Ottawa, May 26, 2009
Statement to the media for the launch of the 2008–2009 Annual Report
Graham Fraser – Commissioner of Official Languages
Check against delivery
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning,
Forty years ago, the federal government took its first steps to ensure the equality of English and French in Canada. The Official Languages Act was adopted in 1969, and this year we are proudly celebrating this landmark event in Canadian history.
The implementation of the Act has allowed for major advances in linguistic duality. The resulting benefits in terms of minority rights, culture, labour mobility and the economy are unquestionable.
This vision of linguistic duality took shape thanks to successive amendments to the Act and to the language guarantees contained in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, a major challenge persists. The roadblocks and contradictions facing the implementation of Canada’s language policy must be eliminated. There must also be a certain amount of coherence between government policies, initiatives and programs.
Canada should further draw on its bilingualism and its inclusiveness to reap the full economic and social benefits of these traits. In other words, we planted the seeds in 1969 and have been cultivating them for 40 years, but only a few have borne fruit.
This year, my report aims to measure the distance that still exists between the road that has been travelled and how far we still have to go. Here are three examples:
Firstly, access to opportunities for learning both official languages is still limited.1 And yet, ensuring that this access exists across Canada is an important investment in our country’s future, as it enables young Canadians to acquire skills that will benefit them professionally, personally and culturally. In the current economic climate, language skills are an important factor in terms of professional mobility and competitive edge.2 For this reason, I find it unfortunate that governments and post-secondary educational institutions are not focusing enough on second-language learning programs. Even worse, post-secondary institutions seldom provide students with opportunities to continue studying in their second language, despite the fact that we encourage them to take the bilingual path throughout their academic career. After 40 years of language policy, it is high time we eliminate the last roadblocks on this path. The federal government is well positioned to bring together the various players, in order to create a true second-language learning continuum.
Secondly, based on our observations at institutions, government services are provided in the minority language three out of four times, where there is significant demand. However, federal institutions often fail to use a bilingual greeting to show that services are available in both languages. Also, we are too quick to settle on providing the linguistic minority with a translated version of the services provided to the majority. In the Desrochers case, an important judgment rendered on February 5, 2009, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that federal institutions must consider both the nature of services and the specific needs of official language communities. In other words, the obligation to provide services of “equal quality” in both official languages does not necessarily mean “identical” services.
Lastly, the organization of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games clearly illustrates the degree to which Canada’s linguistic duality is an underutilized resource.3 A country where 26 million people speak English and 9 million speak French should be able to meet, in an exemplary manner, the challenges related to the official languages of the Games—which just happen to be English and French! But as indicated in a study that I released last December, and as stated during subsequent visits to federal institutions, the organizing committee and federal institutions must do more to ensure that Canadians and visitors have access to services in both of the country’s official languages. I am hopeful that the Games will reflect Canada’s linguistic duality before, during and after the athletes’ arrival. However, hope is not enough. There is little time left to resolve the most pressing issues, especially in terms of translation and interpretation. Those federal institutions that play a key role in the Games must realize that the presence of thousands of additional visitors will increase the demand for bilingual services. This is especially important in terms of services provided at the Games venues and services provided to travellers in the Vancouver and Toronto airports.
This example of the Olympic Games also sheds light on the urgent need to further embed official languages in federal institutions. This is the case with services, and even more so when it comes to support for official language communities and promotion of linguistic duality. In 2010, it will be five years since the last amendment to the Official Languages Act, which stipulated that the government’s commitments must be more than just empty promises. Unfortunately, I must admit that I am not very impressed with how the government has managed the implementation of the Act’s new provisions. The response has been slow and minimal. My office will pay special attention to this issue over the next year.
I have come to the conclusion that more people have to be engaged in order to reach our goal and foster linguistic duality in Canadian society. Post-secondary educational institutions must develop second-language programs based on the needs of Canada’s bilingual employers, which includes the federal government. I am also referring to young Canadians, who need more opportunities to master their second language within the other language community. Finally, I would point to public sector leaders and managers of public services. We have to find new ways to encourage their leadership and commitment in order to make linguistic duality a value in federal institutions, and not simply a paper requirement to which lip service is paid.
The current public service renewal is a great opportunity to train leaders who will promote linguistic duality as a value in their day-to-day actions as well as by implementing and managing policies and programs. This type of transformation would allow for a more preventive approach, rather than corrective interventions that my staff still have to conduct on a regular basis. This result can only be achieved if the federal administration demonstrates leadership and vision. A dynamic vision of linguistic duality that is based on respect, dialogue and partnership can only develop if the government shows an ongoing commitment, despite the current economic challenges.
In June 2008, the government released its Roadmap for Canada’s Linguistic Duality, which replaces the Action Plan for Official Languages.4 Almost one year later, I am concerned about the lag in its five-year implementation, the scarcity of information available on certain initiatives and the uncertainty that stems from the elimination of programs in some areas. I would therefore like to see the Roadmap fully implemented as soon as possible. Community organizations, the teaching community and provincial governments must have a clear vision of the federal government’s action. On a related note, I cannot help but notice the lack of specific targets associated with the Roadmap and for which the government could be held accountable. Investments in various programs are certainly welcome, but the government would do well to articulate a coherent vision of what it plans to accomplish.
The parliamentarians’ vision in 1969 was bold and ambitious. It was also absolutely necessary for the future of the country. The 40th anniversary of the Official Languages Act is a perfect opportunity for the federal government and its institutions to showcase Canada’s linguistic duality. They must demonstrate, through concrete measures, that English and French are and will continue to have equal status in Canada.
Thank you for your attention. I would now like to take the remaining time to answer any questions you may have.
1. The 5th recommendation, in Chapter 3, deals with the learning continuum.
2. For the government’s budget decisions, see the 1st recommendation, in Chapter 2.
3. The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are the subject of the 3rd recommendation, related to Chapter 2.
4. The Commissioner’s 6th recommendation addresses the implementation of the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008–2013: Acting for the Future, related to Chapter 4.
