Official languages

Executive Summary – Language Regimes In the Provinces and Territories

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 ›

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 – Bilingualism in Canada’s Court System: The Role of the Federal Government

Reading Time: 2 minutes Disponible en français. There are various rules governing the use of French and English within the Canadian judicial system. This Background Paper focuses on the federal government’s role in the matter, looking particularly at the issues relating to bilingualism within the Canadian court system. There are a number of different acts that govern the administration of justice in the two official… Read More ›

Executive Summary – Official Languages in the Federal Public Service

Reading Time: < 1 minute (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 regulations and current policies, federal institutions are guided by certain fundamental principles that help them… Read More ›