Canada’s defense minister 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 Defense (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces revised rules regarding language usage 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, organizations and units in unilingual regions faced challenges in meeting language requirements, leading to complaints and frustration. The directive, known as DAOD 5039-2, came into effect in January 2025, aligning internal language requirements with the language designation of the office location under the Official Languages Act. This change meant that only workplaces in officially bilingual regions such as New Brunswick, the National Capital Region, and parts of northern Ontario were mandated to communicate solely in English and French.
The alterations 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 move sparked criticism from advocates and opposition parties, who viewed it as a weakening of French language protection within a major federal department.
In response to the feedback, Defense Minister David McGuinty stated that he takes the concerns seriously and has initiated a review of workplace language designations. The review aims to evaluate the application of language requirements and assess if the current approach aligns with operational needs and respects the language rights of the Defense Team. The timeline for the review was not specified.
Following the minister’s announcement, the Conservative Party called for an immediate repeal of the changes, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that Francophone military personnel can work, lead, and progress in French even in predominantly English-speaking regions.