Bill C-320

1st Session, 41st Parliament,

60 Elizabeth II, 2011

house of commons of canada

BILL C-320

An Act to amend the Official Languages Act (Charter of the French Language) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and the House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. The preamble of the Official Languages Act is amended by adding the following after the last paragraph:

2. Subsection 41(2) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(1.1) The Government of Canada undertakes not to obstruct the application of the Charter of the French Language, R.S.Q., c. C-11, in Quebec.

(2) Every federal institution has the duty to ensure that positive measures are taken for the implementation of the commitments and undertaking under subsections (1) and (1.1). For greater certainty, this implementation shall be carried out while respecting the jurisdiction and powers of the provinces and, in Quebec, while respecting the Charter of the French Language.

3. Section 43 of the Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (1):

(1.1) Any measure referred to in subsection (1) shall be implemented, in Quebec, in a manner that is consistent with the objectives of the Charter of the French Language.

4. Section 55 of the Act is renumbered as subsection 55(1) and is amended by adding the following:

(2) In Quebec, the Commissioner shall carry out the duties and functions referred to in subsection (1) in a manner that does not obstruct the application of the Charter of the French Language.

5. The Canada Labour Code is amended by adding the following after section 4:

4.1 Any federal work, undertaking or business carrying on activities in Quebec is subject to the requirements of the Charter of the French Language, R.S.Q., c. C-11.

6. Section 10 of the Canada Business Corporations Act is amended by adding the following after subsection (3):

(3.1) Despite subsection (3), the name of a corporation that carries on business in the Province of Quebec shall be in a form that meets the requirements of the Charter of the French Language, R.S.Q., c. C-11.