Get services from the provincial government in French.
You can get services in French from all ministries of the provincial government. It’s your right under the French Language Services Act .
This includes things like getting a driver’s licence or birth certificate. If you need information about a government program, you can get that in French too.
To get these services and information in French, you’ll go to a government office in – or near – an area where Francophones make up at least 10% of the population. A city must have at least 5,000 Francophones. These are called designated areas.
There are 26 designated areas in Ontario, as shown on this map. They are also listed below:
Roughly 80% of Ontario’s Francophone population live in the designated areas. There are more than 622,000 Francophones living in Ontario.
If you need to go to a municipal office, keep in mind the law does not require them to provide services or information in French.
Some municipalities may help deliver provincial services. Don’t hesitate to inquire if they offer services in French.
Government agencies also do work on behalf of ministries. You can get services in French from many of these agencies too.
All agencies (such as hospitals, children’s aid societies, seniors’ residences) do not have to provide services in French by law. But many agencies decide to seek a designation under the French Language Services Act.
You can receive services in French from more than 250 designated agencies. Read the list of designated agencies.
When you go to any one of these agencies you will receive a high level of service in French.
That’s because a designated agency must:
An active offer refers to an organization taking measures to bring the availability of services in French to the attention of an individual from the time contact is first made between the individual and the organization. The quality of these services must be equivalent to that of services offered in English. This includes measures such as all communications, that is, signs, notices, social media and other information on services.
Every three years, designated agencies are evaluated on their ability to continue to offer the same level of service as at the time of designation.
Agencies can apply to become designated providers of French-language services.
Learn how to submit an application for your organization.
If you feel an Ontario government ministry or agency has not given you adequate French-language service, you can file a complaint with the Ontario Ombudsman’s office
You can contact the Ombudsman’s French Language Services Unit at sf-fls@ombudsman.on.ca or by calling 416-847-1515 .
Remember: it’s your right to receive services from the provincial government in French. You also have the right to let us know when improvement is needed.
The French Language Services Commissioner is under the authority of the Ontario Ombudsman’s office. The Commissioner’s mandate is to investigate complaints relating to the French Language Services Act , conduct investigations to ensure compliance with the Act and report the findings in an annual report tabled in the Legislative Assembly.