Designation under the French Language Services Act (FLSA) is a legal and administrative process that allows health service providers to demonstrate that they have the capacity to actively offer French language services on a permanent basis while meeting the specific needs of the Francophone population they serve. As legal recognition, designation is rather like a seal of quality for French language health services.
 
Currently, the Réseau guides and supports 59 health and long-term care service providers in the Champlain and South East regions through the designation process. (This includes both agencies designated under the FLSA and agencies identified for designation.)
 
Designated agencies have an obligation to provide quality French language services at all times. All of the services a health service provider offers may be designated (this is called full designation) or only some of its services may be designated (this is called partial designation). In the case of full designation, all services must be offered in French, while in the case of partial designation, only the designated programs and services must be offered in French.
 
Identified agencies have an obligation to work towards becoming designated under the French Language Services Act within a reasonable timeframe. In addition, they have a responsibility to develop a French language services plan and provide services in French in accordance with their existing capacity. However, provision of French language services is not necessarily guaranteed.
 
To find services in French:

• Access the list of identified and designated health service providers in the Champlain and South East regions (Réseau document)
• Access the complete list of designated and partially designated agencies in Ontario (Ontario government web site)

 
To learn more about designation:

• Consult our FAQs: Designation under Ontario’s French Language Services Act.
• Consult our Designation Glossary.
• Learn more about the Réseau’s approach to designation