Does the Official Languages Act require all Canadians to be bilingual?
This is a common misconception, and the answer is NO. The Official Languages Act puts the obligation of offering services in both official languages on the federal governmentnot individuals. Naturally, this means that some positions in the federal government must be filled by employees who can serve clients in both English and French. Although the Act does not require anyone to learn the other official language, many Canadians view learning a second language as an opportunity for personal enhancement, a professional skill, and a way to contribute to national unity and mutual understanding. Recent census data indicates that a growing number of Canadians can carry on a conversation in both English and French. What if I am unilingual? You aren’t the only unilingual person in Canada! Some 22 million Canadians speak only English or French. The Official Languages Act in no way obligates Canadians to become bilingual. The Act is based on justice and equity. Therefore, whether you speak Englis
