Since its adoption in 1969, the Official Languages Act (the Act) has helped us accomplish many things. However, the Act was no longer sufficient to ensure respect for the language rights of Canadians.
The passage of Bill C-13 brings the long-awaited modernization of the Act to fruition and marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of official languages. The modernized Act, which is now more robust and more responsive to today’s language realities than ever before, will play a major role in this new chapter.
The Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act will come into force on a date to be set by order in council.
Current Situation
June 20, 2023

Bill C-13 received Royal Assent.
History of the Official Languages Act
- Adoption of Bill C-13: An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.
- Commissioner’s appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages
- Commissioner’s appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages
- Commissioner’s appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages
- Tabling of Bill C-13: An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts.
- Tabling of Bill C-32 to achieve substantive equality of English and French and to strengthen the Official Languages Act
- Commissioner's appearance before the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages
- Publication of the reform document entitled English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada
- Symposium on the 50th anniversary of the Act
- Tabling of the Commissioner's position paper on the modernization of the Act
- Commissioner's vision for modernizing the Act
- Study on the modernization of the Act
- Public consultations on the modernization of the Act
- Recommendation to modernize the Act
- Plateauing of the implementation of the Act
- Minor amendments to the Act
- Major review of the Act
- The Act is passed