Government services in French
Get services from the provincial government in French.
How it works
You can get services in French from all ministries of the provincial government. It’s your right under the French Language Services Act.
This includes things like getting a driver’s licence or birth certificate. If you need information about a government program, you can get that in French too.
To get these services and information in French, you’ll go to a government office in – or near – an area where Francophones make up at least 10% of the population. A city must have at least 5,000 Francophones. These are called designated areas.
Find a designated area
Designation of Areas
In November 2025, the Government of Ontario approved the expansion of 6 designated areas under the French Language Services Act to reflect current municipal boundaries. French-language services offered by the government, or its agencies in these areas will start on January 1, 2029, following a 3-year implementation period.
List of Designated Areas as of January 2026
This map shows the designated areas in Ontario under the French Language Services Act as of January 2026. They are also listed, as set out in Ontario Regulation 272/25.
Municipality, city or district | Designation | |
| 1. | City of Hamilton | All of the City of Hamilton as it exists on December 31, 2000 |
| 2. | City of Ottawa | All |
| 3. | City of Toronto | All |
| 4. | Regional Municipality of Niagara | Cities of: Port Colborne and Welland |
| 5. | Regional Municipality of Peel | Cities of: Brampton and Mississauga |
| 6. | Regional Municipality of York | City of Markham |
| 7. | United Counties of Prescott and Russell | All |
| 8. | County of Dundas | Township of Winchester |
| 9. | County of Essex | City of Windsor Towns of: Belle River and Tecumseh Townships of: Anderdon, Colchester North, Maidstone, Rochester, Sandwich South, Sandwich West, Tilbury North and Tilbury West |
| 10. | County of Frontenac | City of Kingston |
| 11. | County of Glengarry | All |
| 12. | County of Kent | Town of Tilbury Townships of: Dover and Tilbury East |
| 13. | County of Lambton | City of Sarnia |
| 14. | County of Middlesex | City of London |
| 15. | County of Renfrew | City of Pembroke Townships of: Stafford and Westmeath |
| 16. | County of Simcoe | Town of Penetanguishene Townships of: Essa and Tiny |
| 17. | County of Stormont | All |
| 18. | District of Algoma | All |
| 19. | District of Cochrane | All |
| 20. | District of Kenora | Township of Ignace |
| 21. | District of Nipissing | All |
| 22. | District of Parry Sound | Municipality of Callander |
| 23. | District of Sudbury | All, including the City of Greater Sudbury |
| 24. | District of Thunder Bay | Towns of: Geraldton, Longlac and Marathon Townships of: Beardmore, Manitouwadge, Nakina and Terrace Bay |
| 25. | District of Timiskaming | All |
List of Designated Areas after Implementation (January 2029)
This map shows the designated areas in Ontario under the French Language Services Act after the 3-year implementation period, effective January 1, 2029. The changes are also listed, as set out in Ontario Regulation 272/25.
| Municipality, City or District | Designation | |
| 1. | City of Hamilton | All |
| 8. | United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry | City of Cornwall Townships of: North Dundas, North Glengarry, North Stormont, South Glengarry and South Stormont |
| 9. | County of Essex | City of Windsor Municipality of Lakeshore Towns of: Amherstburg, Essex, LaSalle and Tecumseh |
| 12. | Municipality of Chatham-Kent | All |
| 15. | County of Renfrew | City of Pembroke Townships of: Laurentian Valley and Whitewater Region |
| 24. | District of Thunder Bay | Municipality of Greenstone Town of Marathon Townships of: Manitouwadge and Terrace Bay |
Roughly 80% of Ontario’s Francophone population live in the designated areas. There are more than 652,540 Francophones living in Ontario.
If you need to go to a municipal office, keep in mind the law does not require them to provide services or information in French.
Some municipalities may help deliver provincial services. Don’t hesitate to inquire if they offer services in French.
Designated agencies
Government agencies also do work on behalf of ministries. You can get services in French from many of these agencies too.
All agencies (such as hospitals, children’s aid societies, seniors’ residences) do not have to provide services in French by law. But many agencies decide to seek a designation under the French Language Services Act.
You can receive services in French from more than 250 designated agencies. Read the list of designated agencies.
When you go to a designated agency
When you go to any one of these agencies you will receive a high level of service in French.
That’s because a designated agency must:
- ensure that quality services in French are available on a permanent and continuous basis
- guarantee access to services and follow the principle of active offer
- put in place governance and accountability mechanisms for French-language services
Every three years, designated agencies are evaluated on their ability to continue to offer the same level of service as at the time of designation.
If you work for an agency
Agencies can apply to become designated providers of French-language services.
Learn how to submit an application for your organization.
Filing a complaint
If you feel an Ontario government ministry or agency has not given you adequate French-language service, you can file a complaint with the Ontario Ombudsman’s office
You can contact the Ombudsman’s French Language Services Unit at sf-fls@ombudsman.on.ca or by calling
Remember: it’s your right to receive services from the provincial government in French. You also have the right to let us know when improvement is needed.
Investigating complaints
The French Language Services Commissioner is under the authority of the Ontario Ombudsman’s office. The Commissioner’s mandate is to investigate complaints relating to the French Language Services Act, conduct investigations to ensure compliance with the Act and report the findings in an annual report tabled in the Legislative Assembly.