OTTAWA - Languages commissioner Graham Fraser is calling on the federal government to provide patients in its care with health services in the official language of their choice.
Fraser's making the appeal after an audit team examined bilingual services at Health Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, the RCMP and Correctional Service Canada.
Fraser says the federal government has to do more to meet its obligations under the Official Languages Act.
He says the fact an overall shortage makes it hard to find bilingual health care workers "should not overshadow people's right to receive health services in their language of choice."
The commissioner has issued 30 recommendations on the matter addressing various inconsistencies in language services at federal health facilities.
