The office received 5,409 complaints during the 2021-22 period, compared to a number that fluctuated between 415 and 1,870 in the nine preceding years. Almost 75 per cent of complaints last year involved the Governor General and the
Théberge told reporters it is an "error" to name people who can't speak both official languages to positions of authority. "If we make exceptions," he said, "the message that it gives is that there's a language more important than the other."
"The message," he said, "comes from above; the example comes from above."
Théberge's office received 1,346 complaints following the July appointment of Gov.
His office also received 2,680 complaints after
In his report, the commissioner recommended that a parliamentary committee analyze whether knowledge of French and English should be a prerequisite for people being considered for high-ranking posts in the public sector and for posts that require nomination by government officials.
The nomination criteria for the governor general should be included in that study, Théberge said, adding that bilingualism is “extremely important” at all levels of government.
"Linguistic duality," he said, "is a value that all Canadians share, and we need to do whatever we can to make it a real priority in
This report by
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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.
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