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.

Revised Official Languages Policy Instruments

The Treasury Board Secretariat has revised its official languages policy instruments as part of the People Management Policy Review Project. The new official languages policy instruments clarify deputy heads’ responsibilities, strengthen accountability and support coherence across government.

Following Treasury Board approval, a new official languages policy suite comes into effect on November 19, 2012. It contains the following four policy instruments:

• Policy on Official Languages,
• Directive on Official Languages for People Management
• Directive on Official Languages for Communications and Services
• Directive on the Implementation of the Official Languages (Communications with and Services to the Public) Regulations

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.

• Persons Responsible for Official Languages and Official Languages Champions in Institutions Subject to the Official Languages Act
• Quick facts about official languages
• Leaders make it happen in both official languages
• Bilingual meetings: Benefits and helpful hints
• The Official Languages Act and you
• Official languages rights in bilingual regions
• Bilingual offices and facilities
• Support to official-language minority communities