The Second Official Language Training Framework
On June 17, 2024, the President of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat announced the launch of the first-ever second official language training framework to increase the bilingual capacity of the public service. This is one of the official languages reform initiatives announced in 2021 in English and French: Towards a substantive equality of official languages in Canada.
Bilingualism remains a priority for the Government of Canada, as both official languages contribute to the values of diversity and inclusion that characterize Canadian society. This is why a framework has been developed to support second official language training for all federal public servants.
The framework aims to provide second language learning options that are effective, flexible, accessible and learner-centred, and consider the needs of equity-seeking groups.
The framework includes:
- guidelines on second official language training that support federal institutions in providing equitable access to inclusive and standardized language training approaches;
- a handbook on second official language training that includes best practices to support institutions and managers in fostering a workplace conducive to the use and learning of both official languages;
- a playbook that includes various learning paths, tools, and resources according to employees’ needs in a variety of organizational contexts, to help them acquire and maintain second official language proficiency.
