Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages 2017-2018 Annual Report
Click here to read the official 2017-2018 Annual Report from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.
Tag Archive for: Official Languages
Official languages, “yes sir”
“Il en faut, de l’acharnement, pour occuper le siège de commissaire aux langues officielles dans ce pays : la défense des droits linguistiques des minorités, en particulier les francophones hors Québec, exige une volonté à toute épreuve.”
As Graham Fraser leaves office, Marco Fortier reviews the ten-year legacy of the exiting Commissioner of Official Languages. On the subject, QCGN Director General Sylvia Martin-Laforge mentions that linguistic rights are something that need to be used, to be kept alive. She thanks Graham for his last 10 years of service.
Quebec raises ire of francophones in the rest of Canada
By Sue Montgomery, The Gazette
Francophones in the rest of the country are angry that Quebec failed to back them in their bid before the Supreme Court of Canada to win greater control over who can attend their schools.
The province, normally an obvious supporter both morally and financially for francophones outside its borders, disagreed with giving school boards greater leeway to admit students to French schools other than those allowed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Quebec angers francophones in the rest of Canada by opposing bid to gain more control over school enrolment
By Sue Montgomery, National Post
Francophones in the rest of the country are angry that Quebec failed to back them in their bid before the Supreme Court of Canada to win greater control over who can attend their schools.
The province, normally an obvious supporter both morally and financially for francophones outside its borders, disagreed with giving school boards greater leeway to admit students to French schools other than those allowed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Although Quebec’s justice department declined to comment while the case is before the courts, it appears the province was concerned that if access to French-language schools was broadened in the rest of the country, Quebec would have to broaden access to English-language schools on its turf.
QCGN supports intent of Chaput Bill
Montreal – November 3, 2014 –
The Quebec Community Groups Network is pleased to support Bill S-205 which would enhance constitutional language rights contained in section 20 of the Official Languages Act. That is the message the QCGN is bringing today to the Senate Standing Committee on Official Languages which is currently studying Bill S-205, An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act.
This private member’s bill, introduced by Senator Maria Chaput, would introduce the concept of equal quality of communications and services offered by federal institutions in each official language, and modify the criteria used to determine if there is a significant demand for communications and services in either official language. The proposed legislation would also expand the number of locations where federal institutions have a duty to provide communications and services in both official languages.
Language rights should not be sacrificed
Editorial, The Gazette
Official Languages Commissioner Graham Fraser’s annual report is a barometer gauging the state of official bilingualism in Canada, and the latest edition indicates the situation got a little worse last year for French- and English-speaking minorities across the country.
Released this week, the report revealed that complaints rose slightly, with 476 filed in 2013-14 compared to 415 the previous year; the majority — 59 per cent — were related to the delivery of public services in both official languages; and 82 per cent came from francophones.
Commissioner’s Report: QCGN encourages complaints to ensure compliance
Press release
Montreal – October 7, 2014 – Complaints get results. That is one of the main messages the Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, delivered in his 2013-2014 Annual Report released earlier today. Fraser noted that part of his duties is to examine cases in which federal authorities have failed to respect the rights and privileges of individuals or groups of Canadians.
How Commissioner Fraser gets federal institutions to comply with the Official Languages Act – from a facilitated resolution process to intervening before the courts – is the theme of his report his year.
Commissioner’s findings confirm concerns of English-speaking Quebec
Montreal, November 7, 2013 –
The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) wholly concurs with the Commissioner of Official Languages’ assessment of the situation of Quebec’s English-speaking community and the challenges it faces as well as his suggestion that the provincial government appoint a minister responsible for English-speaking communities.
In his 2012-2013 Annual Report released earlier today, Commissioner Graham Fraser states that since its election, the Parti Québécois has increasingly voiced concerns about the threat to the French language in Quebec.
“We agree with Commissioner Fraser that the French language is vulnerable as well as his assertion that there is a fundamental difference between the dominant role the English language is playing on the international stage and English as the language spoken by Quebec’s English speaking community,” said QCGN Vice-President James Shea who was on hand for the release of the report.
QCGN congratulates Shelly Glover new Minister for Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Community also looks forward to working with Quebec Lieutenant Denis Lebel
MONTREAL, June 15, 2013 –
The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) offers its wholehearted congratulations to Shelly Glover on her appointment today as Canada’s Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages. We also congratulate her colleague Denis Lebel for his promotion to Quebec Lieutenant for the Conservative government.
QCGN approves new Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages
Ottawa, March 28, 2013 – The Quebec Community Groups Network (QCGN) is pleased with the Government of Canada’s renewed commitment to support the vitality of Quebec’s English-speaking minority community through the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013-2018 that was officially launched Thursday morning in Ottawa.
“Canada’s two official languages and two minority language communities are integral parts of this country’s history and identity,” said QCGN President Dan Lamoureux. “The investments announced today will certainly contribute to strengthening linguistic duality and the vitality of Canada’s official language minority communities — that is English-speaking Quebecers and our Francophone counterparts in the rest of Canada.”
The QCGN is funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage.
