Summary of language rights in Canada and complaint mechanisms

Laurentian University 

Applicable Norms 

Laurentian Act, SO 1960, c. 151
French Language Services Act, RSO 1990, c. F.32
Policy on Bilingualism at Laurentian University, 2013
Regulation designating Laurentian University

Summary

Laurentian University’s enabling Act recognizes the bilingual character of the institution and gives it the power to establish courses in either or both of the French and English languages. The University adopted its first policy on bilingualism in 2005, declaring English and French to be its official languages. The Board of Governors adopted a revised policy on bilingualism in 2014. The following year, in 2014, the University was designated as a government agency within the meaning of the Ontario French Language Services Act.

Everyone has the right to communicate with the administration of Laurentian University, including at meetings of its Senate and committees, in the official language of their choice. The University’s official communications are simultaneous in both languages. All services of the University are permanently available in both official languages, in accordance with the principles of active offer, and are of equal quality in both languages. In addition, under the FLSA, Laurentian University is to offer all courses leading to the 13 degrees designated by the Regulation in French.

Complaint Mechanisms

There are two language complaint mechanisms at Laurentian University: the Associate Vice-President, Academic and Francophone Affairs, and the Ontario Ombudsman.

1. Associate Vice-President, Academic and Francophone Affairs

• In person: Parker Building, P-332, Laurentian University
• By mail: Associate Vice-President, Academic and Francophone Affairs, Parker Building, P-332, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd. Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6
• By telephone: 705-675-1151, ext. 3390
• By email: designation@laurentian.ca
• Via the online form

2. Ontario Ombudsman

As a designated university, Laurentian University must also comply with the FLSA. As a result, the Ontario Ombudsman may receive language complaints against the University, but those complaints may deal solely with violations regarding the services and programs identified in the Regulation designating Laurentian University.

A protocol signed by Laurentian University and the former Office of the French Language Services Commissioner (OFLSC) in 2014 provided that any language complaint first had to be submitted to the Vice-President, Academic and Francophone Affairs. That practice should still apply after May 1, 2019, the date on which the Ontario Ombudsman assumed the functions of the former OFLSC. It is therefore preferable to exhaust Laurentian University’s internal remedies before having recourse to the Ontario Ombudsman.