The new federal official languages commissioner, set to take office next month, is well-positioned to safeguard Canadian bilingualism and “build a stronger, more inclusive Canada,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday. Kelly Burke, a former senior Ontario public servant, will take over as Canada’s language watchdog on March 30 after her appointment was approved by the House of Commons and the Senate.
The Gazette —
March 2, 2026
New federal language watchdog will bolster Canadian bilingualism, Carney says
In House of Commons testimony, Kelly Burke wouldn’t say whether she would support Quebec anglophones’ legal challenge to the CAQ’s plan to abolish English school boards.
“Bilingualism is at the heart of the Canadian identity — we are a country that respects and celebrates its official languages,” Carney said in a statement.