Official Languages Act

Marginal note:Nature of the office

• 24 (1) Every federal institution has the duty to ensure that any member of the public can communicate in either official language with, and obtain available services in either official language from, any of its offices or facilities in Canada or elsewhere

  • (a) in any circumstances prescribed by regulation of the Governor in Council that relate to any of the following:

    • (i) the health, safety or security of members of the public,

    • (ii) the location of the office or facility, or

    • (iii) the national or international mandate of the office; or

  • (b) in any other circumstances prescribed by regulation of the Governor in Council where, due to the nature of the office or facility, it is reasonable that communications with and services from that office or facility be available in both official languages.

• Marginal note:Institutions reporting directly to Parliament

  (2) Any federal institution that reports directly to Parliament on any of its activities has the duty to ensure that any member of the public can communicate with and obtain available services from all of its offices or facilities in Canada or elsewhere in either official language.

• Marginal note:Idem

  (3) Without restricting the generality of subsection (2), the duty set out in that subsection applies in respect of

  • (a) the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages;

  • (b) the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer;

  • (b.1) the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner;

  • (c) the Office of the Auditor General;

  • (d) the Office of the Information Commissioner;

  • (e) the Office of the Privacy Commissioner; and

  • (f) the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying.