Linguistic Duality in Canada: Successful Initiatives by Foreign Missions in Communicating with a Larger Audience

Circular Note No. XDC-1027 of June 11, 2010

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (Office of Protocol) presents its compliments to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and notified Chargés d’affaires, a.i. accredited to Canada and has the honour to draw their attention, for information purposes, to volume 1 of the annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages recently submitted to Parliament and available on the website of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.

The Department takes the opportunity of the publication of this report and subsequently, of the work of the Standing Senate Committee for Official Languages to congratulate foreign missions in Canada that choose to implement initiatives promoting Canada’s linguistic duality. Moreover, the Department is convinced that the commitment by the foreign missions to support and strengthen the equality of status and use of French and English in their outreach activities directed at the general public and their communications products, including exterior signage at the chanceries, best reaches all Canadians. Further, these efforts support a fundamental core value of Canadian society necessary for the development of its official language communities.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Office of Protocol) avails itself of this opportunity to renew to Their Excellencies the Heads of Diplomatic Missions and notified Chargés d’affaires, a.i., accredited to Canada, the assurances of its highest consideration.

OTTAWA, June 11, 2010