Question Period Note: Official languages at Royal Military College

• The Defence Team serves Canadians effectively by ensuring communications, services, and operations can be carried out in both official languages, reflecting Canada’s linguistic duality.
• RMC’s approach to bilingual education remains the same. Canadian Armed Forces members, including Naval and Officer Cadets, receive training and personal services in the official language of their choice, and the College continues to serve the public in both official languages.
• Nearly 22% of RMC Naval and Officer Cadets are francophones, reflecting Canada’s population.
• The directive recently issued at the RMC in Kingston aims to ensure clarity and consistency in internal administration in compliance with Canada’s modernized Official Languages Act.
• This is in line with Kingston’s designation as a unilingual Language of Work region based on the predominant language, which in this case is English.
• This designation does not diminish the importance of bilingualism at RMC.
• RMC must continue to serve the public in both official languages—an enduring institutional value across RMC and the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Bilingualism remains a core component of officer development at RMC and an important leadership skill within the Canadian Armed Forces.

Royal Military College (RMC) Language of Work
* RMC updated its directive to align with the revised Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DAOD) 5039 series and to clarify how official languages obligations are applied within the RMC environment. DAOD 5039-2, Official Languages in the Workplace, outlines rights and obligations related to the use of official languages within the Defence Team, in alignment with the Charter and the Official Languages Act. Kingston remains an English Language of Work region, while RMC continues to provide education, training, and services to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Naval/Officer Cadets in both official languages. This initiative reflects the College’s commitment to clarity, professionalism, and respect for Canada’s bilingual identity. Bilingualism remains a core component of officer development at RMC and an important leadership skill within the CAF.
Media Coverage
* On May 20, 2026, an article was published by ONFR TFO (Office des télécommunications éducatives de langue française de l’Ontario) detailing internal communications at RMC indicating that internal administration, staff meetings and central services will be conducted primarily in English.
* The Commissioner of Official Languages, Kelly Burke, was quoted as saying that a complaint had been filed with the Commissioner’s Office.
* The article noted further concern about bilingualism while also quoting the Minister of National Defence emphasizing the importance of bilingualism in the college and education system for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Committee Study on Francophone and Indigenous Members of the CAF
* In April and May 2026, the Standing Committee on National Defence undertook a study on Francophone and Indigenous Members of the CAF. The study spanned four meetings and concluded on May 4.
* Witnesses appearing before the committee included senior National Defence officials, academics, retired and active CAF members, and First Nations representatives.

• The Official Languages Act recognizes English and French as Canada’s official languages and gives them equal status and rights in all federal institutions.
• Official languages are an integral part of not only the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter), but also the work of the Defence Team and must be treated as a priority.
• The Defence Team fulfills its Official Languages Act obligations through a clear governance framework aligned with the Charter, Treasury Board policy, and Defence-specific directives.
• Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DAOD) 5039-2, Official Languages in the Workplace, states:
  • 5.1 In bilingual regions, federal institutions, including the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), have an obligation to provide work environments that are conducive to the use of both Official languages. These regions are set out in the List of Bilingual Regions of Canada for Language-of-Work Purposes.
  • 5.2 English and French are the languages of work of all DND organizations and CAF units located within bilingual regions. Outside of bilingual regions, the official language of work is the one that predominates in that province or territory.
    
    Responsible Principals: Chief Military Personnel, Chief Professional Conduct and Culture
    
    Drafted by: Director General Policy Coordination: Parliamentary Affairs
    
    Date Approved: May 29, 2026