English and French in the workplace...what federal employees need to know (March 1995)
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Questions on language and career advancement
13. I have colleagues who are unilingual federal public service employees in Saskatchewan. How does the Official Languages Act affect their chances for advancement in the Public Service?
Only 29 per cent of federal public service positions are bilingual, most of them (55.6 per cent) in the National Capital Region. In Saskatchewan the percentage of bilingual positions is only 3.3, reflecting the application of the Act in that province. This means that Canadians who speak only one official language have opportunities for advancement in the federal Public Service. In addition, many bilingual positions are open to unilingual employees who are willing to take language training and have the aptitude to learn a second language.
The chart below provides information on the language requirements of jobs in the federal Public Service. A similar breakdown for federal positions in each province or territory is available from the nearest office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.
| Public service positions - language requirements English or French 10,000 (4.7%) English essential 127,000 (60.0%) French essential 13,800 (6.5%) Bilingual 61,000 (28.8%) Source: Treasury Board, September 1994. |
14. I am a unilingual public service employee whose job has recently been redesignated as bilingual. Does this mean I can receive language training at government expense?
Normally, yes. You can take language training at government expense to acquire your second-language skills. However, you can also remain in your current position without having to meet the new language requirements. The same rule applies to public service employees in bilingual positions whose language requirements have been raised. In Crown corporations the rules may be different.
15. Can I apply for a bilingual position in a federal department even if I am not bilingual?
If a bilingual position is staffed non-imperatively you may apply, even if you are not bilingual. But you must agree to take second-language training if you win the competition, and you must have the potential to meet the language requirements within a certain time. A process that includes a diagnostic test will determine this.
If a bilingual position is staffed imperatively you must meet the language requirements at the time of the competition. Usually this is established by means of second-language tests. Term positions or positions requiring technical or specialized vocabulary are staffed imperatively, as are certain positions that serve the public (e.g., a position that is the only point of contact with the public). Crown corporations may have different rules.
16. How is it decided whether a job should be classified as bilingual?
When proficiency in both English and French is judged to be necessary for a job, it is classified as bilingual - either for service to the public, supervision or internal services. A set of objective criteria is used to determine what kinds and levels of skills are necessary.
