Preamble

Whereas in Ontario the French language is recognized as an official language in the courts and generally in the administration of justice and in education;

Whereas the French language is an historic and honoured language in Ontario;

Whereas the Ontario Bar Association (formerly known as the Canadian Bar Association - Ontario) therefore recognizes the need and desirability to serve its members and the general public in both official languages;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following policy be adopted:

1.     Principles

OBA's goals for linguistic equality are based on these principles:

English and French are the official languages

1.1     English and French are the official languages of the Ontario Branch.

Right to service in language of choice

1.2     Members of the Ontario Branch and the public may communicate with the Ontario Branch in either English or French and have the right to receive a reply in their chosen language.

Use of English and French to be encouraged at all levels

1.3     The Ontario Branch is committed to creating an environment in which people feel free to use the official language of their choice.

2.     Meetings of Council, the Executive and those of OBA Committees

Notices

2.1     All notices and agendas for the meetings may be in either English or French. Minutes of the meetings may be in either language.

Participation at meetings
2.2     Members shall be entitled to participate at a meeting in either English or French at their discretion.

3.     Documents of the Branch

Constitution and By-Laws of the Branch

3.1     The Ontario Branch ensures that its Constitution and By-Laws are enacted in French and in English, each version thereof to be equally authoritative.

Reports of Task Forces, Committees, Sections and Conferences

3.2     Where important reports are drafted in one official language only, an attempt is made whenever possible to include an executive summary of the contents of the report in the other official language.

4.     Communication with OBA Membership and with the Public

Correspondence

4.1     All correspondence addressed to the Ontario Branch in either French or English receives a response in the language chosen by the sender. Personalized correspondence sent by the Branch to a member shall be in the language chosen by the member as indicated in his/her profile.

Notice of Section, Conference, and Branch activities

4.2     Notices for Section, Conference and Branch activities shall be in the language of the activity itself except when the activity is in both English and French in which case the notice will be bilingual.

Notices sent by the Branch

4.3     General notices sent to the membership at large may be in English only but the inclusion of a French summary is encouraged.

"Briefly Speaking - En Bref"

4.4     There shall be a French section in "Briefly Speaking - En Bref".

5.      Official Languages Committee

Official Languages Committee

5.1     There shall be a permanent Committee of the Ontario Branch called the "Official Languages Committee - Comité des langues officielles".

5.2     This committee may include representatives of relevant organizations in addition to those OBA members who are interested in official languages.

5.3     Its Executive consists of a Chair and Vice-Chair, together with such other officers as the members of the Committee may determine from time to time.

6.     "Groupe francophone de l'ABCO"

"Groupe francophone"

6.1     The "Groupe francophone" shall be constituted by the Branch.

6.2     The purpose of the "Groupe" is to organize Section activities in various regions of Ontario for the French speaking membership of OBA.

6.3     Its Executive consists of a Chair and a Vice-Chair, together with such other officers as the members of the Committee may determine from time to time.

7.     Continuing Legal Education in French

Continuing Legal Education in French

7.1     The Ontario Branch offers Continuing Legal Education in French whenever it is feasible to do so. It endeavours to work with other organizations such as l'AJEFO, CBA, the Conference of French-Speaking Members of the CBA, the University of Ottawa, The Law Society of Upper Canada and others in providing such programs.

8.     French Language Services Co-ordinator

French Language Services Co-ordinator

8.1     The permanent staff of the Ontario Branch includes a bilingual Coordinator to implement this policy and perform other related tasks as requested by the Branch.

9.     Law Day

Law Day activities

9.1     The Branch ensures that the annual celebrations of LAW DAY includes a French component.

10.     Internal Administration

Bilingual reception

10.1     The permanent staff of the Ontario Branch includes a bilingual telephone receptionist.

Other bilingual staff

10.2     The Branch tries to have bilingual staff for those who come into direct contact with the members and the public.

Language Training

10.3     The Branch endeavours to offer French language training to its employees as funds become available.

Hiring and Promotion

10.4     Knowledge of both English and French are taken into account when the Branch hires new employees.

Letterhead, Signage

10.5     The Branch ensures that all letterhead reflect both official languages. This also applies to signage at the premises of OBA and to all advertising of a general nature, including its INTERNET web site.


Adopted by CBAO Council, April 4, 1997.