Canada’s Minister of National Defence has announced a review of a 2025 directive that determines the languages used in military workplaces due to recent concerns. In January 2025, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces updated regulations regarding language use for internal activities and services. The previous system designated units as English, French, or both, causing issues for organizations in unilingual regions. The directive, known as DAOD 5039-2, aligned language requirements with the workplace’s designation under the Official Languages Act, restricting bilingual communication to specific regions. However, public and family communication remained unaffected, with the military still promoting the use of both official languages to foster inclusivity and respect for linguistic diversity.
The decision sparked criticism from language advocates and opposition parties, citing concerns over the protection of French within a major government department. Minister David McGuinty responded by acknowledging the concerns and initiating a review of workplace language designations to ensure operational needs are met while upholding language rights. The timeline for the review was not specified. The Conservative Party also called for an immediate reversal of the changes, emphasizing the importance of allowing Francophone members to work and progress professionally in French regardless of their posting location.