C-238An Act respecting the French language
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on February 7, 2022
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the House of Commons
What it does
The bill would align several federal laws with Quebec’s Charter of the French Language and add a French language requirement for some citizenship applicants in Quebec.
What it does
- Requires federal works, undertakings and businesses operating in Quebec to follow the Charter of the French Language.
- Changes the Official Languages Act so the Government of Canada, federal institutions, and the Commissioner of Official Languages do not obstruct that Charter in Quebec.
- Requires measures taken in Quebec under the Official Languages Act to be carried out in a way that matches the Charter of the French Language.
- Requires corporations that do business in Quebec to have names that meet the Charter of the French Language.
- Requires permanent residents who live in Quebec and are aged 18 to 64 to show adequate knowledge of French to get citizenship, and to show knowledge of Canada and citizenship rights and duties in French.
Who it affects
- Federal employers in Quebec
- Federal institutions
- Commissioner of Official Languages
- Corporations doing business in Quebec
- Permanent residents in Quebec
- Citizenship applicants in Quebec
Background
The bill amends the Canada Labour Code, the Official Languages Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act, and the Citizenship Act. Its stated purpose is to make those laws consistent with Quebec’s Charter of the French Language.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
2nd reading of Bill C-238, An Act respecting the French language
Vote 180,
Failed
56 yeato268 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 180 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Nay 0 152 6 Conservative Nay 0 114 4 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Yea 23 0 2 Green Split evenly 1 1 0 Independent Split evenly 1 1 0 Total 56 268
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalÉlisabeth Brière· May 9, 2022
“I am pleased to rise today to discuss Bill C-238 on the French language, sponsored by the hon. member for Salaberry—Suroît. This bill is similar to bills tabled in previous sittings of Parliament.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeJoël Godin· May 9, 2022
“Today I am speaking to Bill C-238, an act respecting the French language, which was introduced by the member for Salaberry—Suroît. I thank her for her work on this important piece of legislation.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocClaude DeBellefeuille· May 9, 2022
“He was aware of my bill on the French language; he even spoke to me about the bill we are discussing today, Bill C-238. I was very touched by his remarks and the fact that he clearly understands the fight for French in Quebec.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPAlexandre Boulerice· May 9, 2022
“The problem with the bill before us today is in the second part, which states that all immigrants must take a French test to obtain citizenship. It is important to note that Quebec already controls economic immigration and that the number of points granted for knowledge of French significantly favours francophones.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Bill defeated. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.