NICKEL BELT-GRAND SUDBURY – Just as Indigenous languages remain an integral part of the linguistic landscape of Canadian society, the two official languages are an integral part of Canada’s heritage. Protecting and promoting the two official languages and defending official-language minority communities are a priority for the Government of Canada.

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister for Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, supported by the Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board, and the Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, tabled an improved bill for substantive equality between Canada's official languages – a most welcomed announcement for MP Serré and the Francophone organizations in his riding.

Since his election in 2015, MP Serré has been active in the Francophone community in Nickel Belt - Greater Sudbury. He meets regularly with stakeholders to hear their voices and champion what matters to them. MP Serré was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Official Languages in December 2021 by the Prime Minister and continues to amplify the Minister's message and support her in her engagement with official language minority communities across the country.

MP Serré takes to heart the importance of advancing Francophone issues. He was born and raised in the small French-speaking communities of Field, Verner and Chelmsford located in the riding of Nickel Belt. He attended primary, secondary and university in French. Mr. Serré holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in human resources and marketing from Laurentian University. He was part of the inaugural class in which this 4-year program was offered entirely in French.

In 1999, school boards in Ontario were divided and 12 individual French boards were created. Marc was appointed school counselor at the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario (CSCNO) the following year; for a term of 6 years. He held a job in the French division of Cambrian College, after which the network of French-speaking colleges in Ontario was created where he was transferred to the new Collège Boréal. Thanks to his community involvement, he is well aware of the challenges faced by Francophone communities in Canada, and he recognizes the historic nature of the Minister's announcement.

MP Serré is very proud to follow the work of his father Gaëtan Serré, who was an MP from 1968 to 1972. In 1969, his father voted for the Official Languages Act. He credits his father for his determination to achieve his career goals and education. The Official Languages Act adopted in 1969 made it possible to recognize the work and the battles begun by his ancestors and the importance of fostering the development of official language minority communities and promoting linguistic duality, whether in Ontario or nationwide.

More than 30 years after the last major reform, the Official Languages Act required modernization to keep pace with a society that has experienced profound social, demographic and technological changes.

After sharing the vision for official languages reform in the document English and French: Towards a substantive equality of official languages in Canada, and after introducing Bill C-32 in June 2021, the Federal government continued to listen to Canadians, communities and interested stakeholders. With this in mind, they decided to significantly improve the bill, which today enabled them to take a historic step forward.

In addition to the key measures in the previous bill, this new version significantly improves the Official Languages Act to address the decline of French in Canada; clarify and strengthen the part of the Act concerning the promotion of official languages and supporting official-language minority communities; improve compliance by federal institutions concerning official languages; and achieve a balance so that as many Canadians as possible can identify with this modernization, including through the following measures:

• Modify the Treasury Board's powers to further strengthen its official languages monitoring obligations.
• Strengthen the powers of the Commissioner of Official Languages, including new authority to enter into compliance agreements with institutions subject to the Act, to issue orders, and to impose administrative monetary penalties on certain privatized entities and Crown corporations that are currently subject to the Official Languages Act in the area of transportation serving the travelling public.
• Strengthen Canada's Francophone Immigration Policy, which should include objectives, targets and indicators to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
• Add the principle of remedial nature of language rights to the principles of interpretation of the Act to better protect linguistic minorities across the country.
• Add amendments and clarifications regarding federal institutions taking positive measures for official-language minority communities and the promotion of English and French.
• Establish new rights and obligations to protect the French language in private businesses under federal jurisdiction in an Act of Parliament dedicated to this objective.
• Add a preamble to the Official Languages Act reminding that official-language rights apply even in emergencies. Add language that clearly states the equal importance of the country's two major linguistic communities and the requirement to consider the specific needs of each, and the historical and cultural importance of Canada's Anglophone and Francophone minorities and their unique and plural character.
• The tabling of this improved bill is a concrete step in our efforts to ensure the protection of French, the promotion of our two official languages, and the revitalization of minority communities and bilingualism across the country.

Quotes

"Today is a historic day for advancing the language rights of Canadians across the country. Our government made a commitment to move forward quickly to modernize the Official Languages Act, and this ambitious reform is concrete proof of that commitment. Thanks to true teamwork, we are taking an important step to achieve substantive equality of English and French."—The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

“The modernization of the Official Languages Act is an important step for official language minority communities across the country. This bill addresses current linguistic realities and concerns that affect our communities, such as immigration, post-secondary education, economic development, and cultural vitality. I would like to thank the entire team at the Department of Official Languages and its committee, the Canadian public and all those who have contributed to bringing us here today" - Marc G. Serré, MP for Nickel Belt and Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Official Languages

"Canadians must be able to use the justice system in the official language of their choice. This improved bill touches on many aspects of the federal linguistic framework to improve access to justice in both official languages. The bill will have a major impact on the administration of our justice system and our courts. More than 30 years have passed since the last Official Languages Act reform. As promised, our government is delivering on its commitment to modernize and revitalize the Official Languages Act."—The Honourable David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"Official languages are an integral part of our culture and identity. Modernizing the Official Languages Act will enable the Treasury Board to reaffirm its role as a central agency by strengthening and expanding its powers, including monitoring compliance of federal institutions, which will improve our ability to serve Canadians in the official language of their choice." —The Honourable Mona Fortier, President of the Treasury Board

Quick Facts

• The federal Official Languages Act was adopted in 1969, recognizing English and French as the two official languages of Parliament and the Government of Canada. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was adopted in 1982, making English and French the two official languages of Canada.
• The Act was revised in 1988 to ensure that language rights enshrined in the Charter were implemented at the federal level. This version of the Act also declares the Government of Canada's commitment to enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities, support their development, and promote the full recognition and use of both official languages in Canadian society. In 2005, it added the obligation for federal institutions to take positive measures to implement this commitment.
• From March to May 2019, the Government of Canada conducted a pan-Canadian conversation on the modernization of the Act, culminating in a national symposium in Ottawa.
• In the fall of 2019, the Government of Canada committed to modernizing the Act and subsequently included this commitment in the mandate letter of the Minister of Official Languages.
• On February 19, 2021, the Minister tabled her reform paper outlining the Government of Canada's vision and intentions for modernizing the Act. The document contained 56 proposals that affect several parts of the Act, 33 of which are legislative in nature.
• On June 15, 2021, the Minister tabled Bill C-32 – An Act to amend the Official Languages Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts. The calling of a federal election on August 15, 2021, ended the process of passing this bill.

Important links

English and French: Towards a substantive equality of official languages in Canada
History of the Official Languages Act
Modernization of the Official Languages Act

Media contact :

Kaylie Dudgeon
Adjointe spéciale
Marc G. Serré, Député de Nickel Belt
705-507-2416
[email protected]