CAF bilingualism policy

AI summary

The petitioners say English and French are Canada’s official languages and that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as a national institution, should respect and promote both. They contend DAOD 5039-2 removed unit language designations in favour of a geography-based language-of-work approach, argue this weakens the institutional presence of French given personnel postings, and note the Minister has announced a review; they ask the Minister to withdraw DAOD 5039-2, reinstate official bilingual designations where warranted, strengthen French institutional capacity and bilingual operational capability, and publish a review with measurable objectives.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Minister of National Defence English and French are Canada’s official languages, and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), as a national institution, have a responsibility to respect and promote both official languages; DAOD 5039-2 eliminated the language designations of military units and organizations and introduced an approach where the language of work depends primarily on their geographic location; Members of the military are posted according to service requirements and do not always choose the region in which they are called upon to serve; The vitality of French within the CAF requires more than the recognition of individual rights and depends on a genuine institutional capacity that enables military members to serve, be led, and advance professionally in French; The Minister of National Defence has announced a review of language-of-work designations and their implementation; and Bilingualism is an institutional obligation and an operational and strategic asset that strengthens the CAF’s leadership and effectiveness. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of National Defence to: 1. Withdraw DAOD 5039-2 in its current form; 2. Reinstate a system that allows military units, organizations and establishments to be designated as officially bilingual where their mission, national mandate, training responsibilities or operational requirements warrant it; 3. Take the necessary measures to ensure a strong and sustainable institutional presence of French and to strengthen bilingualism as an operational and strategic capability; and 4. Base the announced review on the CAF’s official languages obligations and operational requirements, publish its findings, establish measurable objectives, and publicly report on the results.

Government response

No government response is available yet.