Latest news with #bilingualism
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Official Languages Commissioner concerned about bilingualism in the public service
Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada Raymond Theberge holds a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Canadian Official Languages Commissioner Raymond Théberge says he is concerned about the federal government's inability to comply with requirements regarding employee bilingualism, as dictated by the Official Languages Act. In his annual report, released on Tuesday, the commissioner notes that progress has been made following his recommendations but says what he describes as a systemic problem remains very real. He points out that of the five recommendations affecting all of the institutions concerned, four have been partially implemented, while the fifth has not been implemented at all. 'Federal institutions have had two years to act on my recommendations. I must therefore urge these institutions to put in place more formal plans and mechanisms to support the full implementation of my recommendations,' he writes. Unilingual supervisors Théberge places particular emphasis on the issue surrounding second language proficiency among public service supervisors. The report comes three days before the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat was set to move forward with its plan to 'raise the minimum second language proficiency requirement for bilingual supervisory positions that oversee staff working in a region designated as bilingual for language of work purposes.' He points out that 'all supervisors in designated bilingual regions — not just those in bilingual positions — must have the necessary skills to respect the right of employees to be supervised in the official language of their choice.' Théberge says he sees these changes as 'a step in the right direction, but I am concerned about the fate of staff supervised by unilingual incumbents or those who do not meet the language requirements.' He adds he is concerned that the responsibility is being placed in the hands of the federal institutions themselves. He says he is recommending that the Treasury Board president 'establish a monitoring mechanism for federal institutions, which will have to ensure that measures are put in place and maintained to protect the language rights of employees in designated bilingual regions who are supervised by unilingual incumbents and by those who do not meet the language requirements.' He points out that, under the modernization of the Official Languages Act, 'the right to work in the official language of one's choice will apply, as of June 2025, to all public servants whose position is located in a bilingual region for language of work purposes, regardless of the linguistic designation of their position.' The commissioner acknowledges that 'its implementation will not be without challenges. Measures will have to be taken to ensure that employees are well-informed of their rights and supervisors of their obligations.' 700 bilingual offices At the same time, amendments to the Official Languages Regulations have led to a review of their application based on the 2021 census, in order to confirm which offices should be required to offer services in both official languages. The commissioner notes that the Treasury Board Secretariat expects approximately 700 offices to be designated to offer bilingual service. However, he laments, implementing these new offices could prove difficult. 'According to my contacts in the regions, managers point out that they expect difficulties in recruiting bilingual staff and that language training budgets do not allow for a rapid increase in their bilingual capacity.' At the same time, he notes that budget cuts have been affecting the federal public service for several months. 'Unfortunately, experience shows us that, in such a context, it is too often the official language obligations that are considered superfluous in federal institutions and end up being subject to budget cuts,' he said. He is recommending that all federal administrators 'ensure that their organizations respect and take into account language obligations and rights when implementing budget cuts in the federal public service' by May 30, 2027. Privy Council: lack of accountability Théberge also reprimanded the Privy Council Office — which is, in a sense, the prime minister's department — after investigating the State of Emergency Commission, which was tasked with assessing the merits of declaring a state of emergency to end the occupation of Ottawa by truckers and other protesters. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 17, 2025.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Languages commissioner raises concerns with new bilingual requirements for public service supervisors
Canada's official languages commissioner is calling on the Treasury Board to implement a 'monitoring mechanism' to protect the language rights of employees as the federal government introduces new language requirements for supervisors. As of June 20, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat will increase the minimum second-language proficiency requirements for bilingual supervisor positions from an intermediate to a superior level – raising the requirement from BBB to CBC. A CBC profile means a candidate for a bilingual supervisor position must be advanced (C level) in reading and oral proficiency, and have an intermediate (B level) for writing. According to the Treasury Board Secretariat, the requirements will only apply to new appointments to bilingual positions responsible for the supervision of employees occupying positions in bilingual regions. The new requirements will apply to supervisor positions in the national capital region, bilingual regions of eastern Ontario, Montreal and Quebec, and New Brunswick. In the annual report to Parliament, Commissioner of Official Languages Raymond Théberge says the initiative is a 'step in the right direction.' However, he says the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat will have to ensure employees with language-of-work rights can work and be supervised in the official language of their choice. 'I am concerned about what might happen to employees who are supervised by incumbents of unilingual supervisory positions or by incumbents of bilingual positions who do not meet the CBC second-language requirement,' Théberge said in the report. 'In fact, the CBC initiative does not provide for administrative measures to protect employees' right to work in the official language of their choice.' Théberge recommends the president of the Treasury Board implement a monitoring mechanism for federal institutions to 'ensure that they take and maintain measures to protect the language rights of employees in designated bilingual regions,' who are supervised by incumbents who do not meet the second-language requirement. The officer of the Commissioner of Official Languages says it received 307 complaints in Ottawa and 89 in Quebec in the 2024-25, including 101 language of work complaints in federal officers in Ottawa. Federal officials becoming bilingual The official languages commissioner says he is 'closely monitoring' the transition of 700 federal offices that will soon be required to be bilingual. Some federal offices will soon be designated to offer services in both official languages to reflect the 2021 Census data. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is coordinating the new language obligations for 2027, and federal institutions are responsible for taking the 'necessary actions to confirm the linguistic designation' of their office, according to the report. 'Implementing the changes could prove to be challenging,' Théberge said. 'According to my regional offices, front-line managers in many different federal institutions say they expect to have difficulty recruiting bilingual staff and that their language training budgets will not allow them to rapidly increase their bilingual capacity.' Théberge says the bilingual service offices will have a 'positive impact' on the 'vitality of official language minority communities.' The report says federal institutions need to ensure they have enough staff to provide services in both official languages, either through recruiting or providing language training to existing personnel. 'I am therefore encouraging all federal institutions to start planning for this transition now. I will be closely monitoring the transition of federal offices that will soon be required to provide services in both official languages,' Théberge said.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unionist Irish language fears can be addressed - former Welsh first minister
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has said. Mark Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive". It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its cost. Drakeford, a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football". "I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said. "That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate." The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish nationalists. In Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British identity. Asked about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom". But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British tradition. The roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the laws. Interviews for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday. She added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible". Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us". "Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said. "So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central Station. The plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the courts. At local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some neighbourhoods. They have been vandalised more than 300 times in five years. Northern Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street signs. In Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express support. More than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years ago. Of those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no response. The figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them". "People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said. "It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory." Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language teacher. He said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history. "I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism." Irish street sign vandalism cost councils £60,000 NI language law could spell significant change
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Unionist Irish language fears 'can be addressed'
Unionists in Northern Ireland have "legitimate concerns" over the Irish language but they "can be addressed", the former first minister of Wales has Drakeford, the Welsh government's language secretary, said political agreement on Irish would be "healing rather than divisive".It comes amid continuing disputes at Stormont over the Irish language, including rows about bilingual signage and its a Welsh speaker who encourages bilingualism in Wales, said unionists have nothing to fear if Irish "is done in a way that is sensitive to their concerns". Speaking to BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme, he said language should not be used "as a political football"."I think, done the right way, concerns can be addressed," he said."That's not to say that concerns aren't legitimate."The development of policies in Northern Ireland to promote the Irish language has long been a point of dispute between unionists and Irish Wales, the Welsh language is more widely accepted and is commonly displayed alongside English in public spaces, such as on road markings and street signs. Drakeford, former leader of the Welsh Labour Party, said he was "perfectly comfortable" with having a Welsh and British about unionist concerns over Irish, he said that being "undoubtedly Welsh doesn't diminish your sense of being part of the United Kingdom".But Drakeford said unionists have "legitimate concerns" and are "entirely entitled to make sure that's part of the public debate". 'Languages are special' Northern Ireland's devolved government is currently recruiting an Irish language commissioner and a commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and Ulster British roles were key parts of language legislation introduced in 2022 by Westminster, which stepped in following a political stalemate at Stormont over the for the posts are due to take place this month, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly told the Northern Ireland Assembly on added that she and First Minister Michelle O'Neill were committed to making the appointments "as soon as possible".Wales has had a Welsh language commissioner since 2012. Their powers include investigating complaints against public bodies. Efa Gruffudd Jones, who has held the role for more than two years, said that "languages don't need to divide us"."Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said."So I would hope that people can respect other people's languages and ensure that they can enjoy using it." Grand Central Station signs Irish signage has been a key point of contention at Stormont, with parties clashing over proposals to spend £150,000 on bilingual displays at Belfast's Grand Central plan by the infrastructure minister is being challenged in the local council level, there have also been disputes over the introduction of dual-language street signs in some have been vandalised more than 300 times in five Ireland's 11 local authorities have varying policies on installing dual-language street Belfast, proposals for a street are considered by a council committee if 15% or more of all occupants surveyed express than 200 have been approved since the policy was introduced a few years those approved, the average survey received about 34% of replies in favour, 4% against, 1% no preference, and 61% no figures were obtained by BBC News NI through a Freedom of Information (FoI) request. Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, deputy leader of Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), said many unionists felt Irish was being "thrust upon them"."People are vehemently opposed to the Irish dual-language street signs because they see it as a weapon - it's a cultural warfare," he said."It's being used by nationalist politics for identity politics - to mark territory."Ian Malcolm, from Lurgan in County Armagh, is a Protestant, a unionist and an Irish language said that Irish "does not in any way diminish a person's Britishness", but should also not be "forced down anyone's throat". Describing it as a "beautiful, wonderful language", he added: "It tells us so much about who we are, about our history."I think that everyone can embrace that, without surrendering one inch of your unionism."
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
BBC tells parents: Speak to your child in mother tongue before English
The BBC material explains that it 'is increasingly common for one parent to speak one language and another parent to speak another language' and for them to use 'a common language such as English … to interact with each other'. Additional videos offer insights into introducing children to speaking Polish, Urdu, Punjabi and Gujarati. The launch of this material on the CBeebies Parenting website comes after the 2021 census revealed that 8.9 per cent of people in England and Wales speak a language other than English as their main language. It also comes amid concerns that too many migrants do not have a good grasp of English. Government planning fluency requirement Last month, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans to make sure migrants speak fluent English if they want to remain in Britain. The level of English required is to be raised from the equivalent of GCSE to the equivalent of A Level. The BBC's guidance takes into account increased levels of bilingualism. Case studies are offered in a Parenting Life section that cover 'raising a multicultural, multilingual child' and ' LGBTQ+ adoption'. Advice is offered on how to create meals on a tight budget, and how to manage screen time for young children, noting that 'there can be benefits to your child's screen time'. WhatsApp helpline for parents The BBC will also offer a Cbeebies Parenting WhatsApp service which parents can contact for advice Patricia Hidalgo, the BBC director of children's and education, said: 'We know parents and carers love the support they get from CBeebies as a safe space for their small children to learn through play. 'And we also know becoming a parent can be an overwhelming time when it comes to finding the right advice. 'So, we wanted to help parents and carers to find expert advice and support in one place from when they are parents-to-be, right through to when their little ones are starting school. We have everything they need to build the virtual village it takes to raise a child.' CBeebies Parenting will offer a Parenting Helpline podcast hosted by celebrity parents Holly Hagan-Blyth, known for starring in Geordie Shore, and Charlie Hedges. Videos on the CBeebies Parenting site include a number of testimonials from other celebrities, including Joe Wicks and Dani Dyer, talking through their approach to raising children. In September, Baroness Benjamin, who as Floella Benjamin pioneered BBC children's TV, will guest star in a new title for youngsters, CBeebies House.
