Click here to view the original document (PDF).

I- OBJECTIVES & BASIC PRINCIPLES

References
to black
book on
proposition

Quotes from individual propositions

NB-D-p. 23 (10) “It must be an objective of Confe-
deration to achieve national unity
both in spirit and fact. . . by
a concerted effort to give full
national expression to canada’s
two basic cultural and linguistic
configurations.”

NB-D-p. 16(5) “Preservation and full expression
of Canada’s basic linguistic and
cultural duality is essential to the
achievement of the identity and par-
ticularity of Canada. . .”

Fed-B-p. 4(2) “To protect basic human rights which
shall include linguistic rights.”

Fed-B-p. 4 (3) “To promote. . . social and cultural
development. . . for all Canadians.”

Que-E-p.10 “The Canadian constitution must tend to
ensure. . . cultural equality to the
two nations.”

Que-E-p.18 It is essential that English and French
be declared the official languages of the
Canadian Union. Their use could be
governed by provisions based on the
recommendations contained in Book I of
the report by the Commission on Bilingual-
ism and Biculturalism and protected by an
intergovernmental commission made up of an
equal number of English speaking and French
speaking members.”

NB-D-p.29(15) “The English and French languages are the
official languages of Canada. This princi-
ple shall be converted, as speedily as
possible, into constitutional rights and
administrative operations, federally and
provincially.:

NB-D-p.21(8) “Also essential to Canadian Confederation
is the maintenance of provincial govern-
ments with jurisdiction and resources
enabling them. . .to realize the values
of Canada’s. . . cultural diversity and
to contribute thereby to the attainment
of the national purposes.”

Ont-C-p.16 “Canada should be a bilingual multicultural
state.”

NS-F-p.2(1) “The constitution of Canada must provide
a framework in which Canadians…are
assured of a satisfactory atmosphere in
which to live happily, which involves
recognition of diversity in language and
culture and the assurance that all Cana-
dians have as nearly as may be equality
of public services without unequal burdens
of taxation…and equality of opportu-
nity.”

Que-E-p. 12 “The Canadian constitution must take into
account the fact that Quebec has a special
role to play in bringing about cultural
equality.”

Secretariat, August/1968

PROPOSITIONS RELATING TO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES

II BASIC FREEDOMS AND AREAS OF APPLICATION

References
to black
book on
propositions

Quotes from individual propositions

NB-D-p.34(18) “A charter of fundamental rights and freedom
should be entrenched in the constitution. Such
rights and freedom should embrace the classical
civil and political liberties we have known, to
which should be added refinements including
language rights. . .”

Fed-E-p.5(3) “The Charter of fundamental rights should provide
specifically for the recognition of…linguis-
tic rights.”

NB-D-p. 30(16) “English-speaking and French-speaking Canadians
shall have the constitutionally-entrenched right
to be educated in, or to have relations with
legislatures, governments, and courts in one,
or both, of the official languages wherever they
may live in Canada and wherever the structure and
distribution of population requires and makes
practical such rights.”

NB-D-P. 32(17) “The English and French languages shall have
equality for all federal parliamentary and
administrative purposes both within Canada and
abroad, subject only to the considerations of
necessity and convenience in the effective
management of individual government operations.”

Ont-C-p.18 “All governments in Canada should provide, wherever
feasible, bilingual public services.”

Fed-B-p.6 (7) “The linguistic rights recognized should be those
enunciated by the Royal Commission on Bilingual-
ism and Biculturalism in relation to Section 133
of the B.N.A. Act.”

Ont-C-p.20 “All Canadian parents should, as a matter of equi-
ty, be able to have their children educated in
either of the official languages.”

fed-B-p.14 (4) “the government of Canada, in appointing dele-
gations to international conferences, must pay
due regard to the bilingual character of Canada
and to the general and specific interests of the
provinces.”

Que-E-p.20 “It would be well to declare that the cities of
Ottawa and Hull are the seat of government of
the Union…Steps should be taken so that
the linguistic and cultural values of both na-
tional groups may be reflected in both cities
and all Canadians may look to their capital with
feelings of pride, commitment and affection.”

III SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE ROYAL COMMISSION
ON BILINGUALISM AND BICULTURALISM

1. English and French shall be formally declared
the official languages at the federal level.

2. “New Brunswick and Ontario shall declare English and
French to be the official languages in these pro-
vinces.

3. English and French shall be declared official
languages in provinces where the minority langua-
ge reaches 10%.

4. In provinces other than Ontario, Quebec, and New
Brunswick, English and French may be used in the
legislature and appropriate services may be pro-
vided in French to the French speaking minorities.

5,6
& 7 Bilingual districts shall be establish through-
out Canada for federal and provincial purposes.

8. Obstacles to the use of English and French in local
government shall be removed.

9. In the federal capital area, English and French shall
have full equality of status and be used in all
public services.

10. Canadian parents shall possess the right to have
their children educated in the official language
of their choice, the degree of implementation to
depend on the concentration of the minority population.

11. Section 93A be added to the B.N.A. Act:
“Every province shall establish and maintain ele-
mentary and secondary schools in which English is
the sole or main language of instruction, and
elementary and secondary schools in which French
is the sole or main language of instruction, in
bilingual districts and other appropriate areas
under conditions to be determined by provincial
law; but nothing in this section shall be deemed
to prohibit schools in which English and French
have equal importance as languages of instruction,
or schools in which instruction may be given in
some other language.”

12. A new version of section 133 of the B.N.A. Act be
adopted providing for English and French to be the
official languages of Canada and for both languages
to be used in all public services wherever certain
criteria are met.

13 &
14. Official languages Acts shall be adopted by the
Federal government and by the officially bilingual
provinces.

(Summary wording by the Secretariat)