Media Advisory: Government of Canada to review Official

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 17, 2016) - Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that federal services are delivered to Canadians in the official language of their choice in accordance with the Official Languages Act. These services help French- and English-speaking minorities thrive across the country as cultural and economic pillars of their diverse communities.

Today, the Honourable Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, and the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, announced a review of the Official Languages (Communications with and Services to the Public) Regulations. The Regulations govern communications with and services to the public in English and French.

As part of the review, the Government will consult parliamentarians, stakeholders and the public, including members of the English and French linguistic minority communities.

The Government will impose a moratorium on bilingual offices that were slated to become unilingual. They will continue to provide services to the public in both official languages until new and modernized regulations are in place.

Quotes

"Francophone and Anglophone minority communities across the country have been asking for these regulations to be improved in order to better reflect their realities. We must account for changing demographics, new technologies and lessons learned in the 25 years since these regulations were adopted to be able to serve Canadians better, and in the language of their choice."

-Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

"English and French are at the heart of who we are. Our official languages are a strength and an asset for our future, and have played a central role in our history. I encourage Canadians to become agents of positive change by participating in this review."

-Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

Media Advisory: Government of Canada to review Official Languages Regulations