QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Canadian Heritage—Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Support for Indigenous Languages
May 11, 2022
Good afternoon, minister.
Bill C-13 makes references to Indigenous languages, noting that the act does not abrogate or derogate legal or customary rights with respect to Indigenous languages. We often hear about founding languages, languages as a binary, and of the two official languages in Canada. I believe in the protection of English and French.
I’m a proud Franco-Ontarian.
But I also believe Indigenous languages need more attention, resources and protection.
What role should your office play in the reclamation, revitalization and strengthening of Indigenous languages?
Again, thank you for this very important question.
It is a truly important question, and one I take to heart. In our official languages legislation in Bill C-13, we have made it clear in two or three areas of the legislation that through our legislation we absolutely do not want to infringe or impede on any part of Indigenous languages.
We recognize that there are 70 Indigenous languages in Canada. As Minister of Official Languages, I want to be clear that we absolutely do not want to impede the development of Indigenous languages. A bill on official languages designed to promote and protect the 70 official languages of Canada received Royal Assent in 2019. Furthermore, our government has allocated funds to ensure that these official languages will continue to be taught.
It’s important to make sure we recognize that our language is a part of our identity, a part of our culture. That is why the Indigenous language legislation that passed in 2019 was so critical.
For myself, as the Minister of Official Languages, I was eager to speak to the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages, Commissioner Ignace. We spoke about the work we could do collaboratively. They also indicated that while they are putting the Indigenous language office together, that if the Commissioner of Official Languages could work collaboratively with them, they were absolutely pleased to do so.
