Canada’s official languages commissioner says he’s worried budget cuts will threaten language rights in federal public service

Language training is a budget line that can be seen as extraneous, but Commissioner Raymond Théberge says reduced training could ‘severely impact’ managers who now are required to have higher second-language levels.

Noting the potential for upcoming budget cuts, Official Languages Commissioner Raymond Théberge's 2025-25 annual report recommends that departmental deputy ministers "take the necessary measures" to ensure that employees’ language rights are respected during any exercise to reduce federal spending. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

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BY MARLO GLASS

August 8, 2025

Canada’s official languages commissioner Raymond Théberge says he is concerned pending budget cuts could impact official language rights and training within the federal public service.

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