Issue
Languages & Bilingualism
The Official Languages Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.)) is the federal statute. Bill C-13 of 44-1 (An Act for the substantive equality of Canada's official languages, royal assent June 20, 2023, S.C. 2023, c. 15) was the first substantive Official Languages Act overhaul since 1988. It extends federal protection for French as a language of work and service to federally regulated private-sector workplaces in Quebec and in designated francophone regions outside Quebec, creates the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act, gives the Commissioner of Official Languages new enforcement powers (administrative monetary penalties up to $25,000), and recognizes the unique situation of French in North America. Quebec's Bill 96 (modernized Charter of the French language) and federal Bill C-13 are sometimes complementary, sometimes in tension. Indigenous-language revitalization runs under the 2019 Indigenous Languages Act (Bill C-91 of 42-1).
Where parties stand
Compare side-by-side- Bloc QuébécoisBLOC
The Bloc Quebecois supports the federal Bill C-13 (Official Languages Act reform, S.C. 2023, c. 15) including the French-language-of-work rights in federally regulated workplaces in Quebec, defends Quebec's Charter of the French Language (Bill 101 of 1977, extended by Bill 96 of 2022) against federal-Bill-C-13 interpretive constraints, calls for stronger federal recognition of Quebec's distinct linguistic-jurisdiction-and-protection framework, supports the Quebec Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) administrative reach over federally regulated workplaces in Quebec, and pushes for federal funding for French-language preservation outside Quebec via unconditional transfers.
Source The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) under Premier Francois Legault passed Bill 96 (Loi sur la langue officielle et commune du Quebec, le francais, R.S.Q. 2022, c. 14) in 2022 amending Bill 101 to extend French-language requirements to small businesses (25 to 49 employees), cap English-CEGEP enrolment at 17.5 percent, require immigrants to communicate with the Quebec government in French after six months of residency, and create the new Quebec Minister of the French Language role. Used the section 33 notwithstanding clause to insulate Bill 96 from Charter challenges. Defends the federal Bill C-13 (Official Languages Act reform, S.C. 2023, c. 15) French-content protections in federally regulated workplaces.
Source- Conservative Party of CanadaCONSERVATIVE
The federal Conservative Party under Pierre Poilievre supported Bill C-13 (Official Languages Act reform, S.C. 2023, c. 15) adding French-language-of-work rights in federally regulated workplaces, defends federal funding for English-minority communities in Quebec and French-minority communities outside Quebec, supports the Court Challenges Program for official-languages-rights litigation, the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028 at $4.1 billion, and federal-government bilingualism-of-services requirements under section 25 of the Official Languages Act. Critical of the Liberal-government Bill C-13 interpretation that the Conservative caucus argues weakens English-minority protections in Quebec.
Source The federal Green Party supported Bill C-13 (Official Languages Act reform, S.C. 2023, c. 15) adding French-language-of-work rights in federally regulated workplaces, calls for stronger federal Indigenous-language preservation funding under the Indigenous Languages Act (S.C. 2019, c. 23), full implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028 at $4.1 billion, federal-funding parity for English-minority communities in Quebec and French-minority communities outside Quebec (the latter typically receives more under the Action Plan framework), and recognition of additional Canadian languages (Indigenous, Inuktitut, Cree) under section 16 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Source- Liberal Party of CanadaLIBERAL
The federal Liberal Party under Mark Carney passed Bill C-13 (Official Languages Act reform, S.C. 2023, c. 15) modernizing the federal official-languages framework for the first time since 1988, including French-language-of-work rights in federally regulated workplaces in Quebec (and outside-Quebec regions with strong francophone presence), launched the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028 at $4.1 billion (the largest investment in official languages in Canadian history), expanded funding for the Court Challenges Program for official-languages-rights litigation, and maintained federal-public-service bilingualism-of-services requirements under section 25 of the Official Languages Act and Treasury Board policy.
Source The federal NDP under Jagmeet Singh supported Bill C-13 (Official Languages Act reform, S.C. 2023, c. 15) adding French-language-of-work rights in federally regulated workplaces and updating the Official Languages Act framework, calls for increased federal funding for the Court Challenges Program supporting minority-official-language-rights litigation, full implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023 followed by the 2023-2028 plan worth $4.1 billion, federal funding parity for francophone-minority-community service-delivery, and full Quebec administrative autonomy on French-language matters in Quebec while maintaining federal responsibility for English-minority and Indigenous-language preservation.
SourceThe Parti Québécois introduced the Charter of the French Language (loi 101) in 1977 under René Lévesque, requiring French-only commercial signage and French-language schooling for most children. The PQ supports the CAQ's Bill 96 (2022) which strengthened Bill 101's reach to small businesses and capped English-CEGEP enrolment, and has called for further extension to federally regulated workplaces in Quebec under the federal Use of French Act.
Source
Bills affecting this issue
- Bill 28Provincial61st Legislature of New BrunswickIn committee
Official Languages of New Brunswick Modernization Act
First substantive update to NB's Official Languages Act since 2002. Strengthens active-offer requirements.
- Bill 45Municipal43rd Legislature of ManitobaFirst reading
An Act respecting French-language services in Manitoba
Updates Manitoba's French Language Services Act for the first time in over a decade. Strengthens active offer requirements.
- C-13Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts
First substantive update to the federal Official Languages Act since 1988. Strengthens French-language rights in federally regulated workplaces and in federal institutions.
- S-214Federal44-1Royal assent
An Act to establish International Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day.
- Projet de loi 96Provincial42e législature du QuébecRoyal assent
Act respecting French, the official and common language of Québec
Largest update to Quebec's Charter of the French language since 1977. Strengthens French-language requirements at work and in commercial signage.
- C-238Federal44-1Second reading
An Act respecting the French language
French Language Act: applies Bill 101 to federally regulated workplaces in Quebec.
- S-229Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Language Skills Act (Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick)
Requires the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick to be functionally bilingual.
- S-220Federal44-1Second reading
An Act to amend the Languages Skills Act (Governor General)
Requires future Governors General to be functionally bilingual in English and French.