October 6, 2000
Official bilingualism is not only the law in Canada, it is a tremendous source of pride and enrichment.
We are encouraged to see Canadians, especially young Canadians, from every corner of the country, express themselves in both French and English, switching back and forth to voice their patriotism and love of country.
Even with the progress we have made, we recognize that bilingualism is a work in progress; a work our government is strongly committed to, a work we undertake with passion.
The Government of Canada wants to assure the Commissioner, Dyane Adam, that it will give the Report’s recommendations the greatest consideration.
At the same time, the Government is using this opportunity to re-affirm its unwavering commitment to Canada’s linguistic duality.
This commitment is reflected in our efforts to consult with, strengthen and support Canada’s minority official languages communities, and to encourage dialogue and mutual understanding. In fact, in 1999, our government announced increased funding to support these communities for, among other things, the teaching of French and English across the country.