Official Languages co-Champions’ new year message to Defence Team members

January 8, 2025 - Defence Stories

Dear members of the Defence Team,

As we enter the new year and turn the page on the calendar, we are getting ready for changes to official language provisions.

As of June 20, 2025, new provisions will come into effect for Government of Canada institutions, including within the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), following the modernization of the Official Languages Act. What does this mean for you?

Civilian employees and military members in bilingual regions may be supervised in the official language of their choice, regardless of the linguistic designation of their position. The language proficiency level for supervisory positions will be raised from BBB to CBC. Incumbents who do not meet the new requirements and occupy supervisory positions in bilingual regions prior to June 20, 2025, will not be affected by these measures as the linguistic profile of their positions will only be raised when these positions become vacant.

The Directive on Official Languages for People Management has been updated by the Treasury Board Secretariat to help you better understand these new provisions. Additional information is also available on the following web page: Minimum second-language proficiency requirements for bilingual positions involving the supervision of employees occupying positions in bilingual regions. Appropriate resources and training are being identified to help Defence Team members meet these new language requirements. Please share suggestions on what support you may need to meet these new requirements with the Official Languages team.

If you currently occupy a supervisory position, we invite you to speak to your Coordinator of Official Languages (COL) to become more familiar with these changes, which may have a direct impact on you and your team. Your COL can help you meet the language requirements of your position by acquiring, improving or maintaining your skills in your second official language. This will enable you to exercise leadership in both official languages and meet the organization's current and future requirements.

We understand that these changes will raise questions and concerns for many of you and we want to assure you of our unwavering commitment to supporting and accompanying you throughout this transition. Our priority is to champion and support an inclusive and respectful work environment, where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential. Together, we will continue to promote and value bilingualism within our organization, reinforcing our commitment to official languages and cultural diversity.

We thank you for your dedication and continued collaboration. May the New Year bring success and new opportunities for each and every one of you.

Happy New Year to all!