CLF for the Internet - Official Languages 5 / 10

CLF for the Internet - Official Languages

Standard 7.5

All Web pages on all GoC Web sites must incorporate navigational buttons that allow users to proceed through the site in the language of their choice or to access identical information in the alternate official language, except where the office providing the Web site is not designated bilingual.
(a) Language buttons on Welcome pages must be displayed in the manner indicated to ensure visual equality and continuity. On unilingual Web sites a button is provided in the manner indicated to give access to the first page of the content part of the site, instead of the two language selection buttons. Refer to Appendix B of the Policy on using the official languages on electronic networks for a formal statement of these requirements, along with illustrations.
(b) Language navigation buttons on all Content Pages of bilingual Web sites must be incorporated in the common menu bar. The language button must hyperlink directly to the identical content in the alternate official language. In the case of unilingual Web sites, there will be no alternate language button displayed in the mandatory menu bar.

Rationale

The sites of the offices of institutions subject to the Official Languages Act must reflect the official language obligations of the offices that use the sites. The standards ensure that these obligations are taken into account at the level of the Welcome page, which is, within the official languages perspective, an office's electronic service "wicket".

The standard for the use of the language buttons takes into account the requirements of the Official Languages Act, in particular, the obligation, pursuant to section 28 the Act, for offices required to serve the public in both official languages to make an "active offer" of those services and communications in both official languages. The language buttons on the Welcome page fulfill this purpose. The language button requirements for the Welcome pages of unilingual offices differ from those for the Welcome pages of bilingual offices. For these differences, see official languages Standard 7.2.