What are the official languages of Canada?
The Parliament of Canada in 1969 adopted the Official languages Act which was subsequently amended in 1988. This Act adopts “Official Bilingualism” imparting English and French equal status in Canada. Thus English and French are “official languages” given preferred status by law over every other language. These are a few implications of English and French being official languages of Canada:
• The people of Canada will enjoy the right for receiving services from government federal departments as well as from government corporations in the two official languages.
• The Canadians will be able to speak in federal courts in any one of the official languages of their preference.
• Parliament of Canada will be adopting laws and publishing regulations in both English and French. Both the language versions will enjoy same legal importance.
• The employees of the federal government will enjoy working in their choice of official language in the bilingual regions of Canada. In most parts of Canada, English is the most spoken with the exception being Quebec. French has been adopted as the official language in Quebec. New Brunswick is an official bilingual province of Canada. Francophone communities in several provinces of Canada have come into existence.
It is imperative to know one of the two official languages for any person intending to start a life in Canada. Acquaintance with the official languages will help a person to participate actively in the new community. It will also help to seek employment. Communication with children who will have to learn the language in school is also important. Knowledge of one of the official languages in Canada will hasten the entire process of acquiring Canadian citizenship for a person.
