Official languages: are you the next Section 41 leader?
Canadian Heritage is pleased to present you this short video produced in collaboration with the Council of the Network of Official Languages Champions.
The bilingual video was concocted by Improtéine, a Franco-Ontarian comedy group known for their talent to render information accessible to all.
With their added touch of humour, learn who the official language minority communities in Canada are, and what courses of action and exemplary behaviors you can adopt to implement Section 41 of Part VII in your daily work. Also, find out how the National Film Board of Canada and Justice Canada have implemented initiatives that make a difference!
This video is intended for public servants at all levels who can, through their leadership, contribute to the implementation of the Official Languages Act.
So, are you the next Section 41 leader?
Transcript of the video Official languages: are you the next Section 41 leader?
Video length: 00:04:24
Scene 1 - Lobby
Host 2: Hey there! This is a corporate video. We’re members of the improv comedy group Improtéine!If you work for the federal government…
Host 1: Then you probably have a better pension plan than we do, but we know a little more in advance when we’re getting paid.
Host 2: [back to topic] And you might have heard that there are two official languages in Canada.
Host 1: [like if it was impressive] But did you know that in the Official Languages Act, there's a Part VII? And in that part VII, there is a section 41?
Public Servant 2: [from behind her desk] Cool! I love odd numbers!
Host 1: I know!
Scene 2 - Main Hall
Host 1: Okay, section 41 says that the federal government must:
- make sure that official language minorities are thriving,
- support them in their development,
- and promote the use of both official languages all across the country.
Host 2: Fascinating. When we say official language minorities, we mean English-speaking communities of Quebec…
Host 1: … and Francophones everywhere else.
Host 2: ESPECIALLY IN MOOSE JAW!!!!!
Voice: MOOSE JAW!!!!!
Scene 3 - Main Hall - Cubicles
[The hosts walk in a section full of cubicles.]
Host 1: There are more than 1 million Francophones outside of Quebec. And, with the magic of official languages… apparently... there is exactly the same amount of Anglophones in Quebec!
Host 2: Now that’s uncanny! But it's not always easy for them to obtain equal treatment when it comes to benefitting from programs and services.
Host 1: That's why it is important for the federal government to think of ways of promoting both official languages… in everything they do.
Host 2: And who is responsible for that?
[The hosts stop walking.]
Senior Manager: [too official] Every employee!
Public Servant 1 [pop up, confused, eating a soup with a plastic spoon]: Even me?
Host 1: Yes Kyle, even you.
Public Servant 1: Sweet.
Scene 4 - Large Conference Room
[Everyone is in the conference room. The senior manager presents himself officially.]
Senior Manager: [too official] Hello, I’m a senior manager!
Civil Servant 2: Um… Hi… So… how do we promote both official languages?
Senior Manager: The first step is to find out who our coordinator 41 is in the office.
Coordinator 41: [he knocks on the glass door of the meeting room, too excited] I’m over here!
Host 1: Coordinator 41s…
Senior Manager: [speaking from afar] …and senior managers…
Host 1: ... can help you ask the right questions during meetings, they can explain the government's responsibilities when it comes to section 41 and they can give you what you need to understand OLMCs.
Civil Servant 2: Hold on. Who?
Host 2: Official language minority communities. [wink]
Scene 5 - Little Conference Room
[They stand in front of a whiteboard on which the letters of the official acronym appear. They then move down an aisle.]
Host 1: In French, we say the C-L-O-S-M. It’s pronounced “CLO-ZEUME”, “CLO-ZOME” or “CLOSME”.
Civil Servant 1: [pops up from nowhere, eating a potato salad with a plastic spoon] Can we say “Clozeeme?”
Host 1: [giving him very little attention] No.
Host 2: For all initiative the federal government undertake, it is important to promote the two official languages and take into account OLMCs before.
Senior Manager: [in the background, very motivated] When I say go, we’re all going to have a BBQ with the OLMCs to understand their needs and priorities!
Civil Servant 1: I’m bringing the potato salad!
Host 2: Tons of civil servants already do it every day, and it works!
Scene 6 - Cafeteria and Lounge
[They’re sitting down.]
Host 1: For example, a few years ago, except in Moncton and Ottawa, if you wanted to become a lawyer, you had to study civil law in French for Quebec or common law in English for the rest of Canada.
Civil Servant 1: [pops up once again from nowhere, eating a complete pie] What did Francophone lawyers do in Toronto?
Host 1: They studied in English.
Civil Servant 1: That’s no fun!
Host 2: But Justice Canada officials partnered with the University of Ottawa to create a French certification for students studying Common Law in English language universities.
Civil Servant 1: [happy] I'll finally be able to get sued by a French-speaking lawyer!
Scene 7 - Main Hall with Chairs in Circle
[Sitting on the big chairs.]
Host 2: When it comes to the English-speaking communities of Quebec, some people felt that they weren’t always well represented in the media.
Host 1: Some civil servants at the National Film Board of Canada clearly had their head in the game because they signed an agreement with the English-speaking communities of Quebec to consult them every year!
Civil Servant 2: [loving the idea] Was it like a blood oath where they swore to meet at the same place and the same time every year?
Host 2: Not quite, no…
Senior Manager: [arriving from nowhere] If you get bored on Saturday nights, there are lots of other tools to help implement section 41 on the website Canada.ca.
He gives his laptop, opened on the page Canada.ca to Host 2.
Host 2: Uh… thanks.
Scene 8 - Lobby
Host 1: Essentially, anytime you take on any project, you always have to promote both official languages and consider the OLMCs.
Host 2: Imagine you’re wearing “special official languages lenses”. All the ways you can support the OLMCs will jump right out at you! You’ll be able to see things you never could before.
Civil Servant 1: Like Iron Man’s mask!!!
Host 1: [unsure of the example] Ya… if the Avengers were coordinators 41…
Civil Servant 1: Oh, sweet!
Host 2: Sunglasses protect you from the sun.
Host 1: But Official language lenses protect you from being in the dark.
Host 2: That was deep. Did you write that?
Host 1: [falsely pretentious] I’m not just a pretty face, you know! … And no… I didn’t
Contact us
- Address:
- Interdepartmental Relations and Accountability Directorate (IRAD)
Official Languages Branch
Canadian Heritage
15 Eddy St, 7th floor
Gatineau QC J8X 4B3 - Email:
- portail41-gateway41@pch.gc.ca
To access other tools and resources for the implementation of Section 41, please visit: Publications — Official languages
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