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Quebec sees sharp rise in federal language complaints amid Canada-wide surge
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Canadians aren't staying quiet about language rights.
Across the country, there were 1,163 language complaints, compared to 847 during the previous period — a 37 per cent jump, according to the 2024-25 annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages, published Tuesday.
Despite the surge, the total number of complaints remains below the 10-year average.
And it's far lower than the 5,409 complaints filed in 2021-22, when thousands of Canadians lodged formal grievances about an English-only speech in Montreal by Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau.
The number of federal language complaints filed in Quebec jumped by 21 per cent over the past year, newly released figures show — part of a nationwide increase.
Quebecers filed 211 complaints in 2024-25, up from 175 the previous year, the report said.
Seventy per cent of the Quebec complaints were about language used in public services, while issues related to language of work came in second at 27 per cent.
The complaints allege that federal institutions infringed on rights regarding English or French.
Canadians can ask the commissioner to investigate federal government institutions, airport authorities, Crown corporations such as Via Rail and some private companies, including Air Canada and Canadian National Railway.
Raymond Théberge, the Commissioner of Official Languages, is scheduled to discuss the figures at a news conference on Tuesday.
This story will be updated.
