OTTAWA, March 11, 2019
This year, Canada marks the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act. The Act, which came into force in 1969, recognized the equal status of English and French, and gave all English- and French-speaking Canadians the right to communicate with the federal government and to receive government services in the language of their choice.
This morning, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie, announced the launch of a review to modernize the Official Languages Act. The purpose of this review is to strengthen the Act to ensure that it meets the expectations of the people of Canada; responds to the new challenges posed by social transformations and the expansion of government action sectors; and maintains its positive effect over the long term.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act, the Government of Canada is reaffirming the importance of English and French, which, together with Indigenous languages, are a powerful symbol of the diversity and inclusiveness that characterize Canadian society. They are at the heart of who we are as Canadians.
The rights acquired in 1969 have since been extended to include access to education in the minority language (in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) and to the language of work in federal institutions. Recognizing that linguistic duality has a collective dimension, the Act is also accompanied by a series of measures designed to support the continuity and vitality of official-language minority communities across the country.
Despite the many advances the Act has allowed, new issues have arisen that call for its review: the number of Francophones is growing less rapidly than the Canadian population as a whole; the rate of bilingualism among the English-speaking majority outside Quebec is stagnating; and, given our increasingly open government, new technology has disrupted communication methods and the work environment in federal institutions.
Minister Joly made the announcement during a public meeting at the University of Ottawa attended by university students and representatives of official-language minority communities. They spoke to the Minister about the major issues related to the continuity of Canada's official languages. Over the next few months, Canadians will be invited to express their views on the review of the Official Languages Act. Forums, round tables and symposiums will be held to discuss key issues that might affect the scope of official languages, and to explore ways to ensure the long-term survival of official-language minority communities.
