Canada's NDP

Skip to main content

October 7th, 2014

Conservatives continue to fail to protect official languages

A new report by the Commissioner of Official Languages confirms what the NDP has been saying: budget cuts are affecting bilingual services across the country.

“Respecting and protecting official languages has never been a Conservative priority, and each new report has confirmed this fact. This time, it’s the survival and success of minority official-language communities that is at stake,” said NDP Official Languages critic Yvon Godin (Acadie – Bathurst).

The Conservative government’s budget cuts are having a negative effect on minority-language communities. Their decisions to cancel the Co-operative Development Initiative and to close the Hervé J. Michaud Experimental Farm in New Brunswick are just two examples of this government neglecting Francophone communities.

The Commissioner’s report also points to continuing challenges with language requirement designations and equal representation of English and French-speakers in civil service positions.

“Outside the National Capital Region, English-speaking Quebeckers are underrepresented in civil service positions. It’s time Conservatives to show some leadership and commit to rectifying the situation,” added Deputy critic Jamie Nicholls (Vaudreuil—Soulanges).

– 30 –

For more information, please contact:

Véronique Breton, Press Secretary, 613 408-1483 or veronique.breton@parl.gc.ca