March 20th, International Francophonie Day, PSAC‑Quebec salutes the many advances made in promoting the French language. French is an essential pillar of our cultural and social identity, and we are proud to celebrate the efforts made to strengthen its presence and use in all aspects of public and professional life.
We applaud all the language policies, educational programs, cultural events and other initiatives that helped raise the profile of French, enriched our linguistic heritage, and fostered greater inclusion of Francophones in our society.
Yet despite all this progress, various challenges remain, including:
- Globalization and the predominance of English: In many sectors, especially information technology and international business, English continues to dominate, which can weaken the use and recognition of French.
- Access to French-language educational resources: It is crucial to ensure that Francophones have access to quality educational resources in French, from early childhood to higher education.
- Linguistic diversity in the workplace: It is imperative that French be used and valued in the workplace, while taking into account employees’ linguistic diversity.
- Support for Francophone minority communities: These communities need more support to maintain and expand their use of French.
Specific challenges also remain in the federal public service. Canada’s Commissioner of Official Languages recently made some alarming observations. We must stay vigilant and continue to assert our rights and promote the benefits of working in French. In particular, the following concerns persist within the federal public service:
- Adapting to new technologies and hybrid work: The pandemic accelerated the shift to online and hybrid work, making it harder to ensure the use of French in these new environments.
- Diversity and inclusion: Canada needs a public service that reflects the diversity of its population while ensuring that French is valued and used in the workplace.
- Human resources management: Francophones in the public service must have access to ongoing training in French and equitable career and advancement opportunities.
We need to keep working to ensure that French remains a vibrant, dynamic language that is accessible to all and used in all spheres of daily life.
PSAC-Quebec reiterates its commitment to promoting and defending the French language. We will continue to work closely with our partners and Francophone communities to overcome these challenges and build a future where French occupies a central and respected place.
Together, let’s celebrate the richness of La Francophonie and reaffirm our determination to strengthen its reach.