Bill C-32: True Equality Between the French and English Languages
Bill C-32: True Equality Between the French and English Languages
Bill C-32: True Equality Between the French and English Languages
For the first time in 30 years, and just days before the House of Commons (meeting place for the members of Canada’s elected Members of Parliament) breaks for the summer season, Justin Trudeau’s liberal government proposed reform of Canada’s Official Languages Act: the piece of legislation that makes French and English the official languages of Canada. By introducing Bill C-32, the Liberals aim to foster true equality between the French and English languages on a national level, as well as in the daily lives of Canadians. On a national level, some of the proposed amendments include ensuring bilingual capacity in the Federal and Supreme Court of Canada, a commitment to strengthen minority language learning from early childhood to post-secondary education, a requirement for communication in both languages to be accessible in major private companies, and a strengthening of the powers of the Commissioner of the Official Languages to ensure compliance with the Act. On an individual level, these amendments would lead to the opportunity for all Canadians to partake in legal proceedings in the language of their choice, an increase in French Immersion schools nation-wide, the ability to work in the language of one’s choice in large-scale private companies, and more significant consequences in cases where language equality is not maintained. Canadian society has evolved significantly over the past three decades, as it will inevitably continue to do in the coming years. The modernization of legislation would have a significant impact on the protection and promotion of the French language in this bilingual country, and especially so for French minority communities nation-wide, including in Ontario.