Bill C-238 focuses on the French language within the context of Canadian federal laws. It aims to align the Canada Labour Code, the Official Languages Act, and the Canada Business Corporations Act with Quebec's Charter of the French Language. This means that federal businesses operating in Quebec, as well as corporations registered under the Canada Business Corporations Act and doing business in Quebec, must adhere to the language requirements set out in Quebec's Charter of the French Language.
Furthermore, the bill amends the Citizenship Act, stipulating that permanent residents residing in Quebec must demonstrate an adequate knowledge of French to obtain Canadian citizenship. This requirement ensures that individuals seeking citizenship in Quebec are proficient in the province's official language.
The bill also includes provisions that recognize French as the official language of Quebec, with the Government of Canada committing to not obstruct the application of Quebec's Charter of the French Language. Federal institutions are also tasked with ensuring that measures are consistent with Quebec's Charter of the French Language. The Commissioner of Official Languages is instructed to perform their duties in Quebec in a way that does not hinder the application of the Charter of the French Language.