Language policies of Canada's provinces and territories
Encyclopedia
The Language policies of Canada's province and territories vary substantially between different regions and also between different eras. From the 1890s until the 1960s, English was the only language that most government services were provided in outside of Quebec (which was functionally bilingual) and using French in the courts or in schools was often illegal. This led to fears by French Canadian
nationalists that French-speakers would be assimilated, leading the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
(1963–1969) to recommend that the federal government and all provinces offer more services in French. Since that time, Quebec has used provincial law to valourize French at the expense of English, while the other provinces have begun to offer more and more services in French and in other language besides English, including Aboriginal languages and immigrant languages. Quebec is unique in requiring private businesses to use French and requiring immigrants to send their children to French-language schools. In other provinces there is no requirement that businesses use a particular language, but English predominates, and immigrants may send their children to English, French or third-language schools, however English is again predominant.
in 1867, English and French were made the official languages of debate in the Parliament of Canada
and the Parliament of Quebec. No specific policies were enacted for the other provinces, and no provisions were made for the official languages to be used in other elements of the government such the courts, schools, post offices, and so one. The official language policies of the provinces and territories were initially set when they were created by the federal government, or in the case of provinces that were separate colonies before joining Confederation (Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia) were inherited from their own histories. Language policies in all provinces have evolved over time in response to changing demographics, public attitudes, and legal rulings.
, the British Isles
, and the United States
changed the demographic balance, however. One of the outcomes of the Red River Rebellion
of 1870 was the creation of Manitoba
as an officially bilingual province, to protect the French-speaking Metis from being overpowered by the incoming Anglophone settlers. This guarantee failed, however, and in the aftermath of the Manitoba Schools Question
, that province was allowed to become officially English-only, until these policies were declared unconstitutional in 1985.
The Northwest Territories Act of 1891 made English and French official languages in the rest of Canadian West. But in 1892 the Legislature of the Northwest Territories declared itself English-only.
This trend continued to the creation of the new provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, and beyond.
in 1982. The Charter was amended in 1993 to clarify that the two language communities are legally equal. In 1999 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Moncton (City) v. Charlebois that New Brunswick's official bilingualism also applied to municipalities in the province. In 2002 the Official Languages Act became New Brunswick's new language law, leading to the creation of the creation of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick in 2003.
, 1870. However in subsequent years the provincial government moved to end French-language services and become English-only. In the famous Supreme Court of Canada case Reference re Manitoba Language Rights
of 1985 the court found these policies unconstitutional. The province of Manitoba is now overwhelmingly English-speaking and the first language of the courts, government ministries, and schools is English. However, in order to comply with the court's ruling the province is required to provide nearly all its services in French (as well as English). The government's policy is summarized in the French Language Services Policy, last updated in March 1999.
, Canada's largest municipality, and Ottawa
, the nation's capital, as well as many other cities, counties, districts, townships, and towns. For the purposes of the policy, the definition of a "Francophone" was broadened in 2009. Previously it included only mother-tongue speakers, however it now includes allophones (people whose first language is neither French or English) who "have particular knowledge of French as an official language and use French at home, including many recent immigrants to Ontario for whom French is the language of integration".
An Act to promote the French language in Quebec
was passed in 1969 by the Union Nationale
government of Jean-Jacques Bertrand
. It required the education ministry to ensure that French as a second language was taught to all English-speakers and immigrants in Quebec, but allowed Quebeckers freedom of choice in deciding in which language to educate their children. This was considered too weak by many Quebec nationalists, leading to the creation of the Mouvement Québec français
and increased support for the new Parti Québecois
.
From 1968 to 1973, the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation of the French Language and Linguistic Rights in Quebec
investigated how to strengthen the position of French in Quebec. Its recommendations led to the passage of the Official Language Act
or "Bill 22" in 1974 by the Quebec Liberal Party government of Robert Bourassa
. This made French the sole official language of Quebec and required its use in business.
Bill 22 was replaced by the Charter of the French Language
(Bill 101) by Quebec's National Assembly
in August 1977, under the majority government of the Parti Québecois
led by René Lévesque
. It is structured as a list of rights, where everyone in Quebec has the right to be served in French by the government and businesses, and also provides certain rights for speakers of English and aboriginal languages. Most government services are available in both French and English. Regional institutions in the Nunavik
region of northern Quebec offer services in Inuktitut
and Cree
.
Several legal challenges have been raised against Bill 101 in the ongoing legal dispute over Quebec's language policy
. In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Ford v. Quebec (Attorney General)
that the ban on outdoor signs in languages other than French was unconstitutional. The government of Quebec choose to invoke the "notwithstanding clause" to shield the legislation from the courts. The United Nations Human Rights Commission ruled similarly in Ballantyne, Davidson, McIntyre v. Canada
in 1993. The ban on non-French signs was lifted with the passage of Bill 86
in 1993.
was declared a unilingual English province, while recognizing a right to use French in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
and before certain courts. The Language Policy in Education (1978) requires school boards to establish French programs at the request of a local advisory committee. The School Act recognizes a right to instruction in French for the official language minority (1988) and right of Francophones to manage their own schools (1993). Laws are drafted solely in English and there is no legal requirement that they be translated into French. French may be used orally in all provincial courts in Alberta. There is no requirement that healthcare services be provided in French, and it is left up to the initiative of individual hospitals and clinics. There is no requirement that social services be provided in French and this is left up to individual NGOs and charities that work with the provincial government. Other government services are provided in English only, except where the provincial government sees a need for French, including tourism and immigration, or where the federal government has provided funding. There is no official policy requiring municipalities in Alberta to provide services in French. Three municipalities have voluntarily declared themselves officially bilingual (English-French): Falher
, Legal and Beaumont all small communities with a francophone heritage. Some other municipalities are not officially bilingual but provide some services in French or other languages other than English. Since 1993 there have been distinct Separate and Public Francophone school boards in Alberta in addition to the existing Public and Separate school boards which also offer French immersion. Besides French the government does not offer most services in many other languages, but there are exceptions. Official government toll-free lines related subjects like family violence and gambling are available in 170 languages. The government publishes a educational curriculum to assists teachers of Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Punjabi, Spanish, and Ukrainian, as well as of Cree and Blackfoot.
(2000), Prince Edward Island made a variety of commitments to provides services in French, but according to a government report (as of 2005), many sections of the Act have not proclaimed into law, as the province is still in the process of building its capacity to deliver services in French.
.
language, and also seen some Mi'Kmaq
speakers. The Labrador coast is home to the Innu-aimun
and Inuttut languages. Newfoundland was also home to unique regional dialects of the French
and Irish Gaelic
languages, now extinct, as well as smaller groups of Old Norse, Basque, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Scots Gaelic speakers. Today the Government offers minimal French-language services through its French-language webisite http://www.exec.gov.nl.ca/frenchservices in all other respects, it is English-only, including in the legislature, the courts, the schools, and the civil service.
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
nationalists that French-speakers would be assimilated, leading the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism was a Canadian royal commission established on 19 July 1963, by the government of Prime Minister Lester B...
(1963–1969) to recommend that the federal government and all provinces offer more services in French. Since that time, Quebec has used provincial law to valourize French at the expense of English, while the other provinces have begun to offer more and more services in French and in other language besides English, including Aboriginal languages and immigrant languages. Quebec is unique in requiring private businesses to use French and requiring immigrants to send their children to French-language schools. In other provinces there is no requirement that businesses use a particular language, but English predominates, and immigrants may send their children to English, French or third-language schools, however English is again predominant.
History
At the time of ConfederationCanadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
in 1867, English and French were made the official languages of debate in the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
and the Parliament of Quebec. No specific policies were enacted for the other provinces, and no provisions were made for the official languages to be used in other elements of the government such the courts, schools, post offices, and so one. The official language policies of the provinces and territories were initially set when they were created by the federal government, or in the case of provinces that were separate colonies before joining Confederation (Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia) were inherited from their own histories. Language policies in all provinces have evolved over time in response to changing demographics, public attitudes, and legal rulings.
The Prairies
Prior to becoming part of Canada in 1869, English was a minority language in the West, where French and Aboriginal languages were more common. The arrival settlers from OntarioOntario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
changed the demographic balance, however. One of the outcomes of the Red River Rebellion
Red River Rebellion
The Red River Rebellion or Red River Resistance was the sequence of events related to the 1869 establishment of a provisional government by the Métis leader Louis Riel and his followers at the Red River Settlement, in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba.The Rebellion was the first crisis...
of 1870 was the creation of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
as an officially bilingual province, to protect the French-speaking Metis from being overpowered by the incoming Anglophone settlers. This guarantee failed, however, and in the aftermath of the Manitoba Schools Question
Manitoba Schools Question
The Manitoba Schools Question was a political crisis in the Canadian Province of Manitoba that occurred late in the 19th century, involving publicly funded separate schools for Roman Catholics and Protestants...
, that province was allowed to become officially English-only, until these policies were declared unconstitutional in 1985.
The Northwest Territories Act of 1891 made English and French official languages in the rest of Canadian West. But in 1892 the Legislature of the Northwest Territories declared itself English-only.
This trend continued to the creation of the new provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in 1905, and beyond.
Officially bilingual or multilingual
New Brunswick and Canada's three territories have all given official status to more than one language. In the case of New Brunswick, this means perfect equality. In the other cases, the recognition sometimes amounts to a formal recognition of official languages, but limited services in official languages other than English.The territories
- Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest TerritoriesThe Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
: Chipewyan, CreeCree languageCree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
, English, French, Gwich’inGwich’in languageThe Gwich’in language is the Athabaskan language of the Gwich’in indigenous people. It is also known in older or dialect-specific publications as Kutchin, Takudh, Tukudh, or Loucheux. In the Northwest Territories and Yukon of Canada, it is used principally in the towns of Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort...
, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, InuvialuktunInuvialuktunInuvialuktun, or Western Canadian Inuit language, Western Canadian Inuktitut, Western Canadian Inuktun comprises three Inuit dialects spoken in the northern Northwest Territories by those Canadian Inuit who call themselves Inuvialuk .Inuvialuktun is spoken by the Inuit of the Mackenzie River delta...
, North SlaveySlavey languageSlavey is an Athabaskan language spoken among the Slavey First Nations of Canada in the Northwest Territories where it also has official status....
, South SlaveySlavey languageSlavey is an Athabaskan language spoken among the Slavey First Nations of Canada in the Northwest Territories where it also has official status....
and Tłįchǫ or DogribDogrib languageDogrib, the English translation of the indigenous name ' , is a Northern Athabaskan language spoken by the First Nations Tłı̨chǫ people of the Canadian territory Northwest Territories...
. - NunavutNunavutNunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
: English, Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun, and French. - YukonYukonYukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means "Great River" in Gwich’in....
: English and French.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick has been officially bilingual since the passing of the Official Languages in New Brunswick Act (1969). This was complemented by An Act Recognizing the Equality of the Two Official Linguistic Communities in New Brunswick in 1981. New Brunswick's bilingualism was constitutionally enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
in 1982. The Charter was amended in 1993 to clarify that the two language communities are legally equal. In 1999 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Moncton (City) v. Charlebois that New Brunswick's official bilingualism also applied to municipalities in the province. In 2002 the Official Languages Act became New Brunswick's new language law, leading to the creation of the creation of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick in 2003.
Manitoba
Manitoba was established as an officially bilingual province under section 23 of the Manitoba ActManitoba Act
The Manitoba Act, originally titled An Act to amend and continue the Act 32 and 33 Victoria, chapter 3; and to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Manitoba, is an act of the Parliament of Canada that is defined by the Constitution Act, 1982 as forming a part of the...
, 1870. However in subsequent years the provincial government moved to end French-language services and become English-only. In the famous Supreme Court of Canada case Reference re Manitoba Language Rights
Reference re Manitoba Language Rights
Reference re Manitoba Language Rights [1985] 1 S.C.R. 721 was a reference question posed to the Supreme Court of Canada regarding provisions in the Manitoba Act stipulating the provision of French language services in the province of Manitoba...
of 1985 the court found these policies unconstitutional. The province of Manitoba is now overwhelmingly English-speaking and the first language of the courts, government ministries, and schools is English. However, in order to comply with the court's ruling the province is required to provide nearly all its services in French (as well as English). The government's policy is summarized in the French Language Services Policy, last updated in March 1999.
Regionalized bilingualism: Ontario
Ontario has a regionalized language policy, where part of the province is English-only and other areas are bilingual. Province-wide services (such as websites and toll-free telephone numbers) are provided in both English in French. However individuals only have a right to French-language services in certain designated regions of the province under the French Language Services Act (1986). There are 25 regions so designated. These are: areas with 10% or more Francophones; urban centers with 5,000 or more Francophones; and areas previously designated by the Government of Ontario between 1978 and 1985. Notably this includes TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada's largest municipality, and Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, the nation's capital, as well as many other cities, counties, districts, townships, and towns. For the purposes of the policy, the definition of a "Francophone" was broadened in 2009. Previously it included only mother-tongue speakers, however it now includes allophones (people whose first language is neither French or English) who "have particular knowledge of French as an official language and use French at home, including many recent immigrants to Ontario for whom French is the language of integration".
Officially French-only: Quebec
Until 1969, Quebec was the only officially bilingual province in Canada and most public institutions functioned in both languages. English was also used in the legislature, government commissions and courts.An Act to promote the French language in Quebec
An Act to promote the French language in Quebec
An Act to promote the French language in Quebec of 1969 , also known as Bill 63, was a language law passed in the Canadian province of Quebec...
was passed in 1969 by the Union Nationale
Union Nationale
Union Nationale may refer to several political parties:*Union nationale , Canada*Union Nationale Rwandaise*National Union , Union nationale in French*Chadian National Union, Union Nationale Tchadienne, known as UNT...
government of Jean-Jacques Bertrand
Jean-Jacques Bertrand
Jean-Jacques Bertrand was the 21st Premier of Quebec, Canada, from October 2, 1968 to May 12, 1970. He led the Union Nationale party.-Member of the legislature:...
. It required the education ministry to ensure that French as a second language was taught to all English-speakers and immigrants in Quebec, but allowed Quebeckers freedom of choice in deciding in which language to educate their children. This was considered too weak by many Quebec nationalists, leading to the creation of the Mouvement Québec français
Mouvement Québec français
Mouvement Québec français is an umbrella group of organizations in favour of the preservation and defense of the French language in Quebec, Canada.- History :...
and increased support for the new Parti Québecois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
.
From 1968 to 1973, the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation of the French Language and Linguistic Rights in Quebec
Commission of Inquiry on the Situation of the French Language and Linguistic Rights in Quebec
The Commission of Inquiry on the Situation of the French Language and Linguistic Rights in Quebec was established under the Union Nationale government of Jean-Jacques Bertrand on December 9, 1968.- Background :...
investigated how to strengthen the position of French in Quebec. Its recommendations led to the passage of the Official Language Act
Official Language Act (Quebec)
The Official Language Act of 1974 , also known as Bill 22, is an act of the National Assembly of Quebec which made French the sole official language of Quebec, a province of Canada...
or "Bill 22" in 1974 by the Quebec Liberal Party government of Robert Bourassa
Robert Bourassa
Jean-Robert Bourassa, was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as the 22nd Premier of Quebec in two different mandates, first from May 12, 1970, to November 25, 1976, and then from December 12, 1985, to January 11, 1994, serving a total of just under 15 years as Provincial Premier.-Early...
. This made French the sole official language of Quebec and required its use in business.
Bill 22 was replaced by the Charter of the French Language
Charter of the French Language
The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province...
(Bill 101) by Quebec's National Assembly
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
in August 1977, under the majority government of the Parti Québecois
Parti Québécois
The Parti Québécois is a centre-left political party that advocates national sovereignty for the province of Quebec and secession from Canada. The Party traditionally has support from the labour movement. Unlike many other social-democratic parties, its ties with the labour movement are informal...
led by René Lévesque
René Lévesque
René Lévesque was a reporter, a minister of the government of Quebec, , the founder of the Parti Québécois political party and the 23rd Premier of Quebec...
. It is structured as a list of rights, where everyone in Quebec has the right to be served in French by the government and businesses, and also provides certain rights for speakers of English and aboriginal languages. Most government services are available in both French and English. Regional institutions in the Nunavik
Nunavik
Nunavik comprises the northern third of the province of Quebec, Canada. Covering a land area of 443,684.71 km² north of the 55th parallel, it is the homeland of the Inuit of Quebec...
region of northern Quebec offer services in Inuktitut
Inuktitut
Inuktitut or Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, Eastern Canadian Inuit language is the name of some of the Inuit languages spoken in Canada...
and Cree
Cree language
Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...
.
Several legal challenges have been raised against Bill 101 in the ongoing legal dispute over Quebec's language policy
Legal dispute over Quebec's language policy
The legal dispute over Quebec's language policy began soon after the enactment of the Charter of the French Language by the National Assembly of Quebec in 1977....
. In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Ford v. Quebec (Attorney General)
Ford v. Quebec (Attorney General)
Ford v. Quebec , [1988] 2 S.C.R. 712 is a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision in which the Court struck down part of the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101. This law had restricted the use of commercial signs written in languages other than French...
that the ban on outdoor signs in languages other than French was unconstitutional. The government of Quebec choose to invoke the "notwithstanding clause" to shield the legislation from the courts. The United Nations Human Rights Commission ruled similarly in Ballantyne, Davidson, McIntyre v. Canada
Ballantyne, Davidson, McIntyre v. Canada
Ballantyne, Davidson, McIntyre v. Canada was a case on Quebec's language law decided by the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations in 1993.-Facts:...
in 1993. The ban on non-French signs was lifted with the passage of Bill 86
Bill 86
Bill 86 is a law in Quebec, Canada. Related to the Charter of the French Language, it allows the use of English on outdoor public signs in Quebec, as long as French is more prominent.*...
in 1993.
Officially English with services in French and other languages
Most provinces have laws that make either English or both English and French the official language(s) of the legislature and the courts, but may also have separate policies in regards to education and the bureaucracy.Alberta
Under the Language Act 1988, AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
was declared a unilingual English province, while recognizing a right to use French in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Legislative Assembly of Alberta
The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...
and before certain courts. The Language Policy in Education (1978) requires school boards to establish French programs at the request of a local advisory committee. The School Act recognizes a right to instruction in French for the official language minority (1988) and right of Francophones to manage their own schools (1993). Laws are drafted solely in English and there is no legal requirement that they be translated into French. French may be used orally in all provincial courts in Alberta. There is no requirement that healthcare services be provided in French, and it is left up to the initiative of individual hospitals and clinics. There is no requirement that social services be provided in French and this is left up to individual NGOs and charities that work with the provincial government. Other government services are provided in English only, except where the provincial government sees a need for French, including tourism and immigration, or where the federal government has provided funding. There is no official policy requiring municipalities in Alberta to provide services in French. Three municipalities have voluntarily declared themselves officially bilingual (English-French): Falher
Falher, Alberta
Falher is a town in the Peace Country area of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the Municipal District of Smoky River, along Highway 49. Falher is one of the earliest agricultural communities in the Peace Country.-History:...
, Legal and Beaumont all small communities with a francophone heritage. Some other municipalities are not officially bilingual but provide some services in French or other languages other than English. Since 1993 there have been distinct Separate and Public Francophone school boards in Alberta in addition to the existing Public and Separate school boards which also offer French immersion. Besides French the government does not offer most services in many other languages, but there are exceptions. Official government toll-free lines related subjects like family violence and gambling are available in 170 languages. The government publishes a educational curriculum to assists teachers of Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Punjabi, Spanish, and Ukrainian, as well as of Cree and Blackfoot.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia has no legal requirement to provide any services in a language other than English, which was already well-established as the official language when the province joined Confederation in 1867. However the province has an Office of Gaelic Affairs whose mission is "to work with Nova Scotians in the renewal of Gaelic language and culture in the Province" and an Office of Acadian Affairs: As well there is a French-language web portal, gov.ns.ca/bonjourPrince Edward Island
The French Language School Board was created on July 1, 1990. This was followed by the opening of new French-language school in Summerside-Miscouche, West Prince, and Rustico in 2000, and Souris in 2003. The Francophone Affairs Division was established on April 1, 1989 Under the French Language Services ActFrench Language Services Act
The French Language Services Act is a law in the province of Ontario, Canada which is intended to protect the rights of Franco-Ontarians, or French-speaking people, in the province....
(2000), Prince Edward Island made a variety of commitments to provides services in French, but according to a government report (as of 2005), many sections of the Act have not proclaimed into law, as the province is still in the process of building its capacity to deliver services in French.
Saskatchewan
In Saskatchewan, a 1968 amendment to the School Act permitted the establishment of designated French schools. Prior to this date, English was the only language which could be used as a language of instruction in Saskatchewan schools. The Language Act In 2010, the Government of Saskatachewan launched a bilingual website that indexes all the services it provides in French: bonjour.gov.sk.caDe facto English only
With the exception of some federal services, English is, by default, the only official language in British ColumbiaBritish Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Many Aboriginal and European languages where once widely spoken in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, Britain eventually gained firm and unchallenged control of the island and adjacent coast following the French defeat in the Seven Years War, and English then became the language of administration and commerce, as in most of the British Empire. In isolated fishing villages many minority languages persisted in private use, however, until the coming of standardized education in the nineteenth, and more so the twentieth centuries. When Newfoundland joined Confederation in 1949 it had already used English as the sole language of government for several centuries. Today, Newfoundland is the most linguistically homogeneous province in Canada. In 1999, 98% of the population spoke only English as their sole mother tongue. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has no statutory language policy, simply having inherited English from colonial times. The Island of Newfoundland was once the homeland of the BeothukBeothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
language, and also seen some Mi'Kmaq
Mi'kmaq
The Míkmaq are a First Nations people, indigenous to the northeastern region of New England, Canada's Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The nation has a population of about 40,000 , of whom nearly 9,100 speak the Míkmaq language...
speakers. The Labrador coast is home to the Innu-aimun
Innu-aimun
Innu-aimun or Montagnais is an Algonquian language spoken by over 11,000 people, called the Innu, in Labrador and Quebec in Eastern Canada...
and Inuttut languages. Newfoundland was also home to unique regional dialects of the French
Newfoundland French
Newfoundland French or Newfoundland Peninsular French refers to the French spoken on the Port au Port Peninsula of Newfoundland. The francophones of the region are unique in Canada, tracing their origins to Continental French fishermen who settled in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and not to the...
and Irish Gaelic
Newfoundland Irish
Newfoundland Irish is an extinct dialect of the Irish language specific to the island of Newfoundland, Canada. It was very similar to Munster Irish, as spoken in the southeast of Ireland, due to mass immigration from the counties Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, and Cork.-Irish settlement...
languages, now extinct, as well as smaller groups of Old Norse, Basque, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Scots Gaelic speakers. Today the Government offers minimal French-language services through its French-language webisite http://www.exec.gov.nl.ca/frenchservices in all other respects, it is English-only, including in the legislature, the courts, the schools, and the civil service.
Comparison table
| Province or Territory | Legislation on official language policy | Ministry or department responsible for language policy | Other legislation | Legal cases | Other agencies | Language(s) of the Legislature | Language(s) of the Courts | Language(s) of the Civil Service | Language(s) of the Schools | Language policies affecting businesses and private citizens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
Language Act | School Act | Mahe Mahe v. Alberta Mahé v. Alberta, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 342 is a leading decision of the Supreme Court of Canada. The ruling is notable because the court established that section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms requires that parents of the official-language minority in each province have the right... |
Francophone Secretariat of Municipal Affairs | English and French | English and French | English | English and French | None | |
| Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
Manitoba Act Manitoba Act The Manitoba Act, originally titled An Act to amend and continue the Act 32 and 33 Victoria, chapter 3; and to establish and provide for the Government of the Province of Manitoba, is an act of the Parliament of Canada that is defined by the Constitution Act, 1982 as forming a part of the... |
English and French | English and French | English | English and French | None | ||||
| New Brunswick New Brunswick New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area... |
Official Languages Act | Commissioner of Official Languages | An Act Recognizing the Equality of the Two Official Linguistic Communities in New Brunswick | English and French | English and French | English and French | English and French | |||
| Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the... |
Doucet-Boudreau Doucet-Boudreau v. Nova Scotia (Minister of Education) Doucet-Boudreau v. Nova Scotia [2003] 3 S.C.R. 3, 2003 SCC 62, was a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada which followed the Nova Scotia Supreme Court's finding that a delay in building French language schools in Nova Scotia violated the claimants' minority language educational rights under... |
|||||||||
| Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population... |
Arsenault-Cameron Arsenault-Cameron v. Prince Edward Island Arsenault-Cameron v. Prince Edward Island, [2000] 1 S.C.R. 3, 2000 SCC 1, is a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision on minority language rights... |
|||||||||
| Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... |
Charter of the French Language Charter of the French Language The Charter of the French Language , also known as Bill 101 and Loi 101, is a law in the province of Quebec in Canada defining French, the language of the majority of the population, as the only official language of Quebec, and framing fundamental language rights for everyone in the province... "Bill 101" |
Office québécois de la langue française Office québécois de la langue française The Office québécois de la langue française is a public organization established on March 24, 1961 by the Liberal government of Jean Lesage... |
Bill 86 Bill 86 Bill 86 is a law in Quebec, Canada. Related to the Charter of the French Language, it allows the use of English on outdoor public signs in Quebec, as long as French is more prominent.*... |
Ford Ford v. Quebec (Attorney General) Ford v. Quebec , [1988] 2 S.C.R. 712 is a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision in which the Court struck down part of the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101. This law had restricted the use of commercial signs written in languages other than French... |
English and French | English and French | French | English and French | French is required | |
| Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.... |
Language Act | School Act | English and French | English and French | English | English and French | None |
See also
- Languages of Canada
- Official bilingualism in Canada
- Timeline of official languages policy in Canada