Question Period Note: The Importance of Official Languages

Official languages are a priority for the Government of Canada. They are central to Canadian identity and contribute to the diversification of the country's economy.

• Official languages are central to Canadian identity and continue to be a priority for our government.
• Our two official languages bring communities and Canadians together and they project an image of a diversified, open and united country.
• Having two official languages is an asset to support the diversification of the Canadian economy, and we will continue to invest in minority language education and second language learning.

• Official languages are a priority for the Government of Canada. They are central to Canada's identity and contribute to the country's economic diversity.
• English and French are the official languages of Canada, as provided for in section 16(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 23 provides all Canadians who are right holders with the right to education in the language of the minority.
• Official languages are more than an administrative tool: they reflect Canada's history, are the foundation of its diversity and a pillar of its national identity. They express a model of society based on coexistence, mutual recognition and equality of cultures.
• Official bilingualism sends a message of openness, tolerance and respect for differences, which are core values of modern Canadian identity.
• With multicultural identities on the rise, few elements unite the Canadian population as a whole. In this context, official languages, with over 98% of the population speaking one, the other or both, are a vehicle for national unity and help counter the risks of polarization.
• The two official languages are a distinctive feature of Canada and a strategic lever for diversifying our international trade relations and expanding their opportunities. French, for example, provides access to markets in the global Francophonie, with Canada already counting France, Switzerland and Côte d'Ivoire among its major trading partners.
• Official bilingualism is a major asset for individuals in the labour market, increasing their employability and mobility across the country and internationally.
• In 2023, the Government of Canada modernized and strengthened the Official Languages Act and unveiled the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028. The plan is a five-year, government-wide strategy representing an unprecedented investment of $4.1 billion. This investment includes $1.4 billion in new funding compared to the previous five-year strategy, with 33 new or enhanced initiatives and 49 continuing initiatives in various key sectors that support the vitality of official language minority communities. Among these initiatives, Canadian Heritage's Official Language Support Programs play a key role, in collaboration with the provinces and territories to implement the investments in the field of education.
• On 13 May 2025, the Prime Minister of Canada unveiled his Cabinet, which is composed of 28 ministers. More than half (15) of them indicate that they speak French and English on their profiles published on the Parliament of Canada website.
• Canadian Francophone organizations say they are very pleased to have a minister whose title includes official languages. According to the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, the reinstatement of this reference demonstrates that the Prime Minister understands the importance of Canada's linguistic duality as a key vehicle for Canada's national identity and sovereignty.

None