Official Languages Act

Marginal note:Specific mandate of Minister of Canadian Heritage

• 43 (1) The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall take such measures as that Minister considers appropriate to advance the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, may take measures to

  • (a) enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and support and assist their development;

  • (b) encourage and support the learning of English and French in Canada;

  • (c) foster an acceptance and appreciation of both English and French by members of the public;

  • (d) encourage and assist provincial governments to support the development of English and French linguistic minority communities generally and, in particular, to offer provincial and municipal services in both English and French and to provide opportunities for members of English or French linguistic minority communities to be educated in their own language;

  • (e) encourage and assist provincial governments to provide opportunities for everyone in Canada to learn both English and French;

  • (f) encourage and cooperate with the business community, labour organizations, voluntary organizations and other organizations or institutions to provide services in both English and French and to foster the recognition and use of those languages;

  • (g) encourage and assist organizations and institutions to project the bilingual character of Canada in their activities in Canada or elsewhere; and

  • (h) with the approval of the Governor in Council, enter into agreements or arrangements that recognize and advance the bilingual character of Canada with the governments of foreign states.

• Marginal note:Public consultation

  (2) The Minister of Canadian Heritage shall take such measures as that Minister considers appropriate to ensure public consultation in the development of policies and review of programs relating to the advancement and the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society.