Legal issues
The official languages act: Key laws of bilingualism in Canada
Part V
Language of Work
Language of Work
Rights relating to language of work
34 English and French are the languages of work in all federal institutions, and officers and employees of all federal institutions have the right to use either official language in accordance with this Part.
34 English and French are the languages of work in all federal institutions, and officers and employees of all federal institutions have the right to use either official language in accordance with this Part.
Part VII
Advancement of English and French
Advancement of English and French
41 (1) The Government of Canada is committed to
(a) enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and
(b) fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
(a) enhancing the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development; and
(b) fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
PART VI
Participation of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians
Participation of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians
39 (1) The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that
(a) English-speaking Canadians and French-speaking Canadians, without regard to their ethnic origin or first language learned, have equal opportunities to obtain employment and advancement in federal institutions; and
(b) the composition of the workforce of federal institutions tends to reflect the presence of both the official language communities of Canada, taking into account the characteristics of individual institutions, including their mandates, the public they serve and their location.
(a) English-speaking Canadians and French-speaking Canadians, without regard to their ethnic origin or first language learned, have equal opportunities to obtain employment and advancement in federal institutions; and
(b) the composition of the workforce of federal institutions tends to reflect the presence of both the official language communities of Canada, taking into account the characteristics of individual institutions, including their mandates, the public they serve and their location.
Laws regarding bilingual education in canada
Canadian charter of rights and freedom
This section below found in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom expresses the right to instruction of both official languages of Canada of a minority population.
Minority Language Educational Rights
23. (1) Citizens of Canada
(a) whose first language learned and still understood is that of the English or French linguistic minority population of the province in which they reside, or
(b) who have received their primary school instruction in Canada in English or French and reside in a province where the language in which they received that instruction is the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of the province,
have the right to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in that language in that province.
(2) Citizens of Canada of whom any child has received or is receiving primary or secondary school instruction in English or French in Canada, have the right to have all their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the same language.
(3) The right of citizens of Canada under subsections (1) and (2) to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of a province
(a) applies wherever in the province the number of children of citizens who have such a right is sufficient to warrant the provision to them out of public funds of minority language instruction; and
(b) includes, where the number of those children so warrants, the right to have them receive that instruction in minority language educational facilities provided out of public funds.
(a) whose first language learned and still understood is that of the English or French linguistic minority population of the province in which they reside, or
(b) who have received their primary school instruction in Canada in English or French and reside in a province where the language in which they received that instruction is the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of the province,
have the right to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in that language in that province.
(2) Citizens of Canada of whom any child has received or is receiving primary or secondary school instruction in English or French in Canada, have the right to have all their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the same language.
(3) The right of citizens of Canada under subsections (1) and (2) to have their children receive primary and secondary school instruction in the language of the English or French linguistic minority population of a province
(a) applies wherever in the province the number of children of citizens who have such a right is sufficient to warrant the provision to them out of public funds of minority language instruction; and
(b) includes, where the number of those children so warrants, the right to have them receive that instruction in minority language educational facilities provided out of public funds.
ministry of education
According to the Ministry of Education, since French is one of Canada’s two official languages, students that are enrolled in publicly-funded schools must study French as a second language from Grades 4 to 8 and accumulate at least one credit in French as a second language in secondary school in order to graduate.
The aménagement linguistique policy: the implementation by education institutions of planned and systematic interventions to ensure the protection, enhancement and transmission of the French language and culture in minority settings.
Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second Official-Language Instruction:
“Minority language”, “second official-language” and “second language” refer to the two official languages of Canada: English and French. “Second language” means the second official-language, either English or French, as the case may be. In the context of Ontario, minority language refers to French, and second language refers to French.
A “program” with respect to minority-language education refers to all activities or initiatives to support teaching and learning at a given grade level provided in the minority language by a minority-language school or postsecondary institution. A “program” with respect to second-language instruction refers to all activities or initiatives to support teaching and learning of the second language at a given level provided by a school or postsecondary institution.
2. Purpose of the Agreement
2.1.1 Provide members of the French-language minority in Ontario with the opportunity to be educated in their own language, and to experience cultural enrichment associated with that community.
2.1.2 Provide the residents of Ontario with the opportunity to learn French as a second language along with opportunities for cultural enrichment through knowledge of the cultures associated with the French-language minority community.
The aménagement linguistique policy: the implementation by education institutions of planned and systematic interventions to ensure the protection, enhancement and transmission of the French language and culture in minority settings.
Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second Official-Language Instruction:
“Minority language”, “second official-language” and “second language” refer to the two official languages of Canada: English and French. “Second language” means the second official-language, either English or French, as the case may be. In the context of Ontario, minority language refers to French, and second language refers to French.
A “program” with respect to minority-language education refers to all activities or initiatives to support teaching and learning at a given grade level provided in the minority language by a minority-language school or postsecondary institution. A “program” with respect to second-language instruction refers to all activities or initiatives to support teaching and learning of the second language at a given level provided by a school or postsecondary institution.
2. Purpose of the Agreement
2.1.1 Provide members of the French-language minority in Ontario with the opportunity to be educated in their own language, and to experience cultural enrichment associated with that community.
2.1.2 Provide the residents of Ontario with the opportunity to learn French as a second language along with opportunities for cultural enrichment through knowledge of the cultures associated with the French-language minority community.
ontario education act
PART XII
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
Provisions Relating to District School Boards
French-language district school boards288 A French-language district school board shall only operate classes, groups of classes and schools that are French-language instructional units.
English-language district school boards289 An English-language district school board shall not operate classes, groups of classes or schools that are French-language instructional units.
Duty of school authority to provide French-language instructional unit
English-language district school boards289 An English-language district school board shall not operate classes, groups of classes or schools that are French-language instructional units.
Duty of school authority to provide French-language instructional unit
25. permit a board to establish for English-speaking pupils programs involving varying degrees of the use of the French language in instruction, provided that programs in which English is the language of instruction are made available to pupils whose parents desire such programs for their children and impose terms and conditions on the permission;
25.1 permit a board to establish for English-speaking pupils extended day programs involving varying degrees of the use of the French language, provided that extended day programs in which English is used are made available to pupils whose parents desire such programs for their children and impose terms and conditions on the permission;
25.1 permit a board to establish for English-speaking pupils extended day programs involving varying degrees of the use of the French language, provided that extended day programs in which English is used are made available to pupils whose parents desire such programs for their children and impose terms and conditions on the permission;
French Language Services Act
Canadians who live in Ontario have the right under the French Language Services Act to receive services in French from all 28 ministries of the provincial government.
Provision of services in French
2. The Government of Ontario shall ensure that services are provided in French in accordance with this Act.
Canadians who live in Ontario have the right under the French Language Services Act to receive services in French from all 28 ministries of the provincial government.
Provision of services in French
2. The Government of Ontario shall ensure that services are provided in French in accordance with this Act.
References
Fraser institute. (2012). Studies in Language Policy. Retrieved from https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/official-language-policies-of-canadian-provinces-rev.pdf
Government of Canada. (2017). Official Languages Act. Retrieved from http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/O-3.01/page-4.html#h-14
Government of Canada. (2013). Youth Bilingualism. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2008004/article/10767-eng.htm
Government of Ontario. (2017). Education Act. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90e02#BK530
Government of Ontario. (2016). Government services in French. Retrieved from
https://www.ontario.ca/page/government-services-french
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2017) French Language Services Policy. Retrieved from http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/frenchservices/english/default.html
Government of Yukon. (2002). Languages Act. Retrieved from http://www.gov.yk.ca/legislation/acts/languages.pdf
New Brunswick Canada. (2002). Official Languages Act. Retrieved from http://laws.gnb.ca/en/showfulldoc/cs/O-0.5/20140305
Nova Scotia Legislature. (2011). French-Language Services Act. Retrieved from https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/frenchla.htm
Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second Official-Language Instruction. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/amenagement/ententeAgreementEd.pdf
Office of the Language Commissioner of Nunavut. Language Rights. Retrieved from http://langcom.nu.ca/nunavuts-official-languages/language-rights-0
Office of Commissioner of Official Languages. (2018). Official Languages in the Provinces and Territories. Retried from http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/en/language_rights/provinces_territories
Publications Québec (2017, November 30). Charter of French Language. Retrieved from http://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-11
Government of Canada. (2017). Official Languages Act. Retrieved from http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/O-3.01/page-4.html#h-14
Government of Canada. (2013). Youth Bilingualism. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-004-x/2008004/article/10767-eng.htm
Government of Ontario. (2017). Education Act. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90e02#BK530
Government of Ontario. (2016). Government services in French. Retrieved from
https://www.ontario.ca/page/government-services-french
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. (2017) French Language Services Policy. Retrieved from http://www.servicenl.gov.nl.ca/frenchservices/english/default.html
Government of Yukon. (2002). Languages Act. Retrieved from http://www.gov.yk.ca/legislation/acts/languages.pdf
New Brunswick Canada. (2002). Official Languages Act. Retrieved from http://laws.gnb.ca/en/showfulldoc/cs/O-0.5/20140305
Nova Scotia Legislature. (2011). French-Language Services Act. Retrieved from https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/frenchla.htm
Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second Official-Language Instruction. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/amenagement/ententeAgreementEd.pdf
Office of the Language Commissioner of Nunavut. Language Rights. Retrieved from http://langcom.nu.ca/nunavuts-official-languages/language-rights-0
Office of Commissioner of Official Languages. (2018). Official Languages in the Provinces and Territories. Retried from http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca/en/language_rights/provinces_territories
Publications Québec (2017, November 30). Charter of French Language. Retrieved from http://www.legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/showdoc/cs/C-11