Rosalind Evans
The House of Commons passed a bill to legally establish a francophone immigration program, which will now be presented to the Senate.
Bill C-13 seeks to update the Official Languages Act, asserting that French, currently the only official language in Canada perceived to be at risk, requires enhanced protection within federal workplaces.
The House of Commons approved the bill during its third reading on Monday. Montreal Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, who had previously voiced concerns about the bill’s potential impact on Quebec’s English-speaking minority, was the sole opposing vote.
If enacted, the bill would introduce immigration into the Official Languages Act, underscoring its critical role in sustaining francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
The Liberal government maintains that this measure will contribute to expanding French-speaking services in fields such as child care, education, and health care across Canada, compensating for the current scarcity of bilingual professionals.
Furthermore, the bill mandates that all future Supreme Court of Canada appointees be bilingual, to enhance access to justice and to prevent potential alterations to this policy by future administrations.
The bill represents a significant stride towards elevating the status and protection of the French language in Canada. It aims to address the challenges posed by the diminishing number of bilingual workers, particularly in provinces outside of Quebec. This lack of bilingual staff has been impacting the delivery of essential services such as health care, education, and child care in French, a concern the bill directly targets.
The incorporation of immigration into the Official Languages Act, a first in Canadian legislative history, signifies an increased recognition of the crucial role that francophone immigrants play in maintaining the vitality of French-speaking communities throughout the country.
The bilingual requirement for Supreme Court justices is expected to enhance the fairness and accessibility of the justice system for French-speaking citizens. This measure also solidifies the policy’s resilience against future political changes that might undermine this bilingual requirement.
The bill now proceeds to the Senate for further debate and voting. Should it pass, it will mark a momentous change in Canadian law, reinforcing the country’s commitment to its bilingual identity and protecting its francophone citizens.
