Government Measures to Protect and Promote French in Quebec and in Canada

On Monday, January 31, 2022, the committee adopted the following motions:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), the committee undertake a study on the measures that the Government of Canada can take to fulfill its responsibility, as set out in the Speech from the Throne, to protect and promote French not only outside Quebec but also within Quebec; that, as part of this study, the committee:

a. Provide an objective and detailed portrait of the situation of English and French in Quebec, as well as francophone and Acadian communities, based on key linguistic indicators, such as French as the mother tongue, main language spoken at home, language shifts, main language of work, and so on;

b. Evaluate the effectiveness of the government’s language policies, as well as the current role of federal and provincial laws, with respect to the objective of protecting and promoting French as well as the impact of these policies on provincial legislative measures to protect and promote French (particularly the Charter of the French Language in Quebec); and

c. Consider possible amendments to the Official Languages Act to harmonize the government’s commitment to protect French with provincial legislation.

That the committee allocate a maximum of four meetings to this study; that the evidence and documentation received by the committee on this study during the 2nd Session of the 43rd Parliament on the subject be taken into consideration by the committee in the current session; that the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

It was agreed, — That members of the committee submit their list of suggested witnesses in relation to the study of government measures to protect and promote French in Quebec and in Canada to the clerk of the committee no later than Friday, February 4, 2022 at noon (EST).