Canada’s defense minister has announced a review of a 2025 directive regulating the use of languages within military workplaces, in response to recent concerns. The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces modified regulations in January 2025 regarding the languages used for internal activities and services like 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 areas faced challenges meeting language requirements, leading to complaints and frustration. The directive, known as DAOD 5039-2, implemented in January 2025, aligned internal language standards with the workplace’s language designation under the Official Languages Act. This meant that only workplaces in officially bilingual regions, such as New Brunswick and the National Capital Region, were required to communicate solely in English and French.
These changes did not impact communication with the public or military families. The military still promoted the use of both official languages to enhance inclusivity and uphold Canada’s linguistic diversity. The announcement of the review came after a blog post last month attracted criticism from advocates and opposition parties over concerns about French language protection within the federal department.
Minister of National Defence David McGuinty stated that he takes the concerns seriously and has initiated a review of workplace language designations to assess their application and alignment with operational needs and language rights. The timeline for this review was not specified. The Conservative Party subsequently urged McGuinty to reverse the changes immediately, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that Francophone members can work, lead, and progress professionally in French, even in predominantly English-speaking regions.