Legal obligation

A Francophone immigrant contacted us after going to a provincial courthouse located in an area designated under the French Language Services Act (i.e., where services in French must be provided) for a family law matter. The woman said she was unable to obtain services in French at the court counter. She told us that she “gets by in English,” but the legal vocabulary is far beyond her and her comprehension is diminished. Courthouse staff told her the only French-speaking worker at the counter was absent that day. The woman decided to return home and go to the courthouse another day. 

Result: We brought the situation to the attention of the courthouse management and the Ministry of the Attorney General. Since then, the courthouse has recruited five French-speaking people and ensures that there is always more than one French speaker at the counter.

It has also ensured that all courthouse staff are aware of their obligation to ensure an active offer of services in French, as well as the procedure for doing so.

In addition, Ministry officials told us that all courthouse staff have a list of bilingual employees and are instructed to contact them if anyone wishes to be served in French.

They said French language services are a regular topic at regional leaders’ team meetings.