Question Period Note: Complaints to the Official Languages Commissioner in 2018-2019

In the past year, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages handled a record number of 1,086 complaints. The Commissioner says he is able to continue his mandate with the current budget.

• Our government is firmly committed to supporting Canadians who are members of official language minority communities so they can thrive across Canada.
• Our Action Plan for Official Languages, as well as the review underway to modernize the Official Languages Act, are testaments to our commitment to Canada’s official languages.

• On April 2, 2019, during his appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages on the 2019-2020 Interim Estimates, the Commissioner of Official Languages (COL) stated that “Complaints have been on the rise since 2012—from upwards of 400 to more than 1,000”.
• The COL added: “For now, based on the improvements we’ve made to manage our complaint files, I am confident that my staff and I can continue to fulfil our mandate within the current funding envelope. However, if the trend continues, we will understandably have to consider asking for additional funding”
• The CBC article published on the same day states that in 2018, the COL reached a record number of 1,086 complaints, an increase of 21 percent over 2017-2018.
• According to the article, in 2019-2020, the Office of the COL’s budget will be 21.7 million dollars, which includes the 15.1 million dollars needed to pay employees’ salaries, and 4.3 million dollars for operating expenses and a credit of 2.3 million dollars.
• These funds are used to support the Office of the COL in carrying out its mandate through its two programs—protection of official language rights and advancement of English and French in Canadian society—which are supported by internal services.
o Protection activities include investigations, audits and other compliance-related activities, as well as legal services. Planned spending in 2019-2020 for this program is 7.6 million dollars, or 35 percent of the total budget.
o Planned spending for advancement activities is 7.2 million dollars in 2019-2020, and
6.9 million dollars has been allocated for internal services, which respectively represent 33 and 32 percent of the total budget.
• Other than the statutory expenditures, the budget for 2019-2020 is essentially the same as that of 2018-2019.
• The COL is an agent of Parliament appointed by commission under the Great Seal, after approval by resolution of the Senate and House of Commons, for a seven-year term. He reports directly to Parliament.
• It is the duty of the COL to take all actions and measures within his authority with a view to ensuring recognition of the status of each of the official languages and compliance with the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act in the administration of the affairs of federal institutions, including any of their activities relating to the advancement of English and French in Canadian society.

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