2025-2026 annual report: Turning commitment into action
GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 8, 2026 /CNW/ — Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Kelly Burke tabled the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages’ 2025–2026 annual report in Parliament today. The report mainly covers the work accomplished during Commissioner Raymond Théberge’s final year in office and highlights both the progress that has been made and the emerging and ongoing issues related to official languages.
Another step was taken toward the full implementation of the modernized Official Languages Act with the tabling of two sets of draft regulations: one on administrative monetary penalties and the other on advancing the equality of status and use of English and French.
The draft regulations on the use of French in federally regulated private businesses was also tabled, marking an important milestone toward the entry into force of this new federal language policy.
These developments were eagerly anticipated. However, legislation alone cannot guarantee respect for language rights. Federal institutions must turn their obligations into concrete actions.
The 4,110 admissible complaints filed with the Office of the Commissioner in 2025–2026 reflect ongoing compliance issues and the need for action, including with regard to the contravention of federal public servants’ language-of-work rights.
Leadership in terms of official languages also needs to be demonstrated in senior officials’ communications with the public. One event in particular, a video by Air Canada’s CEO in response to the tragedy at LaGuardia Airport, sparked a strong reaction and generated a significant number of complaints in 2025–2026.
In addition to these recurring issues, new challenges have emerged in the area of official languages, including those related to the use of artificial intelligence.
Commissioner Burke has therefore made two recommendations in the 2025–2026 annual report: one about the need to provide guidance to federal public servants to ensure that official languages are taken into account in the use of artificial intelligence, and the other about training for federal public service managers on their official languages obligations.
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“Our official languages are at the heart of Canadian identity, and the full implementation of the modernized Official Languages Act is essential to ensuring the sustainability of Canada’s language policy. As Commissioner, I will continue to promote a bilingual Canada where our two official languages are substantively equal.”
Kelly Burke, Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada
Highlights
- In 2025–2026, the Commissioner of Official Languages received a total of 4,110 admissible complaints under the Official Languages Act.
- Of that number:
- 3,632 concerned communications with and services to the public (Part IV);
- 310 involved language of work (Part V);
- 17 were about the participation of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians (Part VI);
- 55 were related to the advancement of equality of status and use of English and French (Part VII);
- 88 were about the language requirements of positions (Part XI, section 91); and
- 8 concerned other parts of the Act (parts I, II, III, VIII or IX).
- Recommendations made in the 2025–2026 annual report:
- The Commissioner recommends that by March 31, 2027, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat incorporate official languages throughout its Artificial Intelligence Strategy for the Federal Public Service and its Guide on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence so that they are systematically taken into account during the development, implementation and use of any tools, training, programs, policies or guidelines aimed at deploying artificial intelligence across the public service.
- The Commissioner recommends that by March 31, 2028, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat make the following Canada School of Public Service training course (or its equivalent, if it is replaced or discontinued) mandatory for public service managers:
- FON 413: Managing Official Languages Obligations
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SOURCE Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages
