Since its adoption in 1969, the Official Languages Act (the Act) has helped us accomplish many things. However, the Act was no longer sufficient to ensure respect for the language rights of Canadians.
The passage of Bill C-13 brings the long-awaited modernization of the Act to fruition and marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of official languages. The modernized Act, which is now more robust and more responsive to today’s language realities than ever before, will play a major role in this new chapter.
The Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act will come into force on a date to be set by order in council.
In response to a recommendation made by the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, the Government of Canada passes the Official Languages Act.
The Act undergoes a major revision to ensure the full implementation of the language rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The scope of the new Act is considerably broader than that of the 1969 Act. First, it updates and specifies the rights of citizens and the obligations of federal institutions with respect to official languages.
Its scope also extends to two new areas: language of work and the equitable participation of English- and French-speaking Canadians within the public service.
One of its new components, Part VII, commits the federal government to assisting in the development of official language minority communities and promoting English and French in Canadian society.
Amendments are made to the Act to clarify the scope of Part VII. From this day forward, federal institutions must take positive measures to enhance the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and to foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
In his 2008-2009 annual report, the Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, notes that the implementation of the Act has reached a plateau. He notes the slow progress made over the past several years with regard to institutional bilingualism within the federal administration.
In her 2016–2017 annual report, the Interim Commissioner of Official Languages, Ghislaine Saikaley, recommends that the government assess the relevance of updating the Act, with a view to establishing a clear position in 2019, on the 50th anniversary of the Act.
The Office of the Commissioner undertakes a series of informal consultations with leaders of official language minority communities and other key stakeholders to inform them of its approach and to discuss the issues surrounding a possible reform of the Act.
The Office of the Commissioner then publishes an online questionnaire that allows the general public to express their views on several official languages issues.
Formal meetings are held across the country with individuals and groups with specific experience in official languages.
The Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages launches a five-part study on modernizing the Act. The Committee hears testimony from young people, official language minority communities, stakeholders who witnessed the evolution of the Act, the justice sector and federal institutions.
Commissioner Raymond Théberge releases a document entitled Modernizing the Official Languages Act: Vision of the Commissioner of Official Languages, which he presents to the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages.
The Commissioner releases his position paper, which contains 18 recommendations for modernizing the Act.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act, a historic symposium bringing together nearly 500 stakeholders is held in Ottawa to celebrate the progress made in official languages and to reflect on the future of the Act.
The Commissioner of Official Languages issues two statements on this subject.
The Government of Canada introduces Bill C-32, which aims to modernize the Official Languages Act to adapt it to a changing society. The Bill died on the order paper.
On March 1, 2022, the Government of Canada introduced a bill that would modernize the Official Languages Act to reflect a changing society.
