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Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer

it's my day - Canada’s Public Service Magazine

Spring 2009

H1N1 Flu Virus, Information for Federal Employees

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.

Publications distributed during the « Official Languages: A Winning Formula » campaign are no longer available in hard copies but still are in electronic formats.

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.
- Campaign products
  List of official languages material and publications that can be ordered
Policy
- Bilingualism bonus directive
  Sets forth the conditions under which employees are eligible for the bilingualism bonus.
- Directive on the linguistic identification of positions or functions
  The language requirements of positions or functions reflect the duties of employees or their work units as well as obligations with respect to service to the public and language of work.
- Directive on the staffing of bilingual positions
  Bilingual positions are staffed imperatively. In exceptional cases, non-imperative staffing may be considered.
- Directive on the use of official languages in electronic communications
  The English and French versions of electronic communications are of equal quality and are available simultaneously.
- Directive on the use of official languages on web sites
  An institution's Web site respects linguistic obligations regarding communications with and services to the public by giving equality of status to English and French.
- Directives for implementing the official languages (communications with and services to the public) regulations, 1991
  Directives A, B and C regarding the implementation of the Official Languages (Communications with and Services to the Public) Regulations
- Official Languages Legislation
  Official Languages Legislation: Acts and Regulations
- Official Languages Policy framework
  Aims to make institutions and their employees accountable for achieving the government's official languages objectives.
- Other Policies Related to Official Languages
  Official Languages Policies & Information Related to Official Languages Policies
- Policy on Language of Work
  Outlines the obligation federal organizations have to create and maintain a work environment conducive to the effective use of both official languages.
- Policy on Official Languages for Human Resources Management
  Guided by this policy, federal institutions ensure that English- and French-speaking Canadians have equal opportunities for employment and advancement while respecting the merit principle.
- Policy on the Use of Official Languages for Communications with and Services to the Public
  Members of the public have the right to communicate with and receive services in either English or French from offices or facilities designated bilingual. Includes Directives for implementing the official languages (communications with and services to the public) regulations, 1991.
- Treasury Board Policy pursuant to paragraph 46(2)(a) of the Official Languages Act to give effect to Part V of the Act, concerning language of work
  The Treasury Board Policy on Language of Work is the instrument used for the application of certain key provisions in Part V of the Official Languages Act (OLA) concerning the language of work in federal institutions.
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)
- Annual report on official languages - 2005-06
  This annual report provides an account of the implementation of the Official Languages Program (the Program) within federal institutions subject to the Official Languages Act (the Act), and the activities and results with regard to their linguistic obligations for the 2005-06 fiscal year.
- Annual Report on Official Languages - Report in Brief 2005-2006
  Overview of the Annual Report on Official Languages
- Annual Report on Official Languages 2006-2007
  This annual report provides an account of the implementation of the Official Languages Program in federal institutions subject to the Official Languages Act, and activities and results regarding their linguistic obligations for the 2006-07 fiscal year.
Research
- Attitudes towards the use of both official languages within the Public Service of Canada - executive report
  Study on the attitudes towards the use of both official languages within the public service of canada - official languages branch
- Minority Populations by First Official Language Spoken (2001 Census Data)
  Minority Populations by First Official Language Spoken in 2001
- Minority Populations by First Official Language Spoken (2001 Census Data)
  2001 Census data on minority populations by first official language spoken
- Official languages and visible minorities in the Public Service of Canada
  This report presents the findings from a qualitative research project with federal government employees
- Toward a new vision for language training in the Public Service
  A discussion paper prepared for the ADM Working Group
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.