Veaceslav Balan – The Conversation

Language policy in Canada suggests misunderstanding among government officials and the general public about language use, international language rights and their implications. (Shutterstock)

January 8, 2023

Supporting minority languages requires more than token gestures

Veaceslav Balan, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa and Frederick John Packer, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Canada’s population is more diverse than ever, with many different languages represented. Government policy must reflect that diversity and offer meaningful support to minority languages.

Mary Simon, Canada’s first Inuit governor-general and a native Inuktitut speaker, inspects the honour guard as she arrives at Rideau Hall in July 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

March 9, 2022

Canada must accommodate Indigenous and minority languages to be truly multicultural

Veaceslav Balan, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Linguistic rights are human rights that apply to majorities and minorities alike, not just at the discretion of those who hold power.

New immigrants to Canada, including Syrian-born Tareq Hadhad (centre) who founded the company Peace by Chocolate in Antigonish, N.S., swear allegiance at an Oath of Citizenship ceremony in Halifax in January 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Riley Smith

October 5, 2021

We speak a lot of languages in Canada — elections should reflect our diversity

Veaceslav Balan, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Following the Sept. 20 federal election, an important question must be asked: How is the Canadian electoral process accommodating the country’s increasing linguistic diversity?

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