Manitoba Civil Service Commission

Questions And Answers

1. How does the French Language Services Policy affect the Civil Service?
2. What is the basis for the French Language Services Policy?
3. How do managers provide French Language Services?
4. Can language proficiency be a condition of employment for a new employee?
5. Is a bilingual employee paid more than other staff?
6. Where can you find more information on French Language Services?

Questions And Answers

1. How does the French Language Services Policy affect the civil service?

The French Language Services Policy states that the services provided by the Government of Manitoba shall be offered, to the extent possible, in both official languages in areas where the French-speaking population is concentrated. French Language Services are the written, verbal and audio-visual communications in the French language by which a government department provides information or assistance to the members of the Francophone community in Manitoba.

2. What is the basis for the French Language Services Policy?

The basis of the French Language Services Policy is the Manitoba Act (1870) which gives equal status to English and French as languages to be used in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly and in the courts. The Manitoba government's French Language Services Policy recognizes the fact that the French-speaking population of Manitoba is a constituent part of one of the fundamental characteristics of Canada.

The purpose of the Policy is to allow Manitoba's French-speaking population to access comparable government services in the language of the laws of Manitoba. The FLS Policy contributes to the development of the province's Francophone community. Further, by employing bilingual staff, the government is able to act as an important link with Francophone regions throughout Canada and the world.

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3. How do managers provide French language service?

The first step in providing French language services is to identify services and offices requiring bilingual employees. Once this is done, the manager designates bilingual positions along with back-up positions.

The manager has three options for filling designated bilingual positions:

• recruiting a bilingual person to fill a vacancy in a designated position
• transferring a non-bilingual employee in order to create a vacancy which would be filled by recruiting a bilingual person
• upgrading the French language skills of an existing employee.

The French Language Services Policy requires departments to use the French-language media to advertise positions where French is a requirement or an asset. The advertisement should ask candidates to submit their resumes in both English and French.

4. Can language proficiency be a condition of employment for a new employee?

Yes. When efforts to recruit a qualified bilingual person for the designated position have been unsuccessful, managers can require a new appointee to a designated position to establish and maintain a specific level of proficiency in French. This requirement should be outlined in the letter of offer. The new employee's French language ability should be assessed before the probationary period ends.

5. Is a bilingual employee paid more than other staff?

No, bilingual employees receive no additional pay.

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6. Where can you find more information on French Language Services?

For more information about French language services in the Government of Manitoba, see the French Language Services Policy or the Guidelines Manual for the Implementation of FLS.

You may contact:

Francophone Affairs Secretariat
Room 46 - Legislative Building
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8
Phone: (204) 945-4915
Fax: (204) 948-2015
www.gov.mb.ca/fls-slf

Authority

• Manitoba Act (1870)
• French Language Services (FLS) Policy tabled in Legislature - Nov. 6, 1989
• French Language Services Policy - revised & approved by Cabinet - March 10, 1999

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