Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
Encyclopedia
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, an office of the Canadian
government, is responsible for achieving the objectives of, and promoting, Canada's Official Languages Act
.
The 1988 Official Languages Act
mandates this office and its commissioner, who holds office for seven years. Its mission has three main objectives: ensuring the equality of English
and French
within the Government of Canada
and institutions subject to the Act; preserving and developing official language communities; and ensuring the equality of English and French in Canadian society at large.
From 1999 to 2006, the commissioner was Dr. Dyane Adam
, who was born in Casselman, Ontario
, and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Ottawa
. After the federal election of January 2006
, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
requested that Dr. Adam prolong her term by a few months to give him time to find a suitable replacement. On September 13, he nominated Graham Fraser
for the post.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
government, is responsible for achieving the objectives of, and promoting, Canada's Official Languages Act
Official Languages Act (Canada)
The Official Languages Act is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives English and French equal status in the government of Canada. This makes them "official" languages, having preferred status in law over all other languages...
.
The 1988 Official Languages Act
Official Languages Act (Canada)
The Official Languages Act is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives English and French equal status in the government of Canada. This makes them "official" languages, having preferred status in law over all other languages...
mandates this office and its commissioner, who holds office for seven years. Its mission has three main objectives: ensuring the equality of English
Canadian English
Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language...
and French
Canadian French
Canadian French is an umbrella term referring to the varieties of French spoken in Canada. French is the mother tongue of nearly seven million Canadians, a figure constituting roughly 22% of the national population. At the federal level it has co-official status alongside English...
within the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
and institutions subject to the Act; preserving and developing official language communities; and ensuring the equality of English and French in Canadian society at large.
From 1999 to 2006, the commissioner was Dr. Dyane Adam
Dyane Adam
Dyane Adam was the Canadian Official Languages Commissioner. She was responsible for promoting bilingualism within the government of Canada.-External links:*...
, who was born in Casselman, Ontario
Casselman, Ontario
Casselman is a village in eastern Ontario, Canada, in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell on the South Nation River.It is a village on the Trans-Canada Highway 417 between Ottawa and Montreal at the crossroads of Regional Road 7, about 55 km southeast of downtown Ottawa. Highway 138 to...
, and holds a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. After the federal election of January 2006
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
requested that Dr. Adam prolong her term by a few months to give him time to find a suitable replacement. On September 13, he nominated Graham Fraser
Graham Fraser (journalist)
Graham Fraser is Canada's sixth Commissioner of Official Languages, and a former Canadian journalist and writer. He is the author of several books, both in English and French, and served as the National Affairs Correspondent for the Toronto Star, for which he also writes a weekly column...
for the post.
Commissioners of Official Languages
- Keith SpicerKeith SpicerKeith Spicer is a Canadian academic, public servant, journalist and writer.Between 1970 and 1977, Spicer was the first Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada. Appointed by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, he reported directly to Parliament as a non-partisan officer of Parliament...
, 1970–1977 - Max YaldenMax YaldenMaxwell Freeman Yalden, CC is a Canadian civil servant and diplomat.Born in Toronto, Ontario, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto in 1952, a Master of Arts degree in 1954 and a Ph.D in 1956 from the University of Michigan. He joined the Department of External...
, 1977–1984 - D'Iberville FortierD'Iberville FortierD'Iberville Fortier, was a Canadian diplomat and the third Commissioner of Official Languages from 1984 to 1991....
, 1984–1991 - Victor GoldbloomVictor GoldbloomVictor Charles Goldbloom, is a Canadian pediatrician, lecturer, and politician.He was born in Montreal, the son of Alton Goldbloom and Annie Ballon. He studied at Selwyn House and Lower Canada College. He studied at McGill University receiving his BSc in 1944, his MD in 1945, his DipEd in 1950...
, 1991–1999 - Dyane AdamDyane AdamDyane Adam was the Canadian Official Languages Commissioner. She was responsible for promoting bilingualism within the government of Canada.-External links:*...
, 1999–2006 - Graham FraserGraham Fraser (journalist)Graham Fraser is Canada's sixth Commissioner of Official Languages, and a former Canadian journalist and writer. He is the author of several books, both in English and French, and served as the National Affairs Correspondent for the Toronto Star, for which he also writes a weekly column...
, 2006–present