Modernizing the Official Languages Act : The Commissioner of Official Languages' Recommendations for an Act that is Relevant, Dynamic and Strong

It has been 50 years since the first Official Languages Act was passed. While we celebrate the progress and many successes achieved since 1969, it is a good time to conduct and in-depth review of official languages needs and think about whether the tools offered by the Act meet those needs effectively. The Commissioner’s repeated calls to modernize the Act have been echoed across Canada by both language groups, highlighting the urgent need to review the current legislative framework and draft new regulations to meet the expectations and reflect the realities of all Canadians. The Commissioner is therefore recommending a holistic approach to modernizing the Act that goes well beyond legislative and regulatory change. To create a cultural shift so that linguistic duality can reach its full potential across Canada, he has made 18 recommendations under the three pillars of his vision for an Act that is relevant, dynamic, and strong.