Official languages

Purpose of the Official Languages Act

Official Languages at the Heart of our Identity: An Overview of the Official Languages Act (PDF, 1,022 KB, 10 pages)

Official Languages Act (complete text)

History of Official Languages

Part VII, Section 41 of the OLA commits the federal government to enhancing the vitality of OLMCs as well as fostering the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.

Part VII, Section 42 of the OLA mandates the Minister of Canadian Heritage to promote and encourage a coordinated approach to these commitments among federal institutions.