Question Period Note: Strengthening the powers of the Commissioner of Official languages

The Act for the Substantive Equality of Canada’s Official Languages Act (abbreviated title), includes, among other things, a strengthening of the Commissioner of Official Languages’ powers, such as the ability to impose administrative monetary penalties to certain privatized entities or Crown corporations currently subject to the Official Languages Act and which provides services to the travelling public.

Work is underway to strengthen the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages, including the development of the Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations.

Pre-consultations have been held with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, the provinces and territories, official languages stakeholders, organisations, and institutions to which this regime could apply. The pre-consultation process will continue this fall and beginning of 2025 with groups representing Indigenous peoples.

Only certain entities already subject to the Official Languages Act in the transportation sector, that communicate and offer services to the travelling public, will be subject to the new administrative monetary penalty regime. The purpose is to promote institutional compliance.

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