Commissioner satisfied overall with Official Languages Action Plan, calls for timely implementation of next action plan

Today, Commissioner of Official Languages Raymond Théberge released a report on the implementation to date of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future.

The Commissioner said that overall, he was satisfied with the implementation of the majority of the Action Plan initiatives he monitored.

The Commissioner’s report focuses on 17 Action Plan initiatives in areas such as education, immigration, community media and radio, and funding for the English-speaking communities in Quebec. As part of the monitoring exercise, his office carried out extensive consultations with stakeholders across Canada, which helped inform the report.

Based on the report findings, the Commissioner made a total of 14 recommendations to the government to improve the current action plan and the next action plan for official languages, which is scheduled to begin in April 2023. These include six overall recommendations, directed to the Minister of Official Languages and federal institutions that administer the initiatives in the Action Plan, and eight targeted recommendations for several of the initiatives the Commissioner monitored.

"Together with the much-awaited modernization of the Official Languages Act, an effective action plan is essential for a strong and vibrant future for official languages in Canada. For the most part, the initiatives I monitored seem to be meeting the needs of our official language communities. I will continue to follow the implementation closely.

Looking ahead, it is important that funding be granted in a timely manner for the next action plan. Official language communities depend on this funding to preserve and enhance their vitality, and funding delays can hinder their progress."