Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. In Canada, language is an area of shared jurisdiction between the various levels of government. Although the federal government has established its own support measures, it relies on the provinces and territories to help ensure the nationwide recognition of both official languages – English and French. This HillStudy provides an overview of the language regimes established… Read More ›
Education, language and training
The Parliament of Canada and the Francophonie
Reading Time: 5 minutes Disponible en français. On 8 July 2022, a Canadian parliamentarian [in French] was elected president of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) for a two-year term. The APF is the parliamentary arm of what is referred to as the “institutional… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Official Languages and Parliament
Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. In the Canadian parliamentary context, English and French enjoy equality of status and use. In fact, there are a number of constitutional and legislative provisions governing the use of both official languages in Parliament. These provisions, which have evolved over the… Read More ›
Race and Ethnicity: Evolving Terminology
Reading Time: 4 minutes Disponible en français. Today, as attitudes toward different cultures and conceptions of race evolve, so too do the terms used to describe various population groups in Canada. Knowing which terms to use and to whom they apply can often be… Read More ›
Putting Indigenous Perspectives on the Map: Indigenous Mapping and Place Names*
Reading Time: 6 minutes Disponible en français. For National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, communities across Canada will hold events to celebrate Indigenous cultures and contributions to Canada. Indigenous peoples are working to put Indigenous perspectives on the map of Canada. This HillNote… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Official Languages or National Languages? Canada’s Decision
Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français. In 2013–2014 and again since June 2020, some Canadian political figures have used the terms “national languages” and “official languages” interchangeably to refer to English and French when discussing the federal language regime. However, these two terms are not equivalent. “Official” status requires the government to… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Early Childhood Education and Care in Canada
Reading Time: < 1 minute Disponible en français In Canada, the systems of early childhood education and care services are different from one province or territory to another; they differ significantly in their affordability, accessibility and rate of participation. These factors affect the labour force… Read More ›
Executive Summary – Official Languages in the Federal Public Service
Reading Time: 2 minutes (Disponible en français : Résumé – Les langues officielles dans la fonction publique fédérale) The purpose of the Official Languages Act (OLA) is to ensure respect for English and French as the official languages of Canada. Pursuant to the OLA and to… Read More ›
The official languages regulatory framework: reviewed and amended
Reading Time: 6 minutes Revised on 21 December 2020, 10:05 a.m. Any substantive changes in this HillNote that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print. (Disponible en français : Le cadre réglementaire pour les langues officielles, revu et corrigé) Chronology… Read More ›
Ensuring access to quality education for students enrolled in minority language schools
Reading Time: 5 minutes (Disponible en français : Assurer l’accès à une éducation de qualité aux élèves inscrits dans les écoles de la minorité) The constitutional right to an education in one’s own language Under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and… Read More ›