Fantino’s office issued directive for English-only letters

OTTAWA — The office of International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino twice issued a directive that all communication with his signature be in English only, even if the recipient was Frenchspeaking.

Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser has agreed to look into the matter after a complaint from the New Democrats, who argue the order may violate the Official Languages Act.

The legislation guarantees the right of federal employees to work in their own language.

Civil servants working for Fantino were told verbally last February that people who write to the department in French can receive a response in French.

The first directive was issued last July, shortly after Fantino was named to his current post in a cabinet shuffle. The directive was withdrawn after it was questioned, an employee of the Canadian International Development Agency said, but was reissued in February.

“I would like to reiterate that ALL correspondence signed by the minister be sent in English,” said the email from Fantino’s office.

“In special cases, ie (Haitian Prime Minister Laurent) Lamothe, then it makes sense, but for example, for the Ethiopia trip thank you letters to staff, we noted twice that we had some in FR (French). I understand that we know the recipients first language is French however the minister can write in English if he chooses to do so.”