The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) is pleased to announce the launch of its new French website and that services to the public are now available in both official languages. The C-NLOPB’s phone service and Information Resources Centre now have the ability to receive and respond to Information Requests, in both French and English.

In April 2020, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages issued an investigation report in response to complaints received by the federal government, regarding the availability of French language information from both the C-NLOPB and Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB). The Commissioner of Official Languages recommended that the content of both Board’s websites be available in both official languages and that each Board has the ability to communicate with, and provide services of equal quality to, Canadians in both English and French. These recommendations were directed to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the federal responsible body.  NRCan has committed to fully covering the incremental costs associated with providing bilingual services for both Boards and are committed to meeting its obligations under the Official Languages Act. These costs will not be cost-recovered by industry.

Since 2020, NRCan, in consultation with the C-NLOPB, has progressed the translation of in-scope website content and the development of the C-NLOPB mirror French website, which has required the translation of thousands of C-NLOPB-generated documents. NRCan anticipates to have all remaining in-scope documents translated and available on the C-NLOPB French website, by early 2023.

The C-NLOPB, in collaboration with NRCan, has developed the following steady-state document, which outlines the go forward plan for funding and incremental costs, website development, technical assistance, translation services, and out of scope content for the French website and bilingual services. This document can be found here.

The C-NLOPB and NRCan will continue to review bilingual services provided by the C-NLOPB, to determine if additional support from NRCan is required.

The new French C-NLOPB website can be found at www.ctnlohe.ca and French Information Requests can be submitted through information@cnlopb.ca or by calling 709-778-1400.

Media Contact:
Lesley Rideout
Communications Lead
(709) 725-2900
lrideout@cnlopb.ca

News Releases 2022