Official Languages

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages met on May 7, 2026, to study proposed regulations under the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act (UFPBA), which arose from Bill C-13. Witnesses were Gianluca Campofredano, a lawyer appearing as an individual, and Nicole Arseneau-Sluyter and Ali Chaisson, respectively President and Executive Director of the Acadian Society of New Brunswick (SANB).

Gianluca Campofredano argued that the UFPBA and its proposed regulations should be strictly inspired by Quebec’s Charter of the French Language, as reinforced by Bill 96, to ensure legal consistency and prevent uncertainty. He recommended explicitly recognizing the right to work in French as a fundamental language right and incorporating concrete mechanisms from the Quebec charter, such as protections against linguistic discrimination in recruitment and stronger administrative and civil penalties, including loss of government contracts. He agreed with a member’s proposal that applying the Quebec charter directly to federally regulated businesses in Quebec would be more effective, and he supported broadening the definition of regions with a strong francophone presence to include bilingual regions across Canada.

Nicole Arseneau-Sluyter welcomed the application of the UFPBA across all of New Brunswick, calling it a concrete step to slow assimilation and support francophone vitality, particularly in predominantly English-speaking areas like Saint John. She stressed that the act would promote well-paying French-language jobs and access to services, helping to reverse demographic decline, and she recommended that the federal government actively promote these rights so francophones know they can demand service in French. She endorsed the proposed regulations as they stand for New Brunswick, while noting that further investment in French-language education and post-secondary opportunities is needed.

Ali Chaisson agreed that applying the act province-wide is beneficial, as it could turn the burden of seeking French services into an opportunity for businesses. He raised concern about potential inconsistency between the UFPBA and Part IV of the Official Languages Act, for example where a federal institution offers French service but a nearby bank does not, and he urged the federal government to impose financial penalties on businesses that fail to comply. He also noted that many businesses with fewer than 100 employees will not be covered, and he questioned whether the act’s threshold based on numbers aligns with the principle that even one francophone justifies a request for service.

The committee heard no procedural debate, motions, or votes during this meeting.