Ottawa, June 16, 2021 — CPF is very pleased that Bill C-32 was finally tabled in Parliament yesterday, aiming to modernize the Official Languages Act, the Bill is an important step toward recognizing the roles of Canadians who have learned French, by means of French immersion or other French as a second language learning programs, and the role they play as allies in support of the vitality of French in all parts of Canada.

The Bill will enshrine the obligation of the federal government in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments to provide equitable access to all Canadians interested in learning their second official language, wherever they may live in the country.

CPF has worked hard over the last four years to ensure the principle of linguistic duality and the explicit recognition of FSL language learners were included in the modernized law. We would like to applaud the leadership of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and the efforts of her team for having broadly consulted all interested stakeholders and for sharing a clear vision that incorporates the key identified priorities.

“We are pleased to see that the Minister’s plan is moving forward, and we welcome the commitment to enhance opportunities for all Canadians to learn both official languages, we believe access to effective French second language education is vital to strengthening bilingualism,” said Derrek Bentley, CPF National President.

CPF is urging all political parties to work together in the review and debate stages of the proposed Bill so that it may be adopted without delay. CPF is asking all Members of Parliament to help advance the broader, more inclusive legislative and administrative recommendations found within the government’s Bill and to get the Official Languages Act modernized in this session of Parliament. This bill has been long awaited and further delays will not serve Canadians.

As a national network of volunteers, CPF is dedicated to supporting bilingualism and works with parents in communities to strengthen and grow French second language school programs. CPF shares the guiding principle of the Official Languages reform document which, alongside the 2019 Indigenous Languages Act, states how Canada’s official languages create links between communities within the population and are at the heart of the Canadian identity and the social contract that unites us.

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Canadian Parents for French is a nationwide, research-informed, volunteer organization that represents 36,000 members across Canada and champions the opportunity to learn and use French for all those who call Canada home.

 

For more information, please contact:

Marcos Salaiza, Communications Manager

Tel: 613.235.1481 x222 Email: msalaiza@cpf.ca