Canada’s Minister of National Defence has announced a review of a directive from 2025 that determines the languages used in military workplaces due to recent concerns. The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces altered regulations in January 2025 regarding language usage for various activities within the workplace, such as internal meetings and documents. Previously, units were categorized as English, French, or both.
According to a blog post by the DND in late July, many organizations and units in unilingual regions faced challenges in meeting language requirements, leading to complaints and frustrations. The directive, known as DAOD 5039-2, took effect in January 2025, aligning internal language requirements with the language designation of the office location under the Official Languages Act. Consequently, only workplaces in officially designated bilingual regions, including New Brunswick, the National Capital Region, and parts of northern Ontario, were mandated to use English and French exclusively.
These modifications did not impact communication with the public or military families. The military continued to promote the use of both official languages to enhance inclusivity and uphold Canada’s linguistic diversity.
The blog post sparked criticism from advocates and opposition parties, raising concerns about the protection of French language rights in a major federal department. Responding to these concerns, Minister of National Defence David McGuinty stated that he has initiated a review of workplace language designations, acknowledging the importance of addressing the issues raised.
The announcement did not specify a timeline for the review process. Subsequently, the Conservative Party called for an immediate repeal of the changes, emphasizing the significance of ensuring that Francophone members can work, lead, and progress professionally in French, even in predominantly English-speaking regions.