A new bill, Bill C-13, has been passed in the House of Commons of Canada to amend the Official Languages Act and enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act. The changes include clarifying that all legal obligations related to official languages apply at all times, specifying interpretative principles regarding language rights, promoting and protecting French, and supporting the development of English and French linguistic minority communities. Additionally, the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act provides for rights and duties respecting the use of French as a language of service and work in relation to federally regulated private businesses in Quebec and regions with a strong francophone presence. The Act also allows for complaints to be made to the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Canada Industrial Relations Board in certain circumstances. The President of the Treasury Board
That Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, as amended, be concurred in at report stage with further amendments.
That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word '“That” and substituting the following:
“Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, be not now read a second time but that the order be discharged, the bill withdrawn, and the subject matter thereof referred to the Standing Committee on Official Languages.”.
That, in relation to Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration at second reading stage of the bill; and
That, 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders on the day allotted to the consideration at second reading stage of the said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment.