StraitTalk - November 2019

don barnes named
New Official Languages Champion
As a federal Crown Corporation, Marine Atlantic is subject to
the Official Languages Act and must offer customer service
in Canada’s two official languages, French and English. At our
various locations, terminals and on board our vessels, customers
have the right to ask for service in their official language of
choice, and that’s why designated positions throughout the
Corporation have been identified as bilingual. Any materials
published by MAI for distribution outside the organization are
required to be bilingual.
To assist Marine Atlantic in meeting the requirements outlined
in the Official Languages Act, two internal positions have been
designated to monitor our actions in meeting the legislation and
work towards continuous improvement.
Don Barnes, Vice President of Customer Experience, was
recently named as the Corporation’s Official Languages
Champion. In this role, Don will provide leadership in the
development of action plans towards the promotion of
initiatives related to official languages within Marine Atlantic.
“I am very excited to take on this important position and
help our Corporation meet our obligations under the Official
Languages Act. In this role, I will be joining 215 of my
colleagues from all federal departments, agencies and Crown
Corporations across the country. I look forward to our joint
efforts in providing the best possible service to our customers
in the official language of their choice.”
Don will join Darrell Mercer, the Corporation’s Person
Responsible for Official Languages, in working with employees,
and continuing MAI’s outreach activities with representatives
from the across the country who monitor and work to improve
official language offerings at all federal government institutions.
Should you have any questions regarding official languages at
Marine Atlantic, please feel free to contact
Don: dbarnes@marineatlantic.ca, (709) 772-8973,
or Darrell: dmercer@marineatlantic.ca, (709) 772-0073.
Official Languages Act
Communications with and services to the public (Section 6.2)
Deputy heads ensure that the language obligations of offices of
their institutions are determined according to the OLA and the
Regulations. Bilingual offices communicate with and provide
services to members of the public in the official language chosen
by the member of the public. In addition, deputy heads ensure that:
• 6.2.1 (Active offer) The institution actively offers
communications with and services to the public at designated
offices in both official languages.
• 6.2.2 (Equality and simultaneity) The institution respects the
principle of substantive equality in its communications and
services to the public. It also respects the equal status of both
official languages by making communications and services in
both official languages available simultaneously.
• 6.2.3 (Third party services) The institution respects the right
of the public to receive communications and services in the
official language of its choice when the public communicates
with or receives services from a third party acting on behalf of
the institution.
• 6.2.4 (Method of communication) The institution meets its
official languages obligations with regard to communications
with and services to the public regardless of the method of
communication used.
• 6.2.5 (Precedence of the public’s rights over employees’ rights)
The institution informs employees, according to section 31
of the OLA, that the public’s right to communicate with and
receive services from the institution in the official language of
the public’s choice takes precedence over the language-of-work
rights of employees.
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