Posted on 09 June 2010
OTTAWA, June 9, 2010 – Bill S–220, An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act (Communications with and Services to the Public), which official language communities had anticipated for some time, was introduced in the Senate by Senator Maria Chaput today.
The proposed legislation aims to update Part IV of the Official Languages Act in order to adjust it to today’s demographic, sociolinguistic, judicial and legislative contexts, which have greatly changed since the Act was adopted in 1988. Senator Chaput maintains that the time for action has come in order to clarify the role of the federal government as well as the rights of Canadians.
Bill S–220 is of particular importance to francophone and Acadian minority communities that, to an even greater degree than in 1988, remain threatened by the overwhelming forces of assimilation. These communities are very important to our collective identity and must be fostered and protected, irrespective of the inevitable fluctuations in population levels.
Senator Chaput asks all political parties represented in Parliament to support Bill S–220. The Senator’s speech at Second Reading will be delivered on Tuesday, June 15, 2010.
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For an interview with the Senator, please contact:
Suzanne Belliveau at 613-943-2435 or by email: bellis@sen.parl.gc.ca