The minister responsible for official languages () is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The minister is supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage and is responsible for administering Official Languages Act.
The role has been held by Marc Miller since 2025. The minister is selected by the prime minister and appointed by the Crown. The position was first introduced in 2003 and the position has often been held in conjunction with another portfolio, such as minister responsible for La Francophonie or minister of Canadian heritage.
Background In 2003, the first minister responsible for Official Languages was sworn in, on the creation of the "Official Languages Branch of Intergovernmental Affairs" within the Privy Council Office. In 2006, responsibility was shifted from the Privy Council Office to the Department of Canadian Heritage, and the branch was renamed the "Official Languages Secretariat".
Sections 42 and 43 of the Official Languages Act give the minister of Canadian heritage the specific responsibility of taking measures to advance the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society; under section 44 of that Act, the minister must submit annual reports to Parliament on the matters relating to official languages for which the minister is responsible.Official Languages Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.)
List of ministers NameTerm of officeTitlePolitical partyMinistryPierre PettigrewDecember 12, 2003July 19, 2004Minister responsible for Official LanguagesLiberal27th (Martin)Mauril BélangerJuly 20, 2004February 5, 2006Josée VernerFebruary 6, 2006August 13, 2007Minister for La Francophonie and Official LanguagesConservative28th (Harper)August 14, 2007May 26, 2008Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official LanguagesJames MooreJune 25, 2008October 29, 2008Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific Gateway) (2010 Olympics) (Official Languages)October 30, 2008July 14, 2013Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official LanguagesShelly GloverJuly 15, 2013November 4, 2015Mélanie JolyJuly 18, 2018November 20, 2019Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La FrancophonieLiberal29th (Trudeau)November 20, 2019 October 26, 2021Minister of Economic Development and Official LanguagesGinette Petitpas TaylorOctober 26, 2021July 26, 2023Minister of Official LanguagesRandy BoissonnaultJuly 26, 2023November 20, 2024Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official LanguagesGinette Petitpas TaylorNovember 20, 2024December 20, 2024Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official LanguagesRachel BendayanDecember 20, 2024March 14, 2025Minister of Official LanguagesVacantMarch 14, 2025May 13, 2025N/A30th (Carney)Steven GuilbeaultMay 13, 2025November 27, 2025Minister responsible for Official LanguagesMarc MillerDecember 1, 2025PresentMinister responsible for Official Languages
See also Department of Canadian Heritage Official bilingualism in Canada Official Languages Act (Canada) Minister of Canadian Heritage
References