Official Languages Advisory

This Official Languages Advisory provides information on the choice of official language in which to process a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

When submitting a complaint to the Commission, the complainant is asked to choose the official language (English or French) in which they wish to file their complaint. The Commission has the capacity to process complaints in both English and French.

Once the complainant chooses the official language of their complaint, all other parties must submit their materials in that same language. The Commission is not responsible for translating any of the parties’ documents.

It is only under very rare circumstances that the Commission will allow the Complainant to switch their chosen official language for the complaint. Likewise, it is only under very rare circumstances that the Commission will allow any of the other parties to submit their materials in the other official language.

The Commission strives to process complaints as efficiently as possible to allow swift access to justice. Allowing a switch in official languages or any party to submit materials in the other official language during the processing of a complaint causes unnecessary delays in the process.

In fact, the Official Languages Act does not require the Commission to switch official languages. Nor does it require the Commission to allow any party to submit materials in the other official language during the processing of a complaint. See sections 22(a)(b), 24(2) and 28 of the Official Languages Act.

Exceptional circumstances under which the Commission may allow a Complainant to change their official language:

• a Complainant is no longer represented by counsel and wishes to represent themselves in the other official language;

• a Complainant is vulnerable;^{Footnote 1}

• the original material is in the other official language (for example, a doctor’s note); and

• on a case-by-case basis, as requested with the discretion of the Commission.

How to make a request:

To request changing the official language of the complaint or to submit documents not in the language of the complaint, you must do so in writing by contacting the Commission at complaint@chrc-ccdp.gc.ca. The Commission will review each request on a case-by-case basis. Any party may make a request at any stage of the process.

Please note that, although a Complainant can ask for a change in language that might in some circumstances be accepted by the Commission, we cannot force the Respondent to change from the language originally chosen by the Complainant. This is especially true when legal counsel has been retained by the Respondent, and the file is advanced in the complaints process.