The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall, in consultation with the President of the Treasury Board, develop and maintain a government-wide strategy that sets out the overall official languages priorities.
Marginal note:Cooperation
(1.1) For greater certainty, the Minister of Canadian Heritage shall perform the duty under subsection (1) in cooperation with the other ministers of the Crown.
Marginal note:Tabling in Parliament
(2) That Minister shall cause the strategy to be tabled in each House of Parliament within the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the strategy has been developed, and periodically after that.
Marginal note:Accessible to public
(3) That Minister shall make the strategy accessible to the public through the Internet or by any other means that that Minister considers appropriate.
Marginal note:Process — implementation of commitment under subsection 41(4)
2.3 The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall establish a process for the Government of Canada to implement its commitment under subsection 41(4).
5 The heading before section 3 of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Définitions et interprétation
6 (1) The definition commissaire in subsection 3(1) of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:
- Commissioner
commissaire Le commissaire aux langues officielles du Canada nommé au titre de l’article 49. (Commissioner)
(2) Subsection 3(1) of the Act is amended by adding the following in alphabetical order:
- business day
business day means a day other than
(a) a Saturday;
(b) a Sunday or other holiday; and
(c) a day that falls during the seasonal recess, as defined in section 2 of the Federal Courts Rules; (jour ouvrable)
- communication
communication means any form of communication, including oral, written, electronic, virtual or other communications; (communication)
- publication
publication means any form of publication, regardless of the medium, including printed, electronic, virtual or other publications; (publication)
- restoration
restoration means, in relation to the demographic weight of French linguistic minority communities, a return of the demographic weight of all members of those communities whose first official language spoken is French to the level it had at the time of the census of population of Canada taken by Statistics Canada in 1971, namely, 6.1% of the population outside Quebec; (rétablissement)
- service
service means any form of service provided or made available, including oral, written, electronic, virtual or other services. (service)
7 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 3:
Marginal note:Language rights
3.1 For the purposes of this Act,
(a) language rights are to be given a large, liberal and purposive interpretation;
(b) language rights are to be interpreted in light of their remedial character;
(c) the norm for the interpretation of language rights is substantive equality; and
(d) language rights are to be interpreted by taking into account that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English and that the English linguistic minority community in Quebec and the French linguistic minority communities in the other provinces and territories have different needs.
8 (1) Subsection 7(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Legislative instruments
7 (1) An instrument shall be made in both official languages and, if printed and published, shall be printed and published in both official languages, if it is made in the execution of a legislative power conferred by or under an Act of Parliament and
(a) is made by, or with the approval of, the Governor in Council or one or more ministers of the Crown;
(b) is required by or under an Act of Parliament to be published in the Canada Gazette; or
(c) is of a public and general nature.
(2) The portion of subsection 7(3) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Exceptions
(3) Subsection (1) does not, by reason only that the ordinance, by-law, law or other instrument is of a public and general nature, apply to
(3) The portion of subsection 7(3) of the English version of the Act after paragraph (b) is repealed.
9 (1) Subsection 10(1) of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Traités
10 (1) Le gouvernement fédéral prend toutes les mesures possibles pour veiller à ce que les traités et conventions intervenus entre le Canada et tout autre État soient authentifiés dans les deux langues officielles.
(2) The portion of subsection 10(2) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Federal-provincial-territorial agreements
(2) The Government of Canada has the duty to ensure that the following classes of agreements between Canada and one or more provinces or territories are made in both official languages and that both versions are equally authoritative:
(3) Paragraphs 10(2)(b) and (c) of the Act are replaced by the following:
(b) agreements entered into with one or more provinces or territories if English and French are declared to be the official languages of any of those provinces or territories or if any of them requests that the agreement be made in English and French; and
(c) agreements entered into with two or more provinces or territories if their governments do not use the same official language.
(4) The portion of subsection 10(3) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Regulations
(3) The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing the circumstances in which any class, specified in the regulations, of agreements that are made between Canada and one or more other states or between Canada and one or more provinces or territories
10 Subsection 11(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Notices, advertisements and other published matters
11 (1) A notice, advertisement or other matter that is required or authorized by or under an Act of Parliament to be published by or under the authority of a federal institution primarily for the information of members of the public shall,
(a) wherever possible, appear in publications in general circulation within each region where the matter applies, with the English version appearing in at least one publication that is mainly in English and the French version appearing in at least one publication that is mainly in French or those two versions appearing in at least one publication that appears equally in English and French; and
(b) if there is no publication in general circulation within a region where the matter applies that is mainly in English or mainly in French and no publication in general circulation within that region that appears equally in English and French, appear in both official languages in at least one publication in general circulation within that region.
Marginal note:Publications in electronic form
(1.1) For greater certainty, a publication referred to in subsection (1) includes a publication in an electronic form.
10.1 Section 14 of the Act becomes subsection 14(1) and is amended by adding the following after that subsection:
Marginal note:Appearing in official language of choice
(2) The choice of either official language by a person appearing before a federal court shall not be prejudicial to that person.
11 (1) The portion of subsection 16(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Duty to ensure understanding without interpreter
16 (1) Every federal court has the duty to ensure that
(2) Subsection 16(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Appointments
(3) The Government of Canada must, when making appointments to the federal courts, ensure that federal courts are able to meet their duty under subsection (1).
Marginal note:Equal access to justice in both official languages
16.1 The Government of Canada must take into account the importance of equal access to justice in both official languages when appointing judges to superior courts.
Marginal note:Application for appointment
16.2 (1) A person who submits an application for appointment as a judge of a superior court shall indicate their skill level in both official languages.
Marginal note:Evaluation
(2) The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs shall evaluate, in respect of every candidate who indicated that they have skills in both official languages, the candidate’s ability to speak and understand clearly both official languages.
Marginal note:Language training
16.3 The Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs shall provide the necessary language training to the judges of the superior courts.
12 (1) Subsection 20(1) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of paragraph (a) and by adding the following after that paragraph:
(a.1) the decision, order or judgment has precedential value; or
(2) Subsection 20(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Decisions, orders and judgments available in both official languages at different times
(2) A decision, order or judgment issued by a federal court, including any reasons given for it, shall be issued first in one of the official languages and then, at the earliest possible time, in the other official language, with each version to be effective from the time the first version is effective, if
(a) it is a final decision, order or judgment that is not required under subsection (1) to be made available simultaneously in both official languages; or
(b) the decision, order or judgment is required to be made available simultaneously in both official languages under paragraph (1)(a) or (a.1) but the court is of the opinion that to make the decision, order or judgment, including any reasons given for it, available simultaneously in both official languages would occasion a delay prejudicial to the public interest or resulting in injustice or hardship to any party to the proceedings leading to its issuance.
12.1 Subsection 23(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Travelling public
23 (1) For greater certainty, in addition to the duty set out in section 22, every federal institution that provides services or makes them available to the travelling public has the duty to ensure that any member of the travelling public can communicate with and obtain those services in either official language from any office or facility of the institution in Canada or elsewhere where there is significant demand for those services in that language.
12.2 Section 25 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 25(1) and is amended by adding the following:
Marginal note:Presumption
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the other person or organization is presumed to provide or make available services on behalf of the federal institution if
(a) the federal institution exercises sufficient control over the other person or organization; or
(b) the other person or organization implements a program or legislative regime for which the federal institution is responsible.
Marginal note:For greater certainty
(3) For greater certainty, a mere financial contribution by the Government of Canada to another person or organization is not sufficient to trigger the application of subsection (1).
13 Section 33 of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Règlements
33 Le gouverneur en conseil peut, par règlement, prendre les mesures d’incitation qu’il estime nécessaires pour favoriser activement les communications avec les institutions fédérales — autres que le Sénat, la Chambre des communes, la bibliothèque du Parlement, le bureau du conseiller sénatorial en éthique, le bureau du commissaire aux conflits d’intérêts et à l’éthique, le Service de protection parlementaire ou le bureau du directeur parlementaire du budget — et la prestation par elles de services dans les deux langues officielles, si elles sont tenues de pourvoir ces communications et services dans ces deux langues au titre de la présente partie.
14 Section 34 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Definition of employee
33.1 In this Part, employee includes an employee who represents the employer, a person who performs for an employer activities whose primary purpose is to enable the person to acquire knowledge or experience and a person who has been placed by a temporary help agency.
Marginal note:Rights relating to language of work
34 (1) English and French are the languages of work in all federal institutions, and employees of all federal institutions have the right to use either official language in accordance with this Part.
Marginal note:Deputy ministers and associate deputy ministers
(2) A person appointed by the Governor in Council to the position of deputy minister or associate deputy minister or a position of an equivalent rank in a department named in Schedule I to the Financial Administration Act shall, on their appointment, take the language training that is necessary to be able to speak and understand clearly both official languages.
15 Paragraph 35(1)(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(a) within the National Capital Region and in any part or region of Canada, or in any place outside Canada, that is prescribed, work environments of the institution are conducive to the effective use of both official languages and accommodate the use of either official language by its employees; and
16 (1) Paragraph 36(1)(a) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(a) make available in both official languages to employees of the institution
(i) services that are provided to employees, including services that are provided to them as individuals and services that are centrally provided by the institution to support them in the performance of their duties, and
(ii) regularly and widely used documentation or other work instruments produced by or on behalf of that or any other federal institution;
(2) Paragraph 36(1)(b) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
(b) ensure that regularly and widely used computer systems acquired or produced by the institution on or after January 1, 1991 can be used in either official language; and
(3) Paragraph 36(1)(c) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(c) ensure that, if it is appropriate in order to create a work environment that is conducive to the effective use of both official languages, managers and supervisors are able to communicate in both official languages with employees of the institution in carrying out their managerial or supervisory responsibilities; and
(d) ensure that any management group that is responsible for the general direction of the institution as a whole has the capacity to function in both official languages.
(3.1) Paragraph 36(1)(c) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(c) ensure that, if it is appropriate in order to create a work environment that is conducive to the effective use of both official languages,
(i) managers and supervisors are able to communicate in both official languages with employees of the institution in carrying out their managerial or supervisory responsibilities, and
(ii) employees are supervised by their managers and supervisors in the official language of their choice, regardless of the linguistic identification of their position; and
(4) Subsection 36(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Additional duties
(2) Every federal institution has the duty to ensure that, within the National Capital Region and in any part or region of Canada, or in any place outside Canada, that is prescribed for the purpose of paragraph 35(1)(a), the measures that can reasonably be taken are taken in addition to those required under subsection (1) to establish and maintain work environments of the institution that are conducive to the effective use of both official languages and accommodate the use of either official language by its employees.
(5) Section 36 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):
Marginal note:Acquired rights
(3) Nothing in subparagraph (1)(c)(ii) abrogates or derogates from the right of a person to hold a position or carry out managerial or supervisory responsibilities in a federal institution if they held that position or carried out those responsibilities in the institution immediately before the coming into force of that subparagraph.
17 Section 37 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Special duties
37 Every federal institution that has authority to direct, or provides services to, other federal institutions has the duty to ensure that it exercises its powers and carries out its duties in relation to those other institutions in a manner that accommodates the use of either official language by employees of those institutions.
18 (1) Paragraphs 38(1)(a) and (b) of the Act are replaced by the following:
(a) prescribing, in respect of any part or region of Canada or any place outside Canada,
(i) any services, documentation or other work instruments that those institutions are to make available to their employees in both official languages,
(ii) any computer systems that must be available for use in both official languages, and
(iii) any supervisory or managerial responsibilities that are to be carried out by those institutions in both official languages;
(b) prescribing any other measures that are to be taken, within the National Capital Region and in any part or region of Canada, or in any place outside Canada, that is prescribed for the purpose of paragraph 35(1)(a), to establish and maintain work environments of those institutions that are conducive to the effective use of both official languages and accommodate the use of either official language by their employees;
(2) Subparagraph 38(2)(a)(i) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(i) the number and proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking employees who constitute the work force of federal institutions based in the parts, regions or places prescribed,
19 Subsection 39(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Employment opportunities
(2) In carrying out the commitment of the Government of Canada under subsection (1), federal institutions shall ensure that employment opportunities are open to both English-speaking Canadians and French-speaking Canadians, taking into account the purposes and provisions of this Act.
20 Section 40 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Regulations
40 The Governor in Council may make regulations for the purposes of this Part.
21 The heading of Part VII and sections 41 and 42 of the Act are replaced by the following:
Advancement of Equality of Status and Use of English and French
Marginal note:Commitment — enhancing vitality of communities and fostering English and French
41 (1) The Government of Canada is committed to
(a) enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development, taking into account their uniqueness, diversity and historical and cultural contributions to Canadian society; and
(b) fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
Marginal note:Commitment — protection and promotion of French
(2) The Government of Canada, recognizing and taking into account that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English, is committed to protecting and promoting the French language.
Marginal note:Commitment — learning in minority language
(3) The Government of Canada is committed to advancing formal, non-formal and informal opportunities for members of English and French linguistic minority communities to pursue quality learning in their own language throughout their lives, including from early childhood to post-secondary education.
Marginal note:Commitment — section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
(4) The Government of Canada shall estimate periodically, using the necessary tools, the number of children whose parents have, under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the right to have their children receive their instruction in the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of a province or territory, including the right to have them receive that instruction in minority language educational facilities.
Marginal note:Duty of federal institutions — positive measures
(5) Every federal institution has the duty to ensure that the commitments under subsections (1) to (3) are implemented by the taking of positive measures.
Marginal note:Positive measures
(6) Positive measures taken under subsection (5)
(a) shall be concrete and taken with the intention of having a beneficial effect on the implementation of the commitments under subsections (1) to (3);
(b) shall respect
(i) the necessity of protecting and promoting the French language in each province and territory, taking into account that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English, and
(ii) the necessity of considering the specific needs of each of the two official language communities of Canada, taking into account the equal importance of the two communities; and
(c) may include measures, among others, to
(i) promote and support the learning of English and French in Canada,
(ii) foster an acceptance and appreciation of both English and French by members of the public,
(iii) induce and assist organizations and institutions to project and promote the bilingual character of Canada in their activities in Canada or elsewhere,
(iii.1) restore and increase the demographic weight of French linguistic minority communities,
(iv) support the creation and dissemination of information in French that contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge in any discipline, and
(v) support sectors that are essential to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities, including the culture, education — from early childhood to post-secondary education — health, justice, employment and immigration sectors, and protect and promote the presence of strong institutions serving those communities.
Marginal note:Potential to take positive measures and negative impacts
(7) In carrying out its mandate, every federal institution shall, on the basis of analyses,
(a) consider whether positive measures could potentially be taken under subsection (5);
(a.1) subject to the regulations, take the necessary measures to promote, when negotiating agreements with the provincial and territorial governments, including funding agreements, that may contribute to the implementation of the commitments under subsections (1) to (3), the inclusion in those agreements of provisions establishing the parties’ duties under the agreements respecting official languages; and
(b) consider the possibilities for avoiding, or at least mitigating, the direct negative impacts that its structuring decisions may have on the commitments under subsections (1) to (3).
Marginal note:Dialogue and consultation activities, research and evidence-based findings
(8) The analyses referred to in subsection (7) shall be founded, to the extent possible, on the results of dialogue and consultation activities, on research and on evidence-based findings.
Marginal note:Objective of dialogue and consultation activities
(9) The objective of the dialogue and consultation activities carried out for the purposes of subsection (8) is to permit the priorities of the English and French linguistic minority communities and other stakeholders to be taken into account, including in relation to the duty under paragraph (7)(a.1).
Marginal note:Dialogue and consultation activities
(9.1) In carrying out this objective, every federal institution shall
(a) gather relevant information;
(b) seek the opinions of English and French linguistic minority communities and other stakeholders about the positive measures that are the subject of the consultations;
(c) provide the participants with relevant information on which those positive measures are based;
(d) openly and meaningfully consider their opinions; and
(e) be prepared to alter those positive measures.
Marginal note:Evaluation and monitoring mechanisms
(10) Every federal institution shall establish evaluation and monitoring mechanisms in relation to the positive measures taken under subsection (5) and in relation to the duty under paragraph (7)(a.1). For greater certainty, these mechanisms shall take into account the obligations set out in subsections 41(7) to (9) and the provisions with respect to dialogue and consultation activities.
Marginal note:Publication
(10.1) Subject to subsections (10.2) and (10.3) and the regulations, every federal institution that is a party to an agreement referred to in paragraph (7)(a.1) that includes provisions referred to in that paragraph shall cause the agreement to be published on the Internet or by any other means the institution considers appropriate.
Marginal note:Publication not required
(10.2) The federal institution is not required to cause the agreement to be published, in whole or in part, in the case where, if Part 1 of the Access to Information Act applied to the institution and in dealing with a request for access to the agreement, the institution could under that Part refuse to disclose the agreement, in whole or in part, for a reason that is set out in that Part.
Marginal note:Publication not permitted
(10.3) The federal institution shall not cause the agreement to be published, in whole or in part, in the case where, if Part 1 of the Access to Information Act applied to the institution and in dealing with a request for access to the agreement, the institution would be required under that Part to refuse to disclose the agreement, in whole or in part, for a reason that is set out in that Part or because that Part does not apply to the agreement.
Marginal note:Regulations
(10.4) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board made after consultation with the Minister of Canadian Heritage, make regulations in respect of the duties of federal institutions — other than the Senate, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, office of the Senate Ethics Officer, office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Parliamentary Protective Service or office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer — under paragraph (7)(a.1) and subsection (10.1), including regulations
(a) prescribing the manner in which those duties are to be carried out and reported on; and
(b) respecting the content of the provisions referred to in paragraph (7)(a.1).
Marginal note:Regulations
(11) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Treasury Board made after consultation with the Minister of Canadian Heritage, make regulations in respect of federal institutions, other than the Senate, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, office of the Senate Ethics Officer, office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Parliamentary Protective Service or office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, prescribing the manner in which any duties of those institutions under this Part are to be carried out.
Marginal note:For greater certainty
(12) For greater certainty, the express powers, duties and functions of certain ministers of the Crown provided for in this Part do not limit the duties of federal institutions under this Part.
Marginal note:Disposal strategy — considerations
41.1 (1) In developing a disposal strategy for a surplus federal real property or a federal immovable, every department and supporting federal institution shall take into account the needs and priorities of the English or French linguistic minority communities of the province or territory where the federal real property or federal immovable is located.
Marginal note:Consultations
(2) In taking into account the needs and priorities under subsection (1), departments shall consult English or French linguistic minority communities and other stakeholders, including school boards or commissions.
Marginal note:Commitment — bilingualism and promoting French abroad
42 (1) The Government of Canada is committed to advancing the use of English and French in the conduct of Canada’s external affairs and to promoting French as part of Canada’s diplomatic relations.
Marginal note:Implementation
(2) The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall implement the commitment under subsection (1).
Marginal note:Recognition — Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
42.1 The Government of Canada recognizes that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, in carrying out its purposes under the Broadcasting Act in accordance with the licences issued to it under that Act by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and subject to any applicable regulations of that Commission, contributes through its activities to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and to the protection and promotion of both official languages. This recognition is made while respecting the freedom of expression and the journalistic, creative and programming independence enjoyed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
22 (1) The portion of subsection 43(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Special mandate of Minister of Canadian Heritage
43 (1) The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall advance the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society, and to that end may take measures to
(1.1) Paragraphs 43(1)(b) to (g) of the Act are replaced by the following:
(b) support the development and promotion of francophone culture in Canada, including through the activities of entities for which that Minister is responsible and by ensuring that the Government of Canada’s cultural policies are consistent with the purpose of this Act;
(c) provide funding to an organization, independent of the Government of Canada, responsible for administering a program whose purpose is to provide funding for test cases of national significance to be brought before the courts to clarify and assert constitutional and quasi-constitutional official language rights;
(d) encourage and assist provincial and territorial governments to support the development of English and French linguistic minority communities generally and, in particular, to offer provincial, territorial and municipal services in both English and French and to provide opportunities for members of English or French linguistic minority communities to be educated in their own language;
(e) encourage and assist provincial and territorial governments and non-profit organizations to provide opportunities for everyone in Canada to learn both English and French and to foster an acceptance and appreciation of both English and French by members of the public;
(f) induce the business community, labour organizations, non-profit organizations and other organizations or institutions to provide services in both English and French and to foster the recognition and use of those languages;
(g) implement programs in support of official languages; and
(2) Subsection 43(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Consultation and information to public
(2) The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall take such measures as that Minister considers appropriate to ensure public consultation in the development of policies and review of programs relating to the achievement of the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society and shall provide information to the public relating to those policies and programs.
23 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 44:
Marginal note:Policy on francophone immigration
44.1 (1) The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration shall adopt a policy on francophone immigration to enhance the vitality of French linguistic minority communities in Canada, including by restoring and increasing their demographic weight.
Marginal note:Contents
(2) The policy shall include, among other things,
(a) objectives, targets and indicators;
(a.1) mechanisms for information sharing and for reporting;
(b) a statement that the Government of Canada recognizes that immigration is one of the factors that contributes to maintaining or increasing the demographic weight of French linguistic minority communities in Canada; and
(c) a statement that the Government of Canada recognizes the importance of francophone immigration to economic development.
24 Section 45 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Consultation and negotiation — provinces and territories
45 Any minister of the Crown designated by the Governor in Council may consult and may negotiate agreements with the provincial and territorial governments to ensure, to the greatest practical extent but subject to Part IV, that the provision of federal, provincial, territorial, municipal and education services in both official languages is coordinated and that regard is had to the needs of the recipients of those services.
Marginal note:Cooperation — provinces and territories
45.1 (1) The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of cooperating with provincial and territorial governments in the implementation of this Part, taking into account the diversity of the provincial and territorial language regimes that contribute to the advancement of the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society, including that
(a) the Constitution of Canada provides every person with the right to use English or French in the debates of the Houses of the Legislature of Quebec and those of the Legislature of Manitoba and the right to use English or French in any pleading or process in or from the courts of those provinces;
(b) Quebec’s Charter of the French language provides that French is the official language of Quebec;
(c) the Constitution of Canada provides that English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick; and
(d) the Constitution of Canada provides that the English linguistic community and the French linguistic community in New Brunswick have equality of status and equal rights and privileges.
Marginal note:For greater certainty
(2) For greater certainty, the implementation of this Part shall be carried out while respecting the jurisdiction and powers of the provinces and territories.
25 (1) Subsection 46(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Responsibilities of Treasury Board
46 (1) The Treasury Board has responsibility for the general direction and coordination of the policies and programs of the Government of Canada relating to the implementation of Parts IV, V and VI, subsection 41(5) and paragraph 41(7)(a.1) in all federal institutions other than the Senate, House of Commons, Library of Parliament, office of the Senate Ethics Officer, office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Parliamentary Protective Service and office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
(2) Paragraph 46(2)(a) of the Act is repealed.
(3) Paragraphs 46(2)(c) to (g) of the Act are repealed.
(4) Section 46 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):
Marginal note:Duties of Treasury Board
(3) In carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (1), the Treasury Board shall
(a) establish policies, recommend policies to the Governor in Council or issue directives to give effect to Parts IV, V and VI;
(b) in consultation with the Minister of Canadian Heritage, establish policies, recommend policies to the Governor in Council or issue directives to give effect to subsection 41(5) and paragraph 41(7)(a.1);
(c) monitor and audit federal institutions in respect of which it has responsibility for their compliance with policies, directives and regulations of the Treasury Board or the Governor in Council relating to the official languages of Canada;
(d) evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of policies and programs of federal institutions relating to the official languages of Canada;
(e) provide information to the public and to employees of federal institutions relating to the policies, directives and programs that give effect to Parts IV, V and VI; and
(f) provide information to employees of federal institutions relating to the policies, directives and programs that give effect to subsection 41(5) and paragraph 41(7)(a.1).
26 Sections 47 and 48 of the Act are replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Audit reports to Commissioner
47 The Chief Human Resources Officer appointed under subsection 6(2.1) of the Financial Administration Act shall provide the Commissioner with any audit reports that are prepared under paragraph 46(3)(c).
Marginal note:Annual report to Parliament
48 The President of the Treasury Board shall, within such time as is reasonably practicable after the termination of each financial year, submit an annual report to Parliament on the exercise of the Treasury Board’s powers and the performance of its duties and functions conferred under this Act and the status of programs relating to the official languages of Canada in the various federal institutions in respect of which it has responsibility under section 46.
27 Section 51 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Staff
51 The employees that are necessary for the proper conduct of the work of the office of the Commissioner shall be appointed in the manner authorized by law.
28 Section 53 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Public Service Superannuation Act
53 The Commissioner and the employees of the office of the Commissioner appointed under section 51 shall be deemed to be persons employed in the public service for the purposes of the Public Service Superannuation Act.
29 Section 57 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Review of regulations, policies and directives
57 The Commissioner may initiate a review of any regulations, policies or directives made under this Act, and any other regulations, policies or directives that affect or may affect the status or use of the official languages, and may refer to and comment on any findings on the review in a report made to Parliament under section 66 or 67.
30 The heading before section 58 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Investigations, Compliance Agreements and Orders
31 (1) Subsection 58(2) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Who may make complaint
(2) A complaint may be made to the Commissioner by any person or group of persons, regardless of the official language that they speak.
(2) Subsection 58(4) of the Act is amended by striking out “or” at the end of paragraph (b) and by adding the following after paragraph (c):
(d) the complaint was not made within a reasonable time after the subject-matter of the complaint arose;
(e) the subject-matter of the complaint has already been the subject of a report by the Commissioner under subsection 63(1);
(f) the federal institution concerned has taken corrective measures to resolve the complaint; or
(g) the Commissioner has entered into a compliance agreement under subsection 64.1(1) in respect of the subject-matter of the complaint.
32 Subsection 61(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Receiving and obtaining information
(2) The Commissioner may direct that information relating to any investigation under this Act be received or obtained, in whole or in part, by any employee of the office of the Commissioner appointed under section 51 and that employee shall, subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Commissioner may specify, have all the powers and duties of the Commissioner under this Act in relation to the receiving or obtaining of that information.
33 (1) Section 62 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):
Marginal note:Alternative dispute resolution
(1.1) The Commissioner may, at any time in the course of an investigation, attempt to resolve a complaint by means of a process of alternative dispute resolution, other than arbitration.
(2) The portion of subsection 62(2) of the English version of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Report — threats, intimidation, discrimination or obstruction
(2) The Commissioner may provide a report with reasons to the President of the Treasury Board and the deputy head or other administrative head of any federal institution concerned if the Commissioner believes on reasonable grounds that
(3) Paragraph 62(2)(b) of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:
b) que son action, ou celle d’une personne agissant en son nom ou sous son autorité dans l’exercice des attributions du commissaire, a été entravée.
(4) The portion of subsection 62(2) of the English version of the Act after paragraph (b) is repealed.
34 Paragraph 63(1)(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(b) any Act or regulations, or any policy or directive of the Governor in Council or the Treasury Board, should be reconsidered or any practice that leads or is likely to lead to a contravention of this Act should be altered or discontinued, or
35 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 63:
Marginal note:Publication
63.1 (1) After carrying out an investigation under this Act, the Commissioner may make any of the following information public:
(a) a summary of the investigation;
(b) the findings of the investigation;
(c) any recommendations made by the Commissioner under subsection 63(3).
Marginal note:Identifying information
(2) The Commissioner shall ensure that the information made public under subsection (1) is not in a form that could reasonably be expected to identify the complainant or any individual.
Marginal note:Notice
(3) Before making the information public, the Commissioner shall give to the deputy head or other administrative head of any federal institution concerned at least 30 business days’ notice of the Commissioner’s intention to make it public.
36 (1) The Act is amended by adding the following after section 64:
Marginal note:Compliance agreement
64.1 (1) If, at any time during the course of or after carrying out an investigation, the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a federal institution has contravened this Act, the Commissioner may enter into a compliance agreement with that federal institution aimed at ensuring compliance with this Act.
Marginal note:Other party
(2) The complainant may, at the invitation of the Commissioner, be made a party to the compliance agreement.
Marginal note:Terms
(3) A compliance agreement may contain any terms that the Commissioner considers necessary to ensure compliance with this Act.
Marginal note:Effect of compliance agreement — Commissioner
64.2 (1) Once a compliance agreement is entered into, the Commissioner
(a) is not permitted to make an order under subsection 64.5(1) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement;
(b) is not permitted to make an application under paragraph 78(1)(a) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement; and
(c) shall apply to the Federal Court for the suspension of any pending applications that the Commissioner made under paragraph 78(1)(a) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement.
Marginal note:Effect of compliance agreement — complainant
(2) The complainant, if they are a party to the compliance agreement entered into,
(a) is not permitted to make an application under subsection 77(1) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement; and
(b) shall apply to the Federal Court for the suspension of any pending applications that they made under subsection 77(1) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement.
Marginal note:Compliance agreement complied with
64.3 If the Commissioner is of the opinion that a federal institution has complied with a compliance agreement,
(a) the Commissioner shall provide written notice to that effect to the federal institution and, if the complainant is a party to the agreement, to the complainant;
(b) the Commissioner shall withdraw any applications that the Commissioner made under paragraph 78(1)(a) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement; and
(c) the complainant, if they are a party to the agreement, shall withdraw any applications that they made under subsection 77(1) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement.
Marginal note:Compliance agreement not complied with
64.4 (1) If the Commissioner is of the opinion that a federal institution has not complied with a compliance agreement, the Commissioner shall provide written notice to that effect to the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution and to the complainant, if they are a party to the agreement, and may apply to the Federal Court
(a) for an order requiring the federal institution to comply with the agreement, in addition to any other remedies that the Federal Court may give; or
(b) for a remedy in accordance with paragraph 78(1)(a) or for the reinstatement of proceedings that have been suspended as a result of any application made under paragraph 64.2(1)(c).
Marginal note:Parties to proceedings
(2) A federal institution whose deputy head or other administrative head receives a notice under subsection (1), and a complainant who receives a notice under that subsection, have the right to appear as parties to the proceedings.
Marginal note:Complainant
(3) On receipt of the notice, the complainant may apply to the Federal Court for a remedy in accordance with subsection 77(1) or for the reinstatement of proceedings that have been suspended as a result of an application made under paragraph 64.2(2)(b).
Marginal note:Time for application
(4) Despite subsection 77(2) and paragraph 78(1)(a) but subject to subsection 77(3), the application shall be made within one year after the date of the notice or within any longer period that the Federal Court may, either before or after the expiry of that year, allow.
Marginal note:Commissioner’s order
64.5 (1) If, after carrying out an investigation of a complaint, the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a federal institution has contravened a duty — or violated a right — under Part IV or V and has made recommendations under subsection 63(3) in respect of that contravention or violation, or in respect of an identical contravention of that duty or violation of that right by the institution, the Commissioner may make an order directing that institution to take any action that the Commissioner considers appropriate to rectify the contravention or violation.
Marginal note:Limitation
(2) However, the Commissioner is not permitted to make an order in respect of the subject-matter of a complaint unless, before making the order, the Commissioner invited the federal institution to enter into a compliance agreement under subsection 64.1(1) in respect of that subject-matter.
Marginal note:Preconditions to order
(3) Before making an order under subsection (1), the Commissioner shall provide to the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution concerned a notice that sets out
(a) the order that the Commissioner intends to make; and
(b) a statement that within 20 days after the day on which the deputy head or other administrative head receives the notice, that deputy head or other administrative head shall notify the Commissioner
(i) of the action taken or proposed to be taken by the federal institution to implement the proposed order or the recommendations made under subsection 63(3), or the reasons why no such action has been or is proposed to be taken, or
(ii) whether the federal institution wishes to enter into a compliance agreement under subsection 64.1(1).
Marginal note:Condition
(4) The order may include any condition that the Commissioner considers appropriate.
Marginal note:Notice of order
(5) The Commissioner shall provide to the complainant and to the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution a notice that sets out
(a) any order that the Commissioner makes;
(b) a statement that the complainant and the federal institution each have the right to apply for a review under section 78.1, within the period specified for exercising that right, and that they must comply with section 78.5 if they exercise that right; and
(c) a statement that if neither the complainant nor the federal institution applies for a review within the period specified for doing so, any order set out in the notice takes effect in accordance with subsection (6).
Marginal note:Effect
(6) The order takes effect on the 31st business day after the day on which the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution receives the notice.
Marginal note:Deemed date of receipt
(7) For the purpose of this section, the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution is deemed to have received a notice on the fifth business day after the date of the notice.
Marginal note:Filing of order
64.6 (1) If the Commissioner is of the opinion that a federal institution has not complied with the terms of an order made under subsection 64.5(1), the Commissioner may file in the Federal Court a copy of the order certified by the Commissioner to be a true copy.
Marginal note:Effect of filing
(2) On the certified copy being filed, the decision becomes and may be enforced as an order of the Federal Court.
(2) Subsection 64.2(1) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (a):
(a.1) is not permitted to issue a notice of violation under subsection 65.6(1) in respect of any matter covered under the agreement;
(3) Subsection 64.5(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Commissioner’s order
64.5 (1) If, after carrying out an investigation of a complaint, the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a federal institution has contravened a duty — or violated a right — under Part IV or V or subsection 41(7) or (10) and has made recommendations under subsection 63(3) in respect of that contravention or violation, or in respect of an identical contravention of that duty or violation of that right by the institution, the Commissioner may make an order directing that institution to take any action that the Commissioner considers appropriate to rectify the contravention or violation.
(4) Section 64.5 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):
Marginal note:Limitation
(2.1) Despite subsection (1), the Commissioner is not permitted to make an order under that subsection in respect of a contravention of a duty under subsection 41(7) or (10) requiring the federal institution to take a positive measure under subsection 41(5) or to include in any agreement referred to in paragraph 41(7)(a.1) provisions establishing the parties’ duties under the agreement respecting the official languages.
37 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 65:
Administrative Monetary Penalties
Marginal note:Definitions
65.1 The following definitions apply in sections 65.3 to 65.95 and subsection 66(3).
- designated body
designated body means a corporation referred to in section 65.2. (organisme désigné)
- penalty
penalty means an administrative monetary penalty imposed for a violation. (sanction)
Marginal note:Application
65.2 Sections 65.3 to 65.95 apply to a Crown corporation — or corporation that is subject to this Act under another Act of Parliament — that
(a) is designated by regulation;
(b) has duties under Part IV;
(c) operates in the transportation sector; and
(d) engages in communications with and provides or makes available services to the travelling public.
Marginal note:Purpose of penalty
65.3 The purpose of a penalty is to promote compliance with Part IV and not to punish.
Marginal note:Regulations
65.4 (1) The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, make regulations
(a) designating any corporation for the purposes of section 65.2;
(b) designating, as a violation that may be proceeded with in accordance with sections 65.3 to 65.95, the contravention of any specified provision of Part IV or the regulations made under that Part in respect of specified communications and services or specified categories of communications and services;
(c) fixing a penalty, or a range of penalties, in respect of each violation;
(d) for the purposes of paragraph (3)(d), establishing other criteria to be considered in determining the amount of the penalty if a range of penalties is established;
(e) increasing the amount of the maximum penalty set out in subsection (2);
(f) respecting the service of documents required or authorized to be served under sections 65.3 to 65.95, including the manner and proof of service and the circumstances under which documents are to be considered to be served;
(g) establishing the form and content of notices of violation; and
(h) generally, for carrying out the purposes and provisions of sections 65.3 to 65.95.
Marginal note:Maximum penalty
(2) Subject to regulations made under paragraph (1)(e), the maximum penalty in respect of a violation that may be fixed under regulations made under paragraph (1)(c) is $25,000.
Marginal note:Criteria — range of penalties
(3) If a range of penalties is fixed by regulations made under paragraph (1)(c) in respect of a violation, then the Commissioner shall take into account the following criteria in determining the amount of the penalty:
(a) the nature and scope of the violation;
(b) the history of compliance, by the designated body that is believed to have committed the violation, with the provisions of Part IV and the regulations made under that Part that are designated by regulations made under paragraph (1)(b);
(c) the designated body’s ability to pay the penalty;
(d) any criteria established by regulation; and
(e) any other relevant criterion.
Marginal note:Violations
65.5 Every designated body that contravenes a provision designated by regulations made under paragraph 65.4(1)(b) commits a violation and is liable to a penalty of an amount to be determined in accordance with regulations made under paragraph 65.4(1)(c) and with subsection 65.4(3).
Marginal note:Notice of violation
65.6 (1) If, after carrying out an investigation of a complaint in respect of a right or duty under a provision designated by regulations made under paragraph 65.4(1)(b), the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that a designated body has committed a violation and has made a report under subsection 63(1) in respect of that violation, the Commissioner may issue a notice of violation and shall cause it to be served — along with the report and any other relevant document — on the body.
Marginal note:Limitation — compliance agreement
(2) However, the Commissioner is not permitted to issue a notice of violation in respect of the subject-matter of a complaint unless, before issuing the notice of violation, the Commissioner invited the designated body to enter into a compliance agreement under subsection 64.1(1) in respect of that subject-matter.
Marginal note:Limitation — previous notice of violation
(3) The Commissioner is not permitted to issue a notice of violation under subsection (1) in respect of the subject-matter of a complaint if that subject-matter has already been the subject of a notice of violation.
Marginal note:Contents
(4) The notice of violation shall
(a) set out the name of the designated body that is believed to have committed the violation;
(b) set out the relevant facts of the violation and the provision at issue;
(c) set out the penalty for the violation;
(d) set out the manner in which the Commissioner took into account the criteria referred to in subsection 65.4(3) in determining the amount of the penalty, if a range of penalties is fixed for the violation by regulations made under paragraph 65.4(1)(c);
(e) inform the designated body of its right to contest the facts of the alleged violation, the penalty or both, by way of review, and specify the time within which and the manner in which to do so in accordance with section 65.9;
(f) inform the designated body that the penalty is to be paid within 30 business days after the day on which the notice of violation is served and specify the manner in which to do so;
(g) inform the designated body that, if it does not pay the penalty or exercise its right referred to in paragraph (e) within the time and in the manner set out in the notice, it will be considered to have committed the violation and that it is liable for the penalty set out in the notice; and
(h) set out any other information provided by regulation.
Marginal note:Limitation or prescription period
(5) No notice of violation shall be issued in respect of a violation after the second anniversary of the day on which the Commissioner was informed of the facts of the alleged violation or the third anniversary of the day on which the facts of the alleged violation occurred, whichever is earlier.
Marginal note:Certification by Commissioner
(6) A document appearing to have been issued by the Commissioner, certifying the day on which the Commissioner was informed of the facts of the alleged violation, is admissible in evidence without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed the document and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof that the Commissioner was informed of the facts of the alleged violation on that day.
Marginal note:Payment of penalty
65.7 If a designated body that is served with a notice of violation pays the penalty set out in the notice, it is deemed to have committed the violation and the proceedings in respect of it are ended.
Marginal note:Failure to act
65.8 A designated body that neither pays a penalty set out in a notice of violation nor requests a review within the specified time is deemed to have committed the violation and is liable for the penalty.
Marginal note:Review by Federal Court
65.9 (1) Instead of paying the penalty set out in a notice of violation, the designated body named in the notice may, within 30 business days after the day on which the notice is served and in the manner specified in the notice, apply to the Federal Court for a review of the facts of the alleged violation or of the amount of the penalty, or both.
Marginal note:De novo review
(2) For greater certainty, an application under subsection (1) is to be heard and determined as a new proceeding.
Marginal note:Review with respect to facts
65.91 (1) If a designated body applies for a review with respect to the facts of an alleged violation, then on completion of the review the Federal Court shall, subject to subsection (3),
(a) if it determines that the designated body committed the violation, make an order declaring that the designated body committed the violation and is liable for the penalty set out in the notice of violation; or
(b) if it determines that the designated body did not commit the violation, make an order declaring that the designated body did not commit the violation and is not liable for the penalty set out in the notice of violation.
Marginal note:Review with respect to penalty
(2) If a designated body applies for a review with respect to the amount of the penalty for a violation, then on completion of the review the Federal Court shall, subject to subsection (3),
(a) determine the amount of the penalty in accordance with regulations made under paragraph 65.4(1)(c) and, if those regulations fix a range of penalties in respect of the violation, by taking into account the criteria referred to in subsection 65.4(3); and
(b) make an order declaring that the designated body is liable for a penalty of the amount that the Court determines.
Marginal note:Review with respect to facts and penalty
(3) If a designated body applies for a review with respect to both the facts of an alleged violation and the amount of the penalty for the violation, then on completion of the review the Federal Court shall,
(a) if it determines that the designated body committed the violation,
(i) determine the amount of the penalty in accordance with regulations made under paragraph 65.4(1)(c) and, if those regulations fix a range of penalties in respect of the violation, by taking into account the criteria referred to in subsection 65.4(3), and
(ii) make an order declaring that the designated body committed the violation and is liable for a penalty of the amount that the Court determines; or
(b) if it determines that the designated body did not commit the violation, make an order declaring that the designated body did not commit the violation and is not liable for the penalty set out in the notice of violation.
Marginal note:Debt to Her Majesty
65.92 (1) The following amounts are debts due to Her Majesty in right of Canada that may be recovered in the Federal Court:
(a) the amount of the penalty set out in a notice of violation, beginning on the day on which it is required to be paid in accordance with the notice, unless an application for review is made under section 65.9; and
(b) if an application for review is made under section 65.9, the amount payable under an order of the Federal Court made under paragraph 65.91(1)(a) or (2)(b) or subparagraph 65.91(3)(a)(ii), beginning on the date of the order.
Marginal note:Limitation or prescription period
(2) Proceedings to recover a debt referred to in subsection (1) may be commenced no later than the fifth anniversary of the day on which the debt becomes payable.
Marginal note:Proceeds payable to Receiver General
(3) A debt referred to in subsection (1) that is paid or recovered is payable to and shall be remitted to the Receiver General.
Marginal note:Certificate of default
65.93 (1) The Commissioner may issue a certificate for the unpaid amount of any debt referred to in subsection 65.92(1).
Marginal note:Effect of registration
(2) Registration of a certificate in the Federal Court has the same effect as a judgment of that Court for a debt of the amount set out in the certificate and all related registration costs.
Marginal note:Evidence
65.94 In a proceeding in respect of a violation, a notice purporting to be served under subsection 65.6(1) is admissible in evidence without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed it.
Marginal note:Certain defences not available
65.95 (1) A designated body named in a notice of violation does not have a defence by reason that it
(a) exercised due diligence to prevent the violation; or
(b) reasonably and honestly believed in the existence of facts that, if true, would exonerate it.
Marginal note:Common law principles
(2) Every rule and principle of the common law that renders any circumstance a justification or excuse in relation to a charge for an offence applies in respect of a violation to the extent that it is consistent with this Act.
38 (1) Section 66 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 66(1) and is amended by adding the following:
Marginal note:Part of report
(2) The Commissioner shall include, as part of the report, in respect of each federal institution concerned,
(a) the number of times that the Commissioner refused or ceased to investigate a complaint under subsection 58(4) and the paragraph of that subsection that was relied on;
(b) for each process of alternative dispute resolution used, the number of complaints on which that process was used and the number of them that were resolved through that process;
(c) the number of times that the Commissioner published any information under subsection 63.1(1);
(d) the number of complaints that were made the object of a compliance agreement under subsection 64.1(1), a description of the contravention that resulted in the agreement being entered into and an indication as to whether the federal institution complied with the agreement and, if not, any measures taken by the Commissioner as a result; and
(e) the number of complaints that were made the object of an order under subsection 64.5(1), a description of the contravention or violation that resulted in the order being made and an indication as to whether the federal institution complied with the order and, if not, any measures taken by the Commissioner as a result.
(2) Section 66 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (2):
Marginal note:Part of report — administrative monetary penalties
(3) The Commissioner shall include, as part of the report, in respect of each designated body concerned,
(a) the number of notices of violation that the Commissioner issued under subsection 65.6(1);
(b) the relevant facts of the violations and the provisions at issue; and
(c) the amount of the penalties imposed, if any.
39 Paragraph 70(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(b) the powers, duties or functions set out in sections 63, 63.1, 64.1 to 69 and 78.
40 (1) The portion of subsection 77(2) of the English version of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Time limit
(2) An application may be made under subsection (1) within 60 days — or within any further time that the Court may allow, on request made either before or after the expiry of those 60 days — after
(2) The portion of subsection 77(2) of the English version of the Act after paragraph (c) is repealed.
(2.1) Subsection 77(2) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (a):
(a.1) the complainant is informed of the actions taken to implement the recommendations that the Commissioner made under subsection 63(3),
(2.2) Subsection 77(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Application six months after complaint
(3) Where a complaint is made to the Commissioner under this Act but the complainant is not informed of the results of the investigation of the complaint under subsection 64(1), of the actions taken to implement the recommendations that the Commissioner made under subsection 63(3), of the recommendations of the Commissioner under subsection 64(2) or of a decision under subsection 58(5) within six months after the complaint is made, the complainant may make an application under subsection (1) at any time thereafter.
(3) Section 77 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (4):
Marginal note:Conflict — compliance agreement
(4.1) If there is a conflict between a provision of an order made under paragraph 64.4(1)(a) and a provision of an order made under subsection (4), the order made under subsection (4) prevails to the extent of the conflict.
Marginal note:Conflict — Commissioner’s order
(4.2) If there is a conflict between a provision of an order filed under subsection 64.6(1) and a provision of an order made under subsection (4), the order made under subsection (4) prevails to the extent of the conflict.
41 (1) Section 78 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):
Marginal note:Exception
(1.1) Despite paragraph (1)(a), if the Commissioner makes an order under subsection 64.5(1), the Commissioner
(a) is not permitted to make an application under paragraph (1)(a) in respect of any matter that is the subject of the order; and
(b) shall withdraw any applications that were made under paragraph (1)(a) in respect of any matter that is the subject of the order.
(2) Subsection 78(3) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Capacity to intervene
(3) Nothing in this section abrogates or derogates from the capacity of the Commissioner to seek leave to intervene in any judicial proceedings relating to the status or use of English or French.
42 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 78:
Marginal note:Review by Court — complainant
78.1 (1) A person who makes a complaint described in subsection 64.5(1) and who receives a notice under subsection 64.5(5) in respect of the complaint may, within 30 business days after the day on which the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution receives the notice, apply to the Court for a review of any matter that is the subject of the order set out in the notice.
Marginal note:Review by Court — federal institution
(2) A federal institution may, within 30 business days after the day on which its deputy head or other administrative head receives a notice under subsection 64.5(5), apply to the Court for a review of any matter that is the subject of the order set out in the notice.
Marginal note:Respondents
(3) A complainant who applies for a review under subsection (1) may name only the federal institution concerned as the respondent to the proceedings. A federal institution that applies for a review under subsection (2) may name only the Commissioner as the respondent to the proceedings.
Marginal note:Deemed date of receipt
(4) For the purposes of this section, the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution is deemed to have received the notice on the fifth business day after the date of the notice.
Marginal note:Order stayed
78.2 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the making of an application under section 78.1 operates as a stay of the order set out in the notice received under subsection 64.5(5) until the proceedings are finally concluded.
Marginal note:Cancellation or suspension of stay by Court
(2) The Court may cancel the stay of the order or may suspend the operation of the stay temporarily subject to any terms that it considers appropriate.
Marginal note:Part of order operative
(3) Any part of the order that relates to a matter that is not the subject of the proceedings becomes operative.
Marginal note:Party to review — federal institution
78.3 (1) If a complainant who receives a notice under subsection 64.5(5) applies to the Court for a review under subsection 78.1(1), the federal institution whose deputy head or other administrative head received the notice under subsection 64.5(5) has the right to appear as a party to the review.
Marginal note:Party to review — complainant
(2) If the federal institution whose deputy head or other administrative head receives a notice under subsection 64.5(5) applies to the Court for a review under subsection 78.1(2), the complainant who received the notice under subsection 64.5(5) has the right to appear as a party to the review.
Marginal note:Scope of proceeding
(3) If a complainant files notice of their intention to appear as a party to a review with the Court within 10 business days after the expiry of the period referred to in subsection 78.1(2), they may raise for determination by the Court any matter in respect of which they may make an application under subsection 78.1(1).
Marginal note:Appearance by Commissioner
78.4 The Commissioner may
(a) appear before the Court on behalf of a complainant; or
(b) appear as a party to any review applied for under section 78.1.
Marginal note:Service of originating document
78.5 (1) If a complainant makes an application for a review under subsection 78.1(1), they shall immediately serve a copy of the originating document on the deputy head or other administrative head of the federal institution whose deputy head or other administrative head received the notice under subsection 64.5(5).
Marginal note:Service or notice
(2) If a federal institution makes an application for a review under subsection 78.1(2), its deputy head or other administrative head shall immediately serve a copy of the originating document on the Commissioner. However, if the deputy head or other administrative head of a federal institution is served with a copy of an originating document under subsection (1), that deputy head or other administrative head shall, as soon as possible after being served, give written notice of the application to the Commissioner, unless the Commissioner has already been served with a copy of the document.
Marginal note:De novo review
78.6 For greater certainty, an application under section 78.1 is to be heard and determined as a new proceeding.
Marginal note:Order of Court
78.7 The Court shall, in respect of any matter that is the subject of the proceedings,
(a) make an order declaring that the federal institution concerned is required to comply with the provisions of the Commissioner’s order that relate to that matter;
(b) make an order declaring that the federal institution concerned is not required to comply with the provisions of the Commissioner’s order that relate to that matter; or
(c) make any other order that it considers appropriate.
Marginal note:Incompatible provisions
78.8 (1) An order of the Court made under section 78.7 has the effect of rescinding the provisions of the Commissioner’s order relating to any matter that is the subject of the proceedings that are incompatible with the Court’s order.
Marginal note:Specification of rescinded provisions
(2) The Court must specify in any order that it makes the provisions of the Commissioner’s order that are rescinded under subsection (1).
43 (1) Subsection 81(1) of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Frais et dépens
81 (1) Les frais et dépens afférents à tout recours exercé devant le tribunal sous le régime de la présente loi sont laissés à l’appréciation du tribunal et suivent, sauf ordonnance contraire de celui-ci, le sort du principal.
(2) Subsection 81(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Costs
(2) If the Court is of the opinion that an application under section 77 or 78.1 has raised an important new principle in relation to this Act, the Court shall order that costs be awarded to the applicant even if the applicant has not been successful in the result.
(3) Subsection 81(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Costs
(2) If the Court is of the opinion that an application under section 65.9, 77 or 78.1 has raised an important new principle in relation to this Act, the Court shall order that costs be awarded to the applicant even if the applicant has not been successful in the result.
44 Sections 83 and 84 of the Act are replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Rights relating to other languages
83 (1) Nothing in this Act abrogates or derogates from any legal or customary right acquired or enjoyed either before or after the coming into force of this Act with respect to any language other than English or French, including any Indigenous language.
Marginal note:Maintenance of linguistic heritage
(2) Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted in a manner that is inconsistent with the maintenance and enhancement of languages other than English or French, nor with the reclamation, revitalization and strengthening of Indigenous languages.
Marginal note:Consultations
84 If the Governor in Council proposes to make a regulation under a provision of this Act, the minister of the Crown who is responsible for the provision shall, at a time and in a manner appropriate to the circumstances, seek the views of members of the English and French linguistic minority communities and, if appropriate, members of the public generally on the proposed regulation.
45 Subsection 85(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Tabling of draft of proposed regulation
85 (1) If the Governor in Council proposes to make a regulation under a provision of this Act, the minister of the Crown who is responsible for the provision shall lay a draft of the proposed regulation before the House of Commons at least 30 days before a copy of the regulation is published in the Canada Gazette under section 86.
46 (1) Subsection 86(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulation
86 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under a provision of this Act shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least 30 days before its proposed effective date, and a reasonable opportunity shall be afforded to interested persons to make representations to the minister of the Crown who is responsible for the provision with respect to the proposed regulation.
(2) Subsection 86(3) of the English version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Calculation of 30-day period
(3) In calculating the 30-day period referred to in subsection (1), only the days on which both Houses of Parliament sit shall be counted.
47 Subsection 87(5) of the French version of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Définition de jour de séance
(5) Pour l’application du présent article, jour de séance s’entend, à l’égard d’une chambre du Parlement, de tout jour où elle siège.
48 Sections 88 and 89 of the Act are replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Review by parliamentary committee
88 The administration of this Act, any regulations, policies and directives made under this Act and the reports of the Commissioner, the President of the Treasury Board and the Minister of Canadian Heritage made under this Act shall be reviewed on a permanent basis by any committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament that may be designated or established for that purpose.
Marginal note:Section 126 of Criminal Code
89 Section 126 of the Criminal Code does not apply to or in respect of any contravention of any provision of this Act or the regulations.
49 Section 91 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Staffing generally
91 Nothing in this Act authorizes the application of official language requirements to a particular staffing action unless those requirements are objectively required to perform the functions for which the staffing action is undertaken.
50 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 93:
Marginal note:Review
93.1 (1) On the 10th anniversary of the day on which this section comes into force and every 10 years after that anniversary, the Minister of Canadian Heritage shall, in consultation with the President of the Treasury Board, undertake a review of the provisions and operation of this Act.
Marginal note:Comprehensive analysis
(1.1) The review undertaken under subsection (1) shall include a comprehensive analysis, over the previous ten years, of the enhancement of the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities and of the protection and promotion of the French language in Canada.
Marginal note:Indicators
(1.2) The comprehensive analysis undertaken under subsection (1.1) may include any relevant
(a) indicators that are related to sectors that are essential to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities, including the culture, education — from early childhood to post-secondary education — health, justice, employment and immigration sectors;
(b) qualitative indicators; and
(c) quantitative indicators, including mother tongue spoken, language most often spoken at home, rate of anglicization and francization, language transfer and language of work.
Marginal note:Report
(2) The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall cause a report of the review to be tabled in each House of Parliament within the first 30 days on which that House is sitting after the report has been completed.
51 Sections 107 and 108 of the Act are replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Persons appointed remain in office
107 The persons holding the positions referred to in subsection 34(2) immediately before the coming into force of that provision shall continue in office.
1995, c. 11Related Amendment to the Department of Canadian Heritage Act
52 The Department of Canadian Heritage Act is amended by adding the following after section 7:
Marginal note:Funding — test cases
7.1 To promote a greater understanding of human rights, fundamental freedoms and related values, the Minister may take measures to provide funding to an organization, independent of the Government of Canada, responsible for administering a program whose purpose is to provide funding for test cases of national significance to be brought before the courts to clarify and assert constitutional human rights.
Regulations
Marginal note:Power to repeal
53 The Governor in Council may, by regulation, repeal the C.N.R. Company Exemption Order, C.R.C., c. 1244.
PART 2Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act
Enactment of Act
Marginal note:Enactment
54 The Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act is enacted as follows:
An Act respecting the use of French in federally regulated private businesses in Quebec and in regions with a strong francophone presence
Preamble
Whereas nothing in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms limits the authority of Parliament to advance the equality of status or use of English and French;
Whereas the Government of Canada is committed to protecting and promoting the French language, recognizing that French is in a minority situation in Canada and North America due to the predominant use of English;
Whereas the Government of Canada recognizes the diversity of the provincial and territorial language regimes that contribute to the advancement of the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society;
Whereas consumers in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence should have the right to communicate in French with and obtain available services in French from federally regulated private businesses that carry on business in Quebec or the region;
And whereas employees of federally regulated private businesses who work in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence should have the right to work in French;
Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short Title
Marginal note:Short title
1 This Act may be cited as the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act.
Interpretation
Marginal note:Definitions
2 (1) The following definitions apply in this Act.
- Board
Board means the Canada Industrial Relations Board established by section 9 of the Canada Labour Code. (Conseil)
- Commissioner
Commissioner means the Commissioner of Official Languages for Canada appointed under section 49 of the Official Languages Act. (commissaire)
- federally regulated private business
federally regulated private business means a person that employs employees on or in connection with a federal work, undertaking or business as defined in section 2 of the Canada Labour Code but does not include
(a) a person that employs fewer employees than the number of employees specified in the regulations;
(b) a corporation that is incorporated to perform functions on behalf of the Government of Canada;
(c) a corporation that is subject to the Official Languages Act under another Act of Parliament; or
(d) a council, government, corporation or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. (entreprise privée de compétence fédérale)
- Minister
Minister means the Minister of Canadian Heritage. (ministre)
- parties
parties, in relation to a complaint made to the Commissioner, means the complainant, the federally regulated private business that is the subject of the complaint and any other person added as a party to the complaint. (parties)
Marginal note:Board
(2) For the purposes of this Act, the Board is considered to be composed only of the members described in paragraphs 9(2)(a), (b), (e) and (f) of the Canada Labour Code.
Marginal note:Language rights
3 For the purposes of this Act, language rights
(a) are to be given a large, liberal and purposive interpretation; and
(b) are to be interpreted in light of their remedial character.
Purpose
Marginal note:Purpose
4 The purpose of this Act is to foster and protect the use of French in federally regulated private businesses in Quebec.
Non-application
Marginal note:Broadcasting
5 This Act does not apply in relation to a federally regulated private business in respect of activities or workplaces related to the broadcasting sector.
Marginal note:Charter of the French language
6 (1) In relation to communications with or services provided to consumers in Quebec or in relation to workplaces in Quebec, Quebec’s Charter of the French language applies instead of this Act to a federally regulated private business if the federally regulated private business chooses to be subject to Quebec’s Charter of the French language.
Marginal note:Notice
(2) A federally regulated private business must, in accordance with the regulations, give notice of the day on which it will become or cease to be subject to Quebec’s Charter of the French language.
Marginal note:Agreement with Quebec
(3) The Minister may, on behalf of the Government of Canada and with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into an agreement with the Government of Quebec for the purpose of giving effect to subsection (1).
Rights and Duties
Communications with and Services to Consumers
Marginal note:Communications and services in French
7 (1) Consumers in Quebec have the right to communicate in French with and obtain available services in French from a federally regulated private business that carries on business in Quebec.
Marginal note:Duty
(2) The federally regulated private business has the duty to ensure that consumers are able to exercise the rights set out in subsection (1).
Marginal note:For greater certainty
(3) For greater certainty, the rights set out in subsection (1) do not preclude consumers from communicating with or obtaining services from the federally regulated private business in English or a language other than French if they wish to do so and the federally regulated private business is able to communicate or provide services in that language.
Marginal note:Scope of duty
8 The duty in respect of communications and services in French under section 7 applies in respect of oral and written communications and in respect of any documents or activities that relate to those communications or services.
Language of Work
Marginal note:Language rights at work
9 (1) Employees of a federally regulated private business who occupy or are assigned to positions in a workplace in Quebec have the right to
(a) carry out their work and be supervised in French;
(b) receive all communications and documents from the federally regulated private business, including employment application forms, offers of employment, transfer or promotion, individual employment contracts, documents related to the conditions of employment, training documents produced for employees, notices of termination of employment, collective agreements and their schedules and grievances, in French; and
(c) use regularly and widely used work instruments and computer systems in French.
Marginal note:Continuation of right — former employees
(1.1) An employee’s right set out in paragraph (1)(b) to receive communications and documents from a federally regulated private business in French continues after the employee ceases to be employed by the business.
Marginal note:Duty
(2) The federally regulated private business has the duty to ensure that employees are able to exercise the rights set out in subsection (1) and that persons who were employees are able to exercise the right continued under subsection (1.1).
Marginal note:Duty — offer to fill a position
(2.1) When a federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec publishes in a language other than French an advertisement to fill a position — including through recruitment, hiring, transfer or promotion — that is assigned to one of those workplaces, the business must also publish the advertisement in French and ensure the simultaneous publication of both linguistic versions by means that are of the same nature and that reach a target public of a proportionally comparable size.
Marginal note:Communication in a language other than French
(3) For greater certainty, the right set out in paragraph (1)(b) does not preclude communications and documents from also being in English or another language other than French but, in the case of widely distributed communications and any documents, the use of French must be at least equivalent to the use of the language other than French.
Marginal note:Individual employment contracts — contracts of adhesion
(4) The right set out in paragraph (1)(b) does not preclude the federally regulated private business from entering into an individual employment contract that is a contract of adhesion with an employee exclusively in English or another language other than French, if the business and employee so agree and the business has already provided the contract to the employee in French.
Marginal note:Individual employment contracts — other
(5) The right set out in paragraph (1)(b) does not preclude the federally regulated private business from entering into an individual employment contract — other than a contract of adhesion — with an employee exclusively in English or another language other than French, if the business and employee so agree.
Marginal note:Communications and documents
(6) The right set out in paragraph (1)(b) does not preclude the federally regulated private business from providing to an employee communications and documents exclusively in English or another language other than French, if the business and employee so agree, even after the employee ceases to be employed by the business.
Marginal note:Duty — arbitral awards
9.1 A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec has the duty to ensure that an arbitral award that results from the arbitration of a grievance or dispute regarding the negotiation, renewal or review of a collective agreement respecting employees of the business who occupy or are assigned to positions in one of those workplaces
(a) is issued in French or, if it is issued in English or another language other than French, is translated into French without delay at the expense of the business and provided to the parties to the arbitration in both linguistic versions at the same time; and
(b) is translated into English or another language other than French as soon as feasible and at the expense of the business, if it was issued exclusively in French and a party to the arbitration requests a translation into the language other than French.
Marginal note:Rights of trade unions
9.2 (1) A trade union that represents employees of a federally regulated private business who occupy or are assigned to positions in a workplace in Quebec has the right to receive communications and documents from the federally regulated private business in French.
Marginal note:Duty
(2) The federally regulated private business has the duty to ensure that a trade union is able to exercise the right set out in subsection (1).
Marginal note:Communication in a language other than French
(3) For greater certainty, the right set out in subsection (1) does not preclude communications and documents from also being in English or another language other than French but, in the case of widely distributed communications and any documents, the use of French must be at least equivalent to the use of the language other than French.
Marginal note:Fostering use of French
10 (1) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec must take measures to foster the use of French in those workplaces. Those measures must include
(a) informing employees that it is subject to this Act;
(b) informing employees who occupy or are assigned to positions in those workplaces of their language of work rights and available remedies; and
(c) establishing a committee to support the management group that is responsible for the general direction of the federally regulated private business in the fostering of French and its use within the federally regulated private business.
Marginal note:Generalizing use of French
(1.1) A committee established under paragraph (1)(c) by a federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec must develop programs intended to generalize the use of French at all levels of the business in those workplaces, through the following:
(a) all members of the management group and employees having a good knowledge of French;
(b) an increase, if necessary, in the number of persons who have a good knowledge of French in order to ensure that it is used generally;
(c) the use of French as the language of work and of internal communications;
(d) the use of French in the working documents, work instruments and computer systems used in the business;
(e) the use of French terminology;
(f) the use of French in information technologies; and
(g) any other means that the committee considers appropriate.
Marginal note:Employee needs
(2) In developing the measures referred to in subsection (1), the federally regulated private business must consider the needs of employees who are close to retirement, have many years of service or have conditions that could impede the learning of French.
Marginal note:Communication in a language other than French
(3) For greater certainty, programs referred to in subsection (1.1) do not preclude communications and documents from also being in English or another language other than French but, in the case of widely distributed communications and any documents, the use of French must be at least equivalent to the use of the language other than French.
Marginal note:Adverse treatment
11 (1) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec must not treat adversely an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in one of those workplaces for any of the following reasons:
(a) the employee speaks only French;
(b) the employee does not have a sufficient knowledge of a language other than French;
(c) the employee claims the possibility of expressing themselves in French;
(d) the employee has exercised a right under this Act or made a complaint to the Commissioner;
(e) the business is seeking to deter the employee from exercising such a right or making such a complaint;
(f) the employee has taken part in meetings of, or carried out tasks for, a committee established under paragraph 10(1)(c) or a subcommittee created by such a committee;
(g) the employee has, in good faith, communicated information to the Commissioner in relation to a complaint made under section 18 or participated in an investigation conducted as a result of such a communication; or
(h) the business is seeking to induce the employee to endorse a document prepared by a committee established under paragraph 10(1)(c) or to dissuade the employee from doing so.
Marginal note:Acquired rights in Quebec
(2) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec must not treat adversely an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in one of those workplaces on or before the day on which this subsection comes into force for the sole reason that the employee does not have a sufficient knowledge of French.
Marginal note:Language other than French
(3) Requiring an employee to have a knowledge of a language other than French does not constitute adverse treatment for the purposes of subsection (1) if the federally regulated private business is able to demonstrate that a knowledge of that language is objectively required by reason of the nature of the work to be performed by the employee and the business sets out the reasons that justify the requirement in any advertisement to fill a position that requires such knowledge.
Marginal note:Language other than French — minimum conditions
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), in order to demonstrate that a knowledge of a language other than French is objectively required by reason of the nature of the work to be performed by the employee, a federally regulated private business must, before requiring such knowledge, at a minimum,
(a) assess the actual language needs associated with the work to be performed;
(b) verify that the language knowledge already required of other employees is not sufficient for the performance of that work; and
(c) restrict the number of positions involving work whose performance requires knowledge of a language other than French.
Marginal note:Interpretation
(5) Subsection (4) is not to be interpreted as imposing an unreasonable reorganization of a federally regulated private business’s affairs.
Marginal note:Prevention of adverse treatment
(6) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec must take all reasonable measures to prevent, in the work environment, the adverse treatment of an employee referred to in subsection (1) for any of the reasons referred to in that subsection or of an employee referred to in subsection (2) for the reason referred to in that subsection.
Marginal note:Cessation of adverse treatment
(7) If a federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec is made aware of the adverse treatment, in the work environment, of an employee referred to in subsection (1) for any of the reasons referred to in that subsection or of an employee referred to in subsection (2) for the reason referred to in that subsection, it must take all reasonable measures to make the adverse treatment cease.
Marginal note:Definition of adverse treatment
(8) For the purposes of this section, adverse treatment includes dismissing, laying off, demoting, transferring or suspending an employee, harassing them or taking reprisals against them or disciplining or imposing any other penalty on them.
Minister’s Role
Marginal note:Role
12 The Minister is responsible for the administration of this Act.
Marginal note:Promotion of rights
13 The Minister is responsible for promoting the rights set out in subsections 7(1) and 9(1) and for providing assistance, education and information to federally regulated private businesses in relation to those rights.
Commissioner’s Duty
Marginal note:Duty
14 (1) It is the Commissioner’s duty to take all actions and measures within the Commissioner’s authority with a view to ensuring recognition of the rights and respect for the duties under this Act concerning the use of French in communications with and services to consumers and as a language of work in relation to federally regulated private businesses, and the fostering by those businesses of the use of French in their workplaces as required by this Act.
Marginal note:Investigations
(2) It is Commissioner’s duty, for the purpose set out in subsection (1), to
(a) conduct and carry out investigations either as a result of a complaint made to the Commissioner or, in the case of a right or duty under section 7, on the Commissioner’s own initiative; and
(b) report and make recommendations with respect to those investigations in accordance with this Act.
Remedies — Communications with and Services to Consumers
Marginal note:Complaint to Commissioner
15 Any individual or group of individuals may make a complaint to the Commissioner, regardless of the official language spoken by the individual or individuals in the group, if they believe that a federally regulated private business has failed to comply with section 7.
Marginal note:Part IX of Official Languages Act
16 (1) Subject to this section and subsections 41(1) and (3), Part IX of the Official Languages Act applies in respect of rights and duties under section 7.
Marginal note:References
(2) For the purpose of applying Part IX of the Official Languages Act,
(a) a reference in that Part to a federal institution is to be read as a reference to a federally regulated private business;
(b) a reference in that Part to the deputy head or other administrative head is to be read as a reference to the chief executive officer or the person designated by the chief executive officer;
(c) a reference in subsection 64.5(1) of that Part to Part IV or V is to be read as a reference to section 7; and
(d) a reference in that Part to “this Act” is to be read as a reference to this Act.
Marginal note:Report
(3) For the purposes of subsections 62(2) and 63(1) of the Official Languages Act, the Commissioner must make a report only to the chief executive officer of the federally regulated private business or the person designated by the chief executive officer.
Marginal note:Non-application
(4) Section 56 and subsections 65(3) and (4) of the Official Languages Act do not apply in respect of complaints or investigations relating to a right or duty under section 7.
Marginal note:Part X of Official Languages Act
17 (1) Part X of the Official Languages Act applies in respect of complaints made in respect of a right or duty under section 7.
Marginal note:References
(2) For the purpose of applying Part X of the Official Languages Act,
(a) a reference in that Part to a federal institution is to be read as a reference to a federally regulated private business;
(b) a reference in that Part to the deputy head or other administrative head is to be read as a reference to the chief executive officer or the person designated by the chief executive officer; and
(c) a reference in that Part to “this Act” is to be read as a reference to this Act.
Remedies — Language of Work
Marginal note:Complaint to Commissioner
18 (1) An employee referred to in any of sections 9 to 11 may make a complaint to the Commissioner if the employee believes that the federally regulated private business that employs them has failed to comply with any of those sections.
Marginal note:Complaint to Commissioner — former employees
(1.1) A person who was an employee referred to in section 9 may make a complaint to the Commissioner if the person believes that the federally regulated private business that employed them has failed to comply with subsection 9(2) in relation to the right continued under subsection 9(1.1).
Marginal note:Complaint to Commissioner — potential employees
(1.2) A person who has a demonstrable interest in a position referred to in subsection 9(2.1) may make a complaint to the Commissioner if the person believes that a federally regulated private business has failed to comply with that subsection in respect of the position.
Marginal note:Limitation or prescription period
(2) The complaint must be made no later than the 90th day after the earlier of
(a) the day on which the complainant became aware of the act or omission giving rise to the alleged failure to comply, and
(b) the day on which the complainant ought, in the Commissioner’s opinion, to have become aware of that act or omission.
Marginal note:Extension
(3) The Commissioner may extend the 90-day period
(a) if the Commissioner is satisfied that a complaint was made in that period to a government official who had no authority to deal with the complaint but that the complainant believed the official had that authority; or
(b) in any other circumstance that is prescribed by regulation of the Governor in Council.
Marginal note:Part IX of Official Languages Act
19 (1) Subject to this section, sections 18 and 21 and subsections 26(2) and 41(2) and (4), Part IX of the Official Languages Act applies with respect to a complaint made under subsection 18(1), (1.1) or (1.2) as if the federally regulated private business that is the subject of the complaint were a federal institution.
Marginal note:No investigation
(2) The Commissioner is not permitted to conduct or carry out any investigation on the Commissioner’s own initiative in respect of a right or duty under any of sections 9 to 11.
Marginal note:Reference to deputy head
(3) A reference in Part IX of the Official Languages Act to a deputy head or other administrative head of a federal institution is to be read as a reference to the chief executive officer of the federally regulated private business or the person designated by the chief executive officer.
Marginal note:Report
(4) For the purposes of subsections 62(2) and 63(1) of the Official Languages Act, the Commissioner is to make a report only to the chief executive officer of the federally regulated private business or the person designated by the chief executive officer.
Marginal note:Reference to certain Parts
(5) A reference in subsection 64.5(1) of the Official Languages Act to Part IV or V is to be read as a reference to sections 9 to 11.
Marginal note:Non-application
(6) Section 56 and subsections 65(3) and (4) of the Official Languages Act do not apply in respect of the complaint.
Marginal note:Special report
(7) The Commissioner may make a special report under subsection 67(1) of the Official Languages Act with respect to a complaint referred to the Board under section 21 only after the Board has decided whether the complaint is well-founded.
Marginal note:Reference to “this Act”
(8) A reference in Part IX of the Official Languages Act to “this Act” is to be read as a reference to this Act.
Marginal note:Part X of Official Languages Act
20 (1) Subject to subsection 21(5), Part X of the Official Languages Act applies in respect of complaints made in respect of a right or duty under any of sections 9 to 11.
Marginal note:References
(2) For the purpose of applying Part X of the Official Languages Act,
(a) a reference in that Part to a federal institution is to be read as a reference to a federally regulated private business;
(b) a reference in that Part to the deputy head or other administrative head is to be read as a reference to the chief executive officer or the person designated by the chief executive officer; and
(c) a reference in that Part to “this Act” is to be read as a reference to this Act.
Marginal note:Referral to Board
21 (1) The Commissioner may, with the consent of the complainant, refer a complaint made under subsection 18(1) to the Board if the Commissioner has attempted to resolve the complaint but is of the opinion that
(a) the Commissioner will not be able to resolve the complaint within what the Commissioner considers to be a reasonable period; and
(b) the Board is better placed to deal with the complaint, in light of
(i) the nature and complexity of the complaint, or
(ii) the seriousness of the alleged failure to comply.
Marginal note:Limitation
(2) However, the Commissioner is not permitted to refer a complaint to the Board if the Commissioner has, in respect of the complaint,
(a) entered into a compliance agreement under subsection 64.1(1) of the Official Languages Act with the federally regulated private business that is the subject of the complaint; or
(b) made an order with respect to that federally regulated private business under subsection 64.5(1) of that Act.
Marginal note:Notice to parties
(3) Before referring the complaint to the Board, the Commissioner must provide the parties with reasonable notice of the Commissioner’s intention to do so and provide the parties with an opportunity to make representations.
Marginal note:Document or evidence
(4) Once the complaint is referred to the Board, the Commissioner must provide the Board with any document or evidence in respect of the complaint that the Commissioner considers relevant.
Marginal note:Non-application
(5) Part X of the Official Languages Act no longer applies with respect to the complaint after it has been referred to the Board.
Marginal note:Board’s decision
22 (1) The Board must decide whether a complaint referred to it by the Commissioner is well-founded.
Marginal note:Assignment or appointment
(2) The Chairperson of the Board may assign a panel of members of the Board or a member of the Board, or may appoint an external adjudicator, to deal with the complaint.
Marginal note:Member presiding over panel
(3) If the Chairperson assigns a panel of members to deal with the complaint, the Chairperson must designate a member of the panel to preside over it.
Marginal note:Powers, duties and functions
(4) A panel of members of the Board, a member of the Board and an external adjudicator have all the powers, duties and functions that are conferred on the Board under this Act with respect to any complaint that has been assigned to them or in respect of which they have been appointed, as the case may be, other than the power under section 26.
Marginal note:Deemed decision of Board
(5) A decision made by a panel of members of the Board, a member of the Board or an external adjudicator is deemed to be a decision made by the Board.
Marginal note:Decision of panel
(6) A decision made by a majority of the members of a panel or, if there is no majority, by the member presiding over the panel is a decision of the panel.
Marginal note:Death or incapacity
(7) In the event of the death or incapacity of a member of a panel, the member presiding over the panel may determine any matter that was before the panel and that member’s decision is deemed to be the decision of the panel.
Marginal note:Limitation of liability
(8) Members of the Board and external adjudicators are not personally liable, either civilly or criminally, for anything done or omitted to be done by them in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of any power, or in the performance or purported performance of any duty or function, conferred on them under this Act.
Marginal note:External adjudicator — remuneration and expenses
(9) An external adjudicator must be paid the remuneration and the fees that may be fixed by the Chairperson and is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and living expenses incurred by them in the course of their duties while absent from their ordinary place of residence.
Marginal note:Dealing with complaint
23 In dealing with any complaint under this Act, the Board
(a) is to proceed as informally and expeditiously as the circumstances and considerations of fairness permit; and
(b) is not bound by legal or technical rules of evidence.
Marginal note:Powers of Board
24 The Board has, in relation to a complaint referred to it by the Commissioner, the power
(a) to summon and enforce the attendance of witnesses and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce the documents and things that the Board considers necessary, in the same manner and to the same extent as a superior court of record;
(b) to administer oaths;
(c) to receive, and base a decision on, any evidence adduced that the Board believes to be credible;
(d) to compel any person to provide information or produce documents and things that may be relevant to a matter before the Board, after providing the parties with the opportunity to make representations;
(e) subject to any limitations prescribed by regulation of the Governor in Council, to enter any premises of a federally regulated private business that is the subject of a complaint and to inspect and view anything found in the premises that may be relevant to the complaint and require any person to answer any question that may be relevant to the complaint;
(f) to abridge or extend the time for doing any act, filing any document or presenting any evidence;
(g) if the parties agree, to assist the parties in resolving any issues in dispute by any means that the Board considers appropriate, without prejudice to the Board’s power to determine issues that have not been settled;
(h) to authorize any person to do anything that the Board may do under paragraphs (a) to (g) and to report to the Board on it;
(i) to adjourn or postpone any proceeding from time to time;
(j) to defer deciding any matter, if the Board considers that the matter could be resolved by an alternate method of resolution;
(k) to amend or permit the amendment of any document filed in connection with the complaint;
(l) to add a party at any stage;
(m) to permit an interested person to intervene at any stage;
(n) to merge complaints that relate to the same situation or subject matter;
(o) to decide any matter that may arise in connection with the complaint;
(p) to take notice of facts that may be judicially noticed;
(q) to take notice of other generally recognized facts and any information that is within the Board’s specialized knowledge, after notifying the parties and any intervenor of its intention to do so and providing them with an opportunity to make representations; and
(r) to review, rescind, amend, alter or vary any order or decision made by the Board and to rehear any matter before making a decision with respect to it.
Marginal note:Consultation
25 A member of the Board or an external adjudicator may, in respect of any complaint referred to the Board, consult with any member of the Board or with any employee of the Administrative Tribunals Support Service of Canada.
Marginal note:Regulations of Board
26 (1) The Board may make regulations respecting its powers, duties and functions under this Act, including regulations respecting
(a) rules of procedure for proceedings;
(b) the use of means of telecommunication that permit simultaneous communication;
(c) the forms to be used in connection with a complaint;
(d) the time within which and the circumstances under which the Board may exercise its powers under this Act;
(e) the form in which and the period during which evidence may be presented to the Board;
(f) the time within which and the parties or persons to whom notices and other documents must be sent and the circumstances in which the notices or documents are deemed to have been given or received by the Board or any party or person; and
(g) the delegation of the Board’s powers under paragraph 24(h).
Marginal note:Non-application
(2) Section 57 of the Official Languages Act does not apply with respect to regulations made under subsection (1).
Marginal note:Rejection of complaint
27 (1) The Board may reject a complaint, in whole or in part, if the Board is satisfied that
(a) the complaint is not within its jurisdiction;
(b) the complaint is frivolous, vexatious or not made in good faith;
(c) there is insufficient evidence to substantiate the complaint;
(d) the complaint has been settled in writing between the complainant and the federally regulated private business;
(e) there are other means available to the complainant to resolve the subject matter of the complaint that the Board considers should be pursued;
(f) the subject matter of the complaint has been adequately dealt with through recourse obtained before a court, tribunal, arbitrator or adjudicator; or
(g) if the complainant is subject to a collective agreement, the collective agreement covers the subject matter of the complaint and provides a third party dispute resolution process.
Marginal note:Notice of rejection
(2) If the Board rejects a complaint, it must notify the parties in writing, with reasons.
Marginal note:Board orders
28 If the Board decides that a complaint is well-founded, the Board may, by order, require the federally regulated private business that is the subject of the complaint to comply with the section of this Act at issue and, if applicable, to
(a) permit the complainant to return to the duties of their employment;
(b) reinstate the complainant;
(c) pay to the complainant compensation not exceeding the sum that, in the Board’s opinion, is equivalent to the remuneration that would, but for the failure to comply, have been paid to the complainant;
(d) pay to the complainant compensation not exceeding the sum that, in the Board’s opinion, is equivalent to any financial or other penalty imposed on the complainant by the federally regulated private business; and
(e) do any other thing that the Board considers equitable for the federally regulated private business to do to remedy or counteract any consequence of the failure to comply.
Marginal note:Copy of decision
29 The Board is to provide all parties, as well as the Commissioner, with a copy of its decision on whether a complaint is well-founded and of any related order made under section 28, with reasons.
Marginal note:Enforcement of orders
30 (1) Any person affected by an order of the Board made under section 28, or the Commissioner on the request of such a person, may file a certified copy of the order, exclusive of reasons, in the Federal Court after the later of 14 days after the day on which the order is made and 14 days after a day that may be provided for in the order.
Marginal note:Registration
(2) Once filed, the order must be registered in the Federal Court and, when registered, has the same force and effect, and all proceedings may be taken in respect of it, as if the order were a judgment obtained in that Court.
Marginal note:No civil remedy affected
31 No civil remedy of an employee against an employer is suspended or affected by this Act.
Marginal note:Regulations
32 The Governor in Council may make regulations for the purposes of sections 21 to 31.
General
Marginal note:Regulations
33 (1) Subject to section 32, the Governor in Council may, on the Minister’s recommendation, make regulations for the purposes of this Act, including regulations
(a) specifying, for the purposes of paragraph (a) of the definition federally regulated private business in section 2(1), a number of employees;
(b) defining “close to retirement”, “conditions that could impede the learning of French”, “consumer”, “employee”, “many years of service”, “treat adversely” and any other term or expression that is used in any of sections 5 to 13 but not defined in section 2;
(c) respecting the notices referred to in subsection 6(2);
(d) respecting the establishment and operation of a committee referred to in paragraph 10(1)(c);
(e) prescribing circumstances for the purposes of paragraph 18(3)(b);
(f) exempting, with or without conditions, federally regulated private businesses from the application of any provision of this Act or its regulations in respect of activities or workplaces that are related to a specified sector of activity; and
(g) exempting, with or without conditions, federally regulated private businesses from the application of any provision of this Act or its regulations for any reason, including reasons related to intellectual property rights, international standards or the conduct of interprovincial or international business.
Marginal note:Different numbers
(2) A regulation made under paragraph (1)(a) may specify a different number of employees for federally regulated private businesses that have workplaces in Quebec and for federally regulated private businesses that do not have workplaces in Quebec but carry on business in Quebec.
Marginal note:Factors
(3) In making a regulation under subsection (1), the Governor in Council may take into account any factor that the Governor in Council considers appropriate, including
(a) the volume of communications or services provided by federally regulated private businesses;
(b) the type of services, documents, computer systems or work instruments required by the employees of federally regulated private businesses; and
(c) the mandates of and the nature of the activities carried out by federally regulated private businesses.
Marginal note:Consultations
34 The Minister must, at a time and in a manner appropriate to the circumstances, seek the views of members of the public as an integral part of the two official language communities of Canada and of organizations representative of employees or employers of federally regulated private businesses on proposed regulations to be made under sections 32 or 33.
Marginal note:Tabling of draft of proposed regulation
35 (1) If the Governor in Council proposes to make a regulation under section 33, the Minister must lay a draft of the proposed regulation before the House of Commons at least 30 days before a copy of the regulation is published in the Canada Gazette under section 36.
Marginal note:Calculation of 30-day period
(2) In calculating the 30-day period referred to in subsection (1), only the days on which the House of Commons sits must be counted.
Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulation
36 (1) A copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under section 33 must be published in the Canada Gazette at least 30 days before its proposed effective date, and a reasonable opportunity must be afforded to interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect to the proposed regulation.
Marginal note:Exception
(2) No proposed regulation need be published under subsection (1) if it has previously been published under that subsection, whether or not it has been amended as a result of representations made under that subsection.
Marginal note:Calculation of 30-day period
(3) In calculating the 30-day period referred to in subsection (1), only the days on which both Houses of Parliament sit must be counted.
Marginal note:Permanent review by parliamentary committee
37 The administration of this Act and its regulations, as well as the reports of the Commissioner and the Minister made under this Act, are to be reviewed on a permanent basis by any committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament that may be designated or established for that purpose.
Marginal note:Section 126 of Criminal Code
38 Section 126 of the Criminal Code does not apply to or in respect of any contravention of any provision of this Act or the regulations.
Marginal note:Parliamentary and judicial powers, privileges and immunities
39 Nothing in this Act abrogates or derogates from any powers, privileges or immunities of members of the Senate or the House of Commons in respect of their personal offices and staff or of judges of any Court.
Marginal note:Rights relating to other languages
40 (1) Nothing in this Act abrogates or derogates from any legal or customary right acquired or enjoyed either before or after the coming into force of this Act with respect to any language other than English or French, including any Indigenous language.
Marginal note:Maintenance of linguistic heritage
(2) Nothing in this Act is to be interpreted in a manner that is inconsistent with the maintenance and enhancement of languages other than English or French, nor with the reclamation, revitalization and strengthening of Indigenous languages.
Marginal note:Compliance agreements — Quebec (communications and services)
41 (1) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.1(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by a consumer in Quebec in respect of a right or duty under section 7.
Marginal note:Compliance agreements — Quebec (language of work)
(2) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.1(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in a workplace in Quebec in respect of a right or duty under any of sections 9 to 11.
Marginal note:Orders — Quebec (communications and services)
(3) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.5(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by a consumer in Quebec in respect of a right or duty under section 7.
Marginal note:Orders — Quebec (language of work)
(4) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.5(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in a workplace in Quebec in respect of a right or duty under any of sections 9 to 11.
Marginal note:Review
42 (1) On the 10th anniversary of the day on which this section comes into force and every 10 years after that anniversary, the Minister must undertake a review of the provisions and operation of this Act.
Marginal note:Report
(2) The Minister must cause a report of the review to be tabled in each House of Parliament within the first 30 days on which that House is sitting after the report has been completed.
Amendments to the Act
55 Section 4 of the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Purpose
4 The purpose of this Act is to foster and protect the use of French in federally regulated private businesses in Quebec and regions with a strong francophone presence.
56 Subsection 7(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Communications and services in French
7 (1) Consumers in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence have the right to communicate in French with and obtain available services in French from a federally regulated private business that carries on business in Quebec or the region.
57 (1) The portion of subsection 9(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Language rights at work
9 (1) Employees of a federally regulated private business who occupy or are assigned to positions in a workplace in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence have the right to
(2) Subsection 9(2.1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Duty — offer to fill a position
(2.1) When a federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence publishes in a language other than French an advertisement to fill a position — including through recruitment, hiring, transfer or promotion — that is assigned to one of those workplaces, the business must also publish the advertisement in French and ensure the simultaneous publication of both linguistic versions by means that are of the same nature and that reach a target public of a proportionally comparable size.
57.1 Subsection 9.2(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Rights of trade unions
9.2 (1) A trade union that represents employees of a federally regulated private business who occupy or are assigned to positions in a workplace in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence has the right to receive communications and documents from the federally regulated private business in French.
58 (1) The portion of subsection 10(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Fostering use of French
10 (1) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence must take measures to foster the use of French in those workplaces. Those measures must include
(2) The portion of subsection 10(1.1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Generalizing use of French
(1.1) A committee established under paragraph (1)(c) by a federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence must develop programs intended to generalize the use of French at all levels of the business in those workplaces, through the following:
59 (1) The portion of subsection 11(1) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Adverse treatment
11 (1) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence must not treat adversely an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in one of those workplaces for any of the following reasons:
(2) Subsection 11(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Acquired rights in region with strong francophone presence
(2.1) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in a region with a strong francophone presence must not treat adversely an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in one of those workplaces on or before the day on which this subsection comes into force for the sole reason that the employee does not have a sufficient knowledge of French.
Marginal note:Language other than French
(3) Requiring an employee to have a knowledge of a language other than French does not constitute adverse treatment for the purposes of subsection (1) if the federally regulated private business is able to demonstrate that a knowledge of that language is objectively required by reason of the nature of the work to be performed by the employee and, in the case of a business that has workplaces in Quebec, the business sets out the reasons that justify the requirement in any advertisement to fill a position assigned to one of those workplaces that requires such knowledge.
(3) The portion of subsection 11(4) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Language other than French — minimum conditions
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), a federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec, before requiring knowledge of a language other than French of an employee who occupies or is assigned to one of those workplaces, must, in order to demonstrate that a knowledge of that language is objectively required by reason of the nature of the work to be performed by the employee, at a minimum,
(4) The portion of subsection 11(4) of the Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Language other than French — minimum conditions
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3), in order to demonstrate that a knowledge of a language other than French is objectively required by reason of the nature of the work to be performed by the employee, a federally regulated private business must, before requiring such knowledge, at a minimum,
(5) Subsections 11(6) and (7) of the Act are replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Prevention of adverse treatment
(6) A federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence must take all reasonable measures to prevent, in the work environment, the adverse treatment of an employee referred to in subsection (1) for any of the reasons referred to in that subsection or of an employee referred to in subsection (2) for the reason referred to in that subsection.
Marginal note:Cessation of adverse treatment
(7) If a federally regulated private business that has workplaces in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence is made aware of the adverse treatment, in the work environment, of an employee referred to in subsection (1) for any of the reasons referred to in that subsection or of an employee referred to in subsection (2) for the reason referred to in that subsection, it must take all reasonable measures to make the adverse treatment cease.
60 Subsection 16(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Part IX of Official Languages Act
16 (1) Subject to this section and subsections 41(1) and (3) and 41.1(1) and (3), Part IX of the Official Languages Act applies in respect of rights and duties under section 7.
61 Subsection 19(1) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Part IX of Official Languages Act
19 (1) Subject to this section, sections 18 and 21 and subsections 26(2), 41(2) and (4) and 41.1(2) and (4), Part IX of the Official Languages Act applies with respect to a complaint made under subsection 18(1) as if the federally regulated private business that is the subject of the complaint were a federal institution.
62 (1) Paragraph 33(1)(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(b) defining “close to retirement”, “conditions that could impede the learning of French”, “consumer”, “employee”, “many years of service”, “region with a strong francophone presence”, “treat adversely” and any other term or expression that is used in any of sections 5 to 13 but not defined in section 2;
(2) Subsection 33(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Different numbers
(2) A regulation made under paragraph (1)(a) may specify a different number of employees for federally regulated private businesses that have workplaces in Quebec, for those that have workplaces in a region with a strong francophone presence and for those that do not have workplaces in Quebec or a region with a strong francophone presence but carry on business in Quebec or such a region.
Marginal note:Factors for defining “region with a strong francophone presence”
(2.1) In making a regulation that defines “region with a strong francophone presence” under paragraph (1)(b), the Governor in Council may take into account any factors that the Governor in Council considers appropriate, including
(a) the number of francophones in a region;
(b) the number of francophones in a region as a proportion of the region’s total population; and
(c) the vitality and specificity of French linguistic minority communities.
63 The Act is amended by adding the following after section 41:
Marginal note:Compliance agreements — regions with a strong francophone presence (communications and services)
41.1 (1) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.1(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by a consumer in a region with a strong francophone presence in respect of a right or duty under section 7.
Marginal note:Compliance agreements — regions with a strong francophone presence (language of work)
(2) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.1(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in a workplace in a region with a strong francophone presence in respect of a right or duty under any of sections 9 to 11.
Marginal note:Orders — regions with a strong francophone presence (communications and services)
(3) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.5(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by a consumer in a region with a strong francophone presence in respect of a right or duty under section 7.
Marginal note:Orders — regions with a strong francophone presence (language of work)
(4) The Commissioner is not permitted to exercise, before the day that may be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, the powers under subsection 64.5(1) of the Official Languages Act in respect of a complaint made by an employee who occupies or is assigned to a position in a workplace in a region with a strong francophone presence in respect of a right or duty under any of sections 9 to 11.
R.S., c. L-2Related Amendments to the Canada Labour Code
64 Subsection 9(2) of the Canada Labour Code is amended by striking out “and” at the end of paragraph (d), by adding “and” at the end of paragraph (e) and by adding the following after paragraph (e):
(f) any other full-time or part-time members that the Governor in Council considers necessary to assist the Board in carrying out its functions under the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act.
65 Subsection 10(3) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Exception
(3) The members of the Board appointed under paragraph 9(2)(e) or (f) are to be appointed by the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, to hold office during good behaviour for terms not exceeding three years each, subject to removal by the Governor in Council at any time for cause.
Marginal note:Members appointed under paragraph 9(2)(f)
(3.1) The members of the Board appointed under paragraph 9(2)(f) must have experience and expertise in official language rights.
66 Subsection 11(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Part-time occupation
(2) A part-time Vice-Chairperson, or a member appointed under paragraph 9(2)(e) or (f), must not hold any other employment or office in respect of which they receive any remuneration and that is inconsistent with their duties under this Act or the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act.
67 Section 12.02 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (4):
Marginal note:Members — paragraph 9(2)(f)
(5) For greater certainty, members appointed under paragraph 9(2)(f) are not permitted to vote on the making of regulations under section 15.
Transitional Provision
Marginal note:Minister of Canadian Heritage
68 The Minister of Canadian Heritage may, until the day on which the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, as enacted by section 54, comes into force, take any measure or carry out any activity in Canada that the Minister considers necessary for the implementation of sections 12 and 13 of that Act.
PART 3Coordinating Amendments and Coming into Force
Coordinating Amendments
Marginal note:This Act
69 On the first day on which both sections 37 and 54 of this Act are in force,
(a) subsection 16(4) of the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Non-application
(4) Section 56, subsections 65(3) and (4), sections 65.1 to 65.95 and subsection 66(3) of the Official Languages Act do not apply in respect of complaints or investigations relating to a right or duty under section 7.
(b) subsection 19(6) of the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Non-application
(6) Section 56, subsections 65(3) and (4), sections 65.1 to 65.95 and subsection 66(3) of the Official Languages Act do not apply in respect of the complaint.
Marginal note:Bill C-11
70 (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply if Bill C-11, introduced in the 1st session of the 44th Parliament and entitled the Online Streaming Act (in this section referred to as the “other Act”), receives royal assent.
(2) On the first day on which both section 2 of the other Act and section 21 of this Act are in force, paragraph 2(3)(b) of the Broadcasting Act is replaced by the following:
(b) the commitment of the Government of Canada to enhance the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and to support and assist their development, taking into account their uniqueness, diversity and historical and cultural contributions to Canadian society, as well as to foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
(3) On the first day on which both section 30 of the other Act and section 21 of this Act are in force, section 42.1 of the Official Languages Act is replaced by the following:
Marginal note:Recognition — Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
42.1 The Government of Canada recognizes that the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, in carrying out its purposes under the Broadcasting Act and subject to any applicable orders and regulations of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, contributes through its activities to enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and to the protection and promotion of both official languages. This recognition is made while respecting the freedom of expression and the journalistic, creative and programming independence enjoyed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Coming into Force
Marginal note:First anniversary
71 (1) Section 12 comes into force on the first anniversary of the day on which this Act receives royal assent.
Marginal note:Second anniversary
(1.1) Subsections 16(3.1) and (5) come into force on the second anniversary of the day on which this Act receives royal assent.
Marginal note:Order in council
(2) Section 23 comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Marginal note:Order in council
(3) Subsections 36(2) to (4), section 37, subsection 38(2), section 39 and subsections 43(1) and (3) come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Marginal note:Order in council
(4) The provisions of the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, as enacted by section 54, and sections 64 to 67 come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Marginal note:Second anniversary
(5) Sections 55 to 57.1, subsections 58(1) and 59(1) to (3) and (5) and sections 60 to 63 come into force on the second anniversary of the day fixed under subsection (4).
Marginal note:Order in council
(6) Subsection 58(2) comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
Marginal note:Order in council
(7) Subsection 59(4) comes into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
- Date modified: