Fact Sheet

What’s New?

New Official Languages Policy Instruments
(effective July 15^th, 2005)

• Five policy instruments have been reduced to one policy and two directives.

• No new obligations have been introduced but the requirements have been stated more clearly.

• All institutions subject to the Official Languages Act (OLA) are subject to the three new policy instruments.

• The Policy on the Use of Official Languages for Communications with and Services to the Public flows from the obligations of the OLA.

• The Directive on the Use of Official Languages on Web Sites is aimed at employees who work in the field of information technology.

• The Directive on the Use of Official Languages in Electronic Communications is aimed at employees in general.

• The two directives support both the Policy on Language of Work and the Policy on the Use of Official Languages for Communications with and Services to the Public.

• Policy instruments are values-based and have been restructured, simplified, and modernized with an emphasis on expected results.

• Roles and responsibilities, as well as accountability and consequences, have been clearly established.

• Each policy instrument includes a section on monitoring and reporting. Institutions are responsible for assessing their compliance with the policy instruments.

• Definitions and notes give more detailed examples and guidance. Readers can simply click on the hyperlinks.

• All of the new policy instruments are supported by a series of tools available on the Web.