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The minister of official languages (French: ministre des langues officielles) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet.
| Minister of Official Languages | |
|---|---|
| Ministre des Langues officielles | |
| Department of Canadian Heritage | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | |
| Appointer | Monarch (represented by the governor general);[1] on the advice of the prime minister[2] |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Constituting instrument | Official Languages Act |
| Formation | 2003 |
The minister is responsible for administering Official Languages Act, ensuring that government services are available in both English and French, protecting minority language rights, particularly in the area of education, as well as promoting bilingualism throughout Canada.
Rachel Bendayan has served as the minister of official languages since December 2024.
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In 2003, the first minister responsible for Official Languages was sworn in, on the creation of the "Official Languages Branch of Intergovernmental Affairs" within the Privy Council Office.[4] In 2006, responsibility was shifted from the Privy Council Office to the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the branch was renamed the "Official Languages Secretariat".[5] From 2015 to 2019, the post was called Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie.[6]
Sections 42 and 43 of the Official Languages Act give the minister of Canadian heritage the specific responsibility of taking measures to advance the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society; under section 44 of that Act, the minister must submit annual reports to Parliament on the matters relating to official languages for which the minister is responsible.[7][8]
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| Name | Term of office | Title[6] | Political party | Ministry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierre Pettigrew | December 12, 2003 | July 19, 2004 | Minister responsible for Official Languages | Liberal | 27th (Martin) |
| Mauril Bélanger | July 20, 2004 | February 5, 2006 | |||
| Josée Verner | February 6, 2006 | August 13, 2007 | Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages | Conservative | 28th (Harper) |
| August 14, 2007 | May 26, 2008 | Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages | |||
| James Moore | June 25, 2008 | October 29, 2008 | Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages) | ||
| October 30, 2008 | July 14, 2013 | Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages | |||
| Shelly Glover | July 15, 2013 | November 4, 2015 | |||
| Mélanie Joly | July 18, 2018 | November 20, 2019 | Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie | Liberal | 29th (Trudeau) |
| November 20, 2019 | October 26, 2021 | Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages | |||
| Ginette Petitpas Taylor | October 26, 2021 | July 26, 2023 | Minister of Official Languages | ||
| Randy Boissonnault | July 26, 2023 | November 20, 2024 | Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages | ||
| Ginette Petitpas Taylor | November 20, 2024 | December 20, 2024 | Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages | ||
| Rachel Bendayan | December 20, 2024 | Incumbent | Minister of Official Languages | ||
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