Overview of CRTC's role with Official Language Minority Communities

CRTC is a designated institution

Canadian Heritage has designated the CRTC under section 41 of the Official Languages Act (OLA) as one of the 33 institutions required to prepare an action plan for implementing section 41, Part VII, of the OLA and to report on its achievements.  As a result of this designation, the CRTC is required to make special efforts to implement the federal government's commitments under Part VII of the OLA.

A strengthened commitment in the Official Languages Act

On 20 June 2023, the OLA was amended. This included amendments to section 41 of the OLA which states the government's commitment to, among other things:

Federal institutions like the CRTC must take positive measures to implement these commitments.  The measures must be concrete and can include measures that support cultural sectors that are essential to enhancing the vitality of English and French linguistic minority communities.  Finally, the CRTC must base positive measures on analyses, research, evidence, engagement, and dialogue with official language minority communities and other stakeholders.

Enhancing policy outcomes and consultation under the Broadcasting Act

On 27 April 2023, the Broadcasting Act was amended, including in respect of provisions affecting official language minority communities.

The Broadcasting Act requires the CRTC, when regulating and supervising the Canadian broadcasting system, to have regard to implementing  the policy objectives, some of which are specific to official language minority communities. In particular:

The Broadcasting Act also provides that the CRTC should regulate and supervise the Canadian broadcasting system in a manner that takes into account the different characteristics of English, French and Indigenous language broadcasting and the different conditions under which broadcasting undertakings that provide English, French or Indigenous language programming operate — including the minority context of French in North America — and the specific needs and interests of official language minority communities in Canada and of Indigenous peoples.

Further, the law also requires the CRTC to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities in Canada and support and assist their development and to consult with them when making decisions that could adversely affect them. The Broadcasting Act also provides direction as to how these consultations should be carried out.

Role of Champion for Official Languages

Annually, the CRTC names a member of its executive leadership team to hold the role of Champion for Official Languages. This person promotes a positive workplace that supports the use of both official languages at the CRTC and develops strategies, guiding principles and best practices to support the mandate set out for the CRTC in the OLA and Broadcasting Act.  

The Champion for Official Languages is supported in their role by CRTC staff, in particular the CRTC’s national coordinator for the implementation of section 41 (Part VII) of the OLA and the person responsible for official languages (Parts IV, V and VI of the OLA). The national coordinator primarily acts as a liaison with official language minority communities across Canada. The person responsible for official languages assists in official languages matters, particularly in the CRTC’s internal work environment and in services to and communications with the public.  

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