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Essay / The Official Languages Act in Canada
Have you ever thought about why Canada has two official languages? The Royal Commission on Bilingualism recommended that Canada be declared officially bilingual by making French and English the official languages of Parliament and the federal courts. On September 9, 1969, the Official Languages Act was adopted. The Act declared: The English and French languages are the official languages of Canada. Act respecting the status of official languages in Canada which grants French and English equal status within the Government of Canada. A lot has happened between the two official languages. Many people believed that French Canadians received special treatment, some wondered why so much money was spent on providing services in French. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayEnglish and French are the official languages of Canada and enjoy their independent status and equal constitutional rights and freedoms for their use in all organizations of the Government of Canada. And from then on, all documents, reports, speeches and brochures intended for the public were now required to be published in French and English. This law required federal offices to offer services in both languages. Thus, English civil servants learned to speak and understand French. Public signs identifying federal offices are in both official languages. Federal Court decisions were also published in both official languages; federal government services in both languages were to be available in regions of Canada where there was a significant French-Canadian minority. Many other actions included in the Official Languages Act, federal funds were made available to promote bilingualism, services were extended to French-language radio and television outside Quebec, rules were introduced requiring bilingual labels on products, more jobs in the federal public service were elected bilingual (before the Act, only 14% of top government positions were held by French Canadians, even though Canadians French represented 25% of the population of Canada). People have the right to use French or English in Parliament. The Assembly is required to provide simultaneous interpretation of its debates and other information, as well as translations of its official news. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Personalized Essay There are new rules that offices and store must offer services in both official languages. To find out where to obtain services from a federal institution in the official language of your choice. linguistic rights to education for English-speaking children in Quebec and French-speaking children in the rest of Canada. You have the right to communicate and obtain services from the head office or central office of a federal institution in the official language of your choice. Other offices and services of federal organizations are also required to offer services in both languages. The number of French Canadians in the public service of the Government of Canada rose to 26%, approximately the percentage of French Canadians in Canada. This law made the teaching of the French language compulsory in English schools and gave parents the right to choose the language of instruction for their children, which..