Skip to content |

Common menu bar links

Institutional links

Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector

Equality, respect, recognition, opportunity

Official languages

At the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, we help ensure that federal institutions

communicate with and serve Canadians in the official language of their choice
create and maintain a work environment conducive to the effective use of both official languages
provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to English- and French-speaking Canadians.

Official languages: a winning formula

Canada’s two official languages are an integral part of the fundamental values of the Public Service and Canadian society.

Related documents

Guides
- Bilingual offices and facilities
  Information for offices and facilities of the Government of Canada that must provide service to Canadians in both official languages.
Reports
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada - June 2007
  Audit of Communications with and Services to the Public in Both Official Languages in Offices with New Obligations (Alberta, Ontario and Québec)
- Analytical Grid (Substantive Equality)
  This analytical grid has been created to assist Federal Institutions in ensuring that the services that the institution is required to offer in both official languages, including those delivered by a third party on behalf of your institution, pursuant to Part IV of the Official Languages Act (Communications with and Services to the Public), comply with the directions provided by the Supreme Court of Canada in its CALDECH decision.
- The Supreme Court of Canada Decision in the CALDECH (Desrochers) case and Analytical Grid
  What emerges from this decision is that it is essential for federal institutions to be well informed about the specific needs and realities of the official language minority being served to be able to satisfy the principle of substantive equality as formulated by the Court.
Research
- Minority Populations by First Official Language Spoken (2001 Census Data)
  Minority Populations by First Official Language Spoken in 2001
Smart Practices
- Culture Change
  Examples of how institutions subject to the Official Languages Act are making linguistic duality a central element of their core values.
- Language of Work
  Good Practices - Language of Work
- Leadership
  Examples of how institutions subject to the Official Languages Act are making linguistic duality a central element of their core values.
- Learning Retention
  Examples of how institutions subject to the Official Languages Act are making linguistic duality a central element of their core values.
- Management
  Examples of how institutions subject to the Official Languages Act are making linguistic duality a central element of their core values.
- Networking
  Examples of how institutions subject to the Official Languages Act are making linguistic duality a central element of their core values.
- Official Languages Good Practices
  Official Languages good practices generally applicable to every organization.
- Second Language Learning
  Examples of how institutions subject to the Official Languages Act are making linguistic duality a central element of their core values.
- Service to the Public
  Examples of how institutions subject to the Official Languages Act are making linguistic duality a central element of their core values.
Tips + FAQ
- Bilingual meetings
  Meetings are excellent opportunities to foster a bilingual environment.
- Bilingualism bonus
  Frequently asked questions
- Leaders make it happen in both official languages
  A checklist for managers in bilingual regions.
- Official languages
  Frequently asked questions
- Official languages rights in bilingual regions
  Information on about the rights of employees in bilingual regions.
- Quick facts about official languages
  Did you know that about 40% of positions in the Public Service of Canada require knowledge of both official languages?
- Support to official-language minority communities
  How the Government supports the development of official-language minority communities and promotes linguistic duality.
Tools
- Burolis
  informs the public on the language obligations of offices of institutions subject to the Official Languages Regulations.
- Determining the linguistic profile of bilingual positions
  Using a simple question-and-answer format (e.g. “Does the position require reading in the second official language?”), this interactive tool can produce a linguistic profile for reading, writing and oral interaction abilities for individual positions. (See also Public Service Commission Personnel Psychology Centre)
- Linguistic needs designator
  An interactive tool (with a tutorial) that helps managers determine the minimum number of employees required to provide services in the official language(s) of their clients.