Bill C-13 from Minister Petitpas Taylor to modernize the Official Languages Act receives Royal Assent

News release

GATINEAU, June 20, 2023

A historic milestone was reached today with the announcement of Royal Assent of Bill C-13, an Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts. This long-awaited legislation, introduced in March 2022 by the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, will help modernize and strengthen Canada’s language regime. Its adoption testifies to the Government of Canada’s unwavering commitment to achieving substantive equality of English and French. This will enrich our country, ensure the vitality of our two official languages, and create more opportunities for learning.

Bill C-13, which is the result of exhaustive consultations with communities from coast to coast to coast, will provide considerable benefits to Canadians in every province and territory while reflecting their unique linguistic realities.

A number of legislative tools will be coming into effect to make it possible to:

  • Strengthen Francophone immigration to restore and increase the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities;
  • Promote bilingualism across the country and encourage learning in our two official languages;
  • Protect the institutions of official-language minority communities and support sectors essential to enhancing their vitality, including in the fields of culture, education (from early childhood to post-secondary studies), health, justice, employment, and immigration;
  • Introduce new rights to work and obtain services in French in federally regulated private businesses located in Quebec and in regions with a strong Francophone presence;
  • Strengthen the compliance of federal institutions by consolidating the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages, the oversight role of the Treasury Board and Part VII of the Act, which aims to advance the equality of status and use of English and French;
  • Take action on language of work in the public service by appointing people to deputy minister or associate deputy minister positions who, upon appointment, will take the language training that is necessary to be able to speak and understand clearly both official languages; and
  • Improve access to justice by appointing bilingual judges to the Supreme Court and strengthening the provisions for federal court decisions to be translated in order to obtain immediate translation of federal court decisions.

Enhancing the vitality of official-language minority communities, tackling the decline of French, and ensuring that more young Canadians have the opportunity to learn our two official languages are priorities for the Government of Canada. Royal Assent of Bill C-13 is the culmination of sustained efforts to give ourselves the means to achieve our ambitions.

A modernized and strengthened Official Languages Act is an important step toward the substantive equality of English and French in Canada for decades to come.

Quotes

“This is a great day for our Canadian culture, identity, and values. We are loudly and clearly affirming our commitment to an inclusive, bilingual society, where everyone can flourish in the official language of their choice. This is a historic day for minority language communities across the country, whose language rights will be better protected and strengthened. I am honoured to be part of this achievement, which will make a real difference in the lives of Canadians.”

—The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Quick facts

  • The Official Languages Act was adopted in 1969 and later amended in 1988 (to reflect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) and in 2005 (to enhance the enforceability of Part VII).

  • After extensive consultations, the public reform document English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada was released in February 2021 to guide the drafting of the bill.

  • In the Speech from the Throne in November 2021, the government confirmed its commitment to introduce a bill to strengthen the Official Languages Act.

  • On March 1, 2022, Minister Petitpas Taylor tabled Bill C-13: An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.

  • Receiving Royal Assent is the first step toward implementing this new Act, which will provide a legal framework to support official languages and respond to an evolving Canadian society.

Related products

Associated links

Contacts

For more information (media only), please contact:

Marianne Blondin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
marianne.blondin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca

Page details

Date modified: