The French Language Services Policy

Statement of Policy

March 1999

The French Language Services policy of the Government of Manitoba recognizes the fact that the French-speaking population of Manitoba is a constituent of one of the fundamental characteristics of Canada. The policy's purpose is to allow this community and the institutions serving it to access comparable government services in the language of the laws of Manitoba.

The services provided by the Government of Manitoba are offered, to the extent possible, in both official languages in areas where the French-speaking population is concentrated. The designated areas are shown on the accompanying map.

Administrative bodies covered by this policy consider the objectives of this policy and possible impacts on the Francophone community when planning and carrying out administrative or legislative reorganizations and reforms, including boundary reorganizations.

French language services are provided in completely bilingual service centres located in the designated areas. They are also provided, as approved or specified by the Minister responsible for French Language Services, in partially bilingual service centres that have a sufficient number of designated positions and bilingual employees to ensure an effective delivery of such services.

French language services are actively offered by the administrative bodies covered by this policy. The concept of active offer means that services in French, whether provided by oral, written or electronic methods, are evident, readily available and easily accessible to the general public, and of comparable quality to those offered in English.

All correspondence with individuals or groups is in the official language preferred by the recipient.

Unless specified otherwise by the Minister responsible for French Language Services, all forms, identity documents and certificates intended for the general public are in a bilingual format.

All information materials (written, audio-visual or electronic) intended for the general public are produced in a bilingual format, unless cost and distribution considerations justify separate language versions. The French language equivalent can be the version posted on the administrative body's Internet site in circumstances specified by the Minister responsible for French Language Services. Separate language versions are released simultaneously.

Unless specified otherwise by the Minister responsible for French Language Services, Web sites provide information and facilitate interactions with the public in both official languages.

Unless specified otherwise by the Minister responsible for French Language Services, signs and public notices in the designated areas and in the bilingual service centres are in both official languages.

The availability of French language services is made evident with appropriate signage and reception messages.

Public information campaigns in the English language have a counterpart in the French language, subject to cost and distribution considerations.

The administrative bodies to which the policy applies use the French-language media to advertise vacant staff positions where French is a requirement or an asset.

Unless otherwise specified by the Minister responsible for French Language Services, only bilingual employees are recruited in the bilingual service centres and designated positions until such time as the bilingual personnel requirements are met.

Where the staff of a bilingual service centre is completely bilingual, the administrative body encourages the use of French as the language of work.

Nominations to boards, commissions, agencies, etc., take due account of the language dimension of government policy, as well as the right of any Manitoban to use either official language before quasi-judicial tribunals.

This policy applies to and is implemented by the following administrative bodies:

• All government departments and boards, commissions, corporations and special operating agencies reporting to them,
• Crown corporations and extra departmental organizations
• Offices of the legislative assembly and quasi-judicial agencies subject to the requirements of Section 23 of the Manitoba Act,
• Public utilities governed by the Public Utilities Board and serving designated areas,
• Designated health facilities, social services agencies and Regional Health Authorities,
• Others as may be specified by the Minister responsible for French Language Services.

The implementation of this policy is guided and monitored by the French Language Services Secretariat, whose mandate applies to all the administrative bodies covered by this policy. In fulfilling its mandate, the French Language Services Secretariat seeks and facilitates the implementation of this policy in a manner consistent with the concept of active offer and makes recommendations to that effect.

The Minister responsible for French Language Services may direct the administrative bodies covered by this policy to carry out certain actions to better meet the objectives of this policy.

In order to ensure public accountability, the French Language Services Secretariat publishes an annual report detailing the results of this policy's implementation by the administrative bodies covered by this policy. The annual report is prepared in collaboration with these administrative bodies.