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The Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada is an agent of Parliament whose duty is to promote Canada’s official languages and protect the language rights of Canadians. A critical component of the Commissioner’s job is to report to parliamentary committees in both the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada. The Commissioner of Official Languages also travels from coast to coast, participating in panel discussions, meeting key partners and delivering speeches on official languages to young Canadians, researchers, public service employees and community leaders. You will find many of his speeches here.
2014
Notes for an address to the Canadian Club of Toronto
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
I would like to thank the organizers at the Canadian Club of Toronto for inviting me. I am pleased to be here today to talk to you about the vitality of Ontario’s French-speaking community, as well as my latest annual report and how important it is for linguistic duality to be visible at major...
Notes for an address at the Annual Meeting of the Language Rights Support Program
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Since the beginning of my mandate, I have been keenly interested in the role played by immigration in supporting population growth, vitality and a strong identity in official language communities. I have made immigration a priority, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my term. I am also...
Notes for the Release of the Joint Report on Immigration in Francophone Minority Communities
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
I am pleased to be here with you this afternoon. I would like to thank our guests, Mr. Appolinaire Yengayenge and Ms. Léonie Tchatat, for their personal accounts. I would also like to thank you for attending this official release of the joint report by my office and the Office of the French...
Notes for the presentation of the 2013–2014 Award of Excellence – Promotion of Linguistic Duality
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
It is a pleasure to be here in Moncton to celebrate the success of the Frye Festival, which has been an annual celebration for the past 15 years.
Notes for an address at the colloquium “The Quebec Conference, 1864: 150 years later, understanding the founding of the Canadian federation”
Thursday, October 16, 2014
First of all, I would like to thank the colloquium organizers for asking me to speak to you. I humbly accept their invitation. I am not a historian, but my history studies had a profound effect on my approach as a journalist and as Commissioner of Official Languages. I therefore see myself more as...
Statement to the media for the release of the 2013–2014 annual report
Tuesday, October 07, 2014
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming to the presentation of my 2013–2014 annual report. This is my eighth annual report.
Notes for a speech before the Newcomers’ Forum in Québec City
Monday, September 22, 2014
Every time I come back to Québec City, it gives me an opportunity to renew acquaintances and friendships, some of which date back to the 1970s and 1980s when my family and I spent a decade in Quebec—first in Montréal and then here, in Québec City. We have made great memories here. This is where my...
Notes for an address to Statistics Canada employees on Linguistic Duality Day
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Ottawa, Ontario, September 11, 2014Graham Fraser - Commissioner of Official Languages
Notes for an address at the third annual Multidisciplinary Approaches in Language Policy and Planning Conference
Friday, September 05, 2014
Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta, September 5, 2014Graham Fraser - Commissioner of Official Languages
Notes for an appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages regarding the economic development of official language minority communities
Thursday, May 08, 2014
Mr. Chair, honourable members of the Committee, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you about this important issue of economic development in official language minority communities.
Notes for an appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages regarding the 2014–2015 Main Estimates
Thursday, May 08, 2014
Mr. Chair, honourable committee members, good morning, bonjour. It is a pleasure to appear before you today to present the Main Estimates for the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.
Notes for the launch of the proceedings from the 2010 International Conference on Language and Territory
Thursday, May 01, 2014
What a great pleasure it is to be back at Laurentian University. My last visit to Greater Sudbury took place in 2010 when I was invited to preside over the International Conference on Language and Territory. It was such an extraordinary privilege to serve as honorary president at an event that...
Notes for an address to the Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario du grand Sudbury at the launch of their “J’affiche aussi en français” awareness campaign
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
It is a pleasure to be back in the City of Greater Sudbury. Thank you to Joanne Gervais and everyone at the Association canadienne-française de l’Ontario du grand Sudbury for your kind invitation and warm welcome.
Notes for an address at the Grand rassemblement de l’éducation en français 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
First, thank you to the conference organizers for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today. I would also like to congratulate the leaders and champions of French-language education for their commitment and constant effort in helping official language communities flourish.
Notes for an appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Thank you for offering me this opportunity to present my views on your study of Part XVII of the Criminal Code—language of the accused—and the implementation of the 2008 amendments introduced by the current government.
Language Rights and Challenges in an Era of Globalization - Notes for an address at the inaugural conference of the International Association of Language Commissioners
Friday, March 21, 2014
Notes for an address at the inaugural conference of the International Association of Language Commissioners Barcelona, Spain, March 21, 2014Graham Fraser - Commissioner of Official Languages
Speaking notes for the International Conference on Language Rights - Equality of Rights and Duties: The Canadian Model
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Buenos días. Quisiera comenzar dando las gracias al resto de los participantes y a todos los organizadores. Gracias a todos. [translation from Spanish: Good morning. Let me begin by saying thank you to my fellow participants and all the organizers.] La seva dedicació i la seva experiència han...
Speaking notes for the International Conference on Language Rights Equality of Rights and Duties: The Canadian Model
Thursday, March 20, 2014
I have long been looking forward to this gathering and I am delighted to be here in Barcelona to discuss Canada’s language policy. Language policy as a tool for managing language conflict has been at the heart of the Canadian experience since 1759, when the British wrestled control of New France...
Notes for an address to the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University
Thursday, February 27, 2014
It’s great to be back at Queen’s University. David Elder and Christopher Cornish—I very much appreciate your kind invitation to discuss our official languages and the importance of linguistic duality and leadership in the federal public service.
Notes for an address to the Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française
Friday, January 10, 2014
I am delighted to be here today to talk to you about official languages and the Francophonie, and also to discuss my role and mandate as Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada. First of all, let me congratulate you on your involvement in Youth Parliament.
