Canada's Official Languages Act, in force since September 9, 1969, established English and French as Canada's official languages with equal status in federal institutions. It gave citizens the right to receive federal government services in the official language of their choice, required federal laws and regulations to carry equal legal weight in both languages, let Canadians use either language before federal courts, and created the office of the Commissioner of Official Languages to oversee compliance. Before 1969, French speakers held only about nine percent of federal public service jobs despite making up roughly a quarter of Canada's population, and the Act became the foundation of Canada's official bilingualism, later reinforced by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982 and substantially revised in 1988.
Facts
Enacted Year Enacted Date Jurisdiction Enacted ByHouse of Commons of Canada 2 Official CitationR.S.C., 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.) 1 Legal StatusIn force; last amended 2025-06-20 1 Legal Status
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Source Official Languages Act (Canada) (Wikipedia)
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Source Official Languages Act (Canada) (Wikipedia)Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia articleQuote, Lead paragraph of the cited Wikipedia article
The Official Languages Act (French: Loi sur les langues officielles) is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives French and English equal status in the government of Canada.
Sources
1. Official Languages Act (Justice Laws Website)
Introduction
R.S., 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.), s.
Header, currency line
Act current to 2026-07-21 and last amended on 2025-06-20.
View the Source2. Official Languages Act (Canada) (Wikipedia)
Introduction
The Official Languages Act (French: Loi sur les langues officielles) is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives French and English equal status in the government of Canada. This makes them "official" languages, having preferred status in law over all other languages. Although the Official Languages Act is not the only piece of federal language law, it is the legislative keystone of Canada's official bilingualism.
Lead section
came into force on September 9, 1969
Body, Provincial legislatures section
adopted with all-party support in the House of Commons of Canada
In Group: Dominion and Commonwealth Constitutional Acts, Introduction, sentence 1
The Official Languages Act (French: Loi sur les langues officielles) is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives French and English equal status in the government of Canada.
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