In order to save French in Canada, Cabinet must take a “special approach” insisted a staff briefing note to Languages Minister Mélanie Joly, according to Blacklock’s Reporter ..While new initiatives weren’t detailed, Cabinet budgeted $130 million a year to promote bilingualism..“The government recognizes the security and vitality of the French language requires a special approach,” said the briefing note Reinforcement Of The Official Languages Act. “Measures must be taken to promote substantive equality between the two official languages while continuing to protect the right of linguistic minorities.”.Only 15% of Canadians outside Québec can speak French, according to Census data. Canada has been officially bilingual for 52 years..The June 16 briefing note said cabinet must “increase bilingualism across the country” and “take meaningful steps to recognize the minority context of the French language in North America and its need for additional protection.”.“We should provide Francophone minority communities with even more assistance,” Minister Joly testified June 1 at the Commons languages committee. “We know there is a risk of assimilation and we recognize that French in the country has been declining.”.“All Canadians should recognize themselves in the Official Languages Act,” said Joly. “Both official languages should be on an equal footing. In other words, substantive equality should exist between English and French. The government is responsible for ensuring everyone has the opportunity to learn, speak and live in French in Canada, as is the case in English of course.”.Cabinet on June 15 introduced Bill C-32 An Act To Amend The Official Languages Act that would for the first time compel the use of French in the federally-regulated private sector including airports, banks, railways, TV stations, interprovincial trucking companies and marine shippers. The bill mandates French service in regions with a “strong francophone presence” but did not define the term..The current 1969 Languages Act applies only to federal departments and agencies, Crown corporations and Air Canada as a former taxpayer-owned airline subsequently privatized in 1988. “This is a major shift in official languages policy,” Joly earlier testified at committee hearings..“Digital technologies, it must be said, favour the use of English,” said Joly. “In Canada there are eight million francophones in a vast North American ocean of millions of English speakers, and it is up to us to protect French.”.“Yes, English is dominant in many spheres of activity,” said Joly. “That’s why we need real equality. That’s why we are recognizing the need to level the playing field.”.“We know there is a decline of French in Québec and in Canada,” said Joly. “We must take action and we will continue to take action in our jurisdiction to protect French.”.Mike D’Amour is the British Columbia Bureau Chief for the Western Standard..,.mdamour@westernstandardonline.com
