http://www.ontla.on.ca/documents/Bills/38_Parliament/Session1/b163_e.htm

Bill 163 2004
An Act to amend the City of Ottawa Act, 1999

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1. The City of Ottawa Act, 1999 is amended by adding the following section:

Policy respecting use of English and French languages

11.1 (1) The city shall adopt a policy respecting the use of the English and French languages in all or specified parts of the administration of the city and in the provision of all or specified municipal services by the city.

Scope and content of policy

(2) The scope and content of the policy adopted under subsection (1) shall be as determined by the city.

Existing policy

(3) If, before the day this section comes into force, the city has adopted a policy respecting the use of the English and French languages as described in subsection (1) that is lawful, that policy shall be deemed to be a policy adopted under subsection (1).

Limitation

(4) The requirement to adopt a policy under this section is independent of and unaffected by the power to pass a by-law under section 14 of the French Language Services Act and nothing in this section affects the interpretation of section 14 of that Act.

Commencement

2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3. The short title of this Act is the City of Ottawa Amendment Act, 2004.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The new section 11.1 of the City of Ottawa Act, 1999 requires the city to adopt a policy respecting the use of the English and French languages in all or specified parts of the administration of the city and in the provision of all or specified municipal services by the city.




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Wed, December 15, 2004


Bilingual policy a letdown

Grit bill for city 'meaningless'

By TOBI COHEN, Ottawa Sun

BOTH SIDES of the debate were left scratching their heads yesterday after the province introduced its controversial bilingualism bill for the City of Ottawa. Similar to an oft-criticized private members' bill tabled by a NDP MPP in July, the bill would require the city to have a French-language policy for staff and services.

It falls short, however, of entrenching the city's current bilingualism policy in its municipal charter, thereby leaving it open to change.

"Our legislation does not change the City of Ottawa's freedom to develop its own policy regarding the issue," said Municipal Affairs Minister John Gerretsen.

'WASTE OF TIME'

"We believe our proposed legislation would recognize the bilingual character of our nation's capital."

Nepean-Carleton Tory MPP John Baird called the bill a "waste of time."

"I'm just stunned by how meaningless this bill is," he said, noting the word "bilingual" isn't even in the bill. He described it as "Christmas dinner without any turkey."

Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. and staunch bilingualism supporter Jacques Legendre agreed the bill was a far cry from what he'd hoped for.

Legendre said that by not entrenching bilingualism, the bill leaves the issue open to continuous debate.

But Mayor Bob Chiarelli said the province did exactly what the city asked it to, which is recognize the bilingual nature of the capital while respecting the city's right to adapt without having to go through Queen's Park.

Despite the bill's watered-down language, the group Canadians For Language Fairness was upset. Spokesman Sebastian Anders said the bill leaves the city's bilingualism policy open to pressure from "francophone militant organizations."

TRANSLATION

What does bilingualism mean?

Official bilingualism: The federal policy that gives Canadians the right to communicate with the federal government, in either French or English. The policy also gives public servants the right to work in the official language of their choice.

Practical bilingualism: Coined by members of Ottawa council to differentiate their brand of bilingualism. This policy encourages city staff to work in their official language and assures bilingual staff are available, where necessary, to service clients in French and English.