Bilingualism not on their radar

A Francophone received an automated speed enforcement camera ticket in the mail from their municipality. The document was bilingual and directed the reader to the municipality’s website to pay the ticket. However, the website was entirely in English.

RESULT: The municipality, like others across Ontario, administers most cases related to provincial offences on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General. As a result, the municipality is considered to be a third party according to Ontario Regulation 284/11 under the French Language Services Act, which requires government agencies to ensure that French language services are still provided when contracted to a third party. As a result of our intervention in this case, the municipality confirmed that their provincial offences website, including the portion of the site for payment of automated speeding tickets, will be available in both languages. Work on the website began in fall 2024 and the municipality expects it to be completed by the end of the year. We will continue to closely monitor this project.


Learn more about the French Language Services Unit which answers questions and takes complaints about services in French.
Read about how we helped other people in our Selected cases.