Question Period Note: Official Languages in the Public Service and the Implementation of the Official Languages Act

Following the modernization of the Official Languages Act in 2023, what is the President of the Treasury Board doing to support official languages in Canada?

• I am committed to ensuring that the Official Languages Act is implemented and respected across all federal institutions.
• We are actively working on new regulations under Part VII of the Act to better support minority language communities, promote the French language, and strengthen opportunities for learning in the minority language.
• I look forward to tabling the draft regulations in the near future.
• Efforts are also under way to review the language designation of all federal points of service, which will lead to an increase in the number of bilingual offices.
• We are also strengthening the use of official languages in the workplace by ensuring that all employees in bilingual regions are supervised in the official language of their choice, and by raising second language proficiency requirements for supervisory roles.
• On a personal note, I look forward to improving my ability to work more regularly in both official languages.
If Pressed on vacancies of unilingual and bilingual positions:
• We recognize that vacancy rates for unilingual and bilingual positions can vary across regions. Treasury Board policies require that the language requirements of each position be based on the duties of the role and the bilingual capacity of the work unit.
• We continue to support departments and agencies in applying these rules consistently, so that Canadians receive high-quality services in the official language of their choice.

Following the modernization of the Official Languages Act (OLA) in 2023, the Treasury Board remains responsible for developing and coordinating federal policies and programs related to:
• Communications with and services to the public (Part IV)
• Language of work in federal institutions (Part V)
• Participation of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians in the federal public service (Part VI)

In addition, the modernized OLA has given:
• to the President of the TB the responsibility of assuming an overall leadership role in the implementation, coordination and good governance of the OLA;
• to TB, a strengthened monitoring, auditing and evaluation role for compliance of federal institutions with their official languages responsibilities;
• to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the role of developing a government-wide official languages strategy, in consultation with the President of the Treasury Board, and of conducting a ten-year review of the Act and its application.

Part VII regulations
• The modernized OLA gives TB the responsibility to develop regulations, in consultation with the Minister of Canadian Heritage, how federal institutions should:
o Take positive measures to:
 (existing) enhance the vitality of official language minority communities, and foster the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society;
 (new) protect and promote the French language; and
 (new) strengthen opportunities for continuing learning in the minority language.
o Take the necessary measures to promote the inclusion of language clauses in agreements negotiated with the provinces and territories.
• TBS engaged with francophone minority community organizations, organizations from Quebec's English-speaking communities, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages and provincial/territorial governments.
• The draft regulations should be tabled in Parliament in the fall of 2025.
• The Act requires that the draft regulations be tabled in Parliament and made available, through the Canada Gazette, for public comment before they are finalized.
• In a final step, any further changes would be incorporated before seeking approval of the Governor in Council.

Legislative changes related to official languages in the public service
The modernized OLA includes a new right for all employees occupying a position in designated bilingual regions to be supervised in the official language of their choice, regardless of the linguistic designation of their position.

Administrative changes affecting official languages in the public service
The TB Directive on Official Languages for People Management was amended in 2024 to raise to a superior level (CBC or equivalent) the minimum second language proficiency requirements for new appointments to bilingual positions responsible for the supervision of employees occupying positions in bilingual regions or once these positions become vacant, effective since June 20, 2025.

Linguistic identification of regional positions
The Directive indicates that linguistic identification must reflect the functions and duties related to a given position in all regions. Managers are responsible for determining whether a position requires the use of one or both official languages, based on the language obligations associated with the role and the bilingual capacity of the work unit.

Responsibility for human resources decisions lies with each deputy head, who must ensure compliance with Treasury Board policy instruments.

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