Bill S-237 explained in plain English
An Act for the advancement of the aboriginal languages of Canada and to recognize and respect aboriginal language rights
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
This bill recognizes the right of Indigenous peoples in Canada to use, preserve, revitalize, and promote their languages, and commits the Government of Canada to support these efforts.
Bill S-237, titled the "Aboriginal Languages of Canada Act", aims to recognize and promote the use, preservation, and revitalization of Indigenous languages in Canada. It establishes a government commitment to support these languages and outlines specific actions the responsible Minister is to take. The bill also includes provisions for agreements with provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments, and requires annual reporting on the Act's implementation. The Governor in Council may make regulations to support the Act's objectives.
- Recognizes the right of Indigenous peoples in Canada to use, preserve, revitalize, and promote their languages.
- States the Government of Canada's commitment to preserve, revitalize, and promote Indigenous languages.
- Requires the designated Minister to take measures to implement these commitments.
- Allows for agreements between the Minister and provinces, territories, or Indigenous governments to implement the Act.
- Mandates consultation with Indigenous leaders and governing bodies on policies and programs under the Act.
- Allows the Governor in Council to make regulations to support the Act's objectives.
- Requires the Minister to table an annual report in Parliament on the Act's operation.
- Indigenous peoples of Canada (including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis)
- Federal government (specifically the Minister designated by the Governor in Council)
- Provincial and territorial governments
- Municipal and local authorities
- Educational institutions (elementary, secondary, and higher education)
- Aboriginal governments
- Indigenous peoples have the right to use, preserve, revitalize, and promote their languages.
- Indigenous peoples have the freedom to share their cultural heritage through their languages.
- The Government of Canada is committed to preserving, revitalizing, and promoting Indigenous languages.
- The Minister is obligated to take measures to implement the Act's commitments and objectives.
- The Minister must consult with Indigenous leaders and governing bodies.
- The Act comes into force on a date set by the Governor in Council, no later than two years after receiving Royal Assent.
- The bill does not limit or preclude the funding of English or French language education or training programs for Indigenous persons.
- The specific Minister responsible for the Act is to be designated by the Governor in Council.
- The Act does not explicitly define what constitutes 'appropriate' use of Indigenous languages or specific measures the Minister 'considers appropriate'.
This bill would establish the Aboriginal Languages of Canada Act.
Source: Title, Section 1
The bill clarifies that it does not affect existing Aboriginal or treaty rights under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Source: Section 4
The Governor in Council can create regulations to help achieve the Act's objectives.
Source: Section 10
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textParliamentary Process
We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Introduction and first reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Sponsor’s speech yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Debate at second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for First reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Second reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Consideration in committee yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Report stage yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
We don't have a plain-language summary for Third reading yet. The official source linked below is the full record.
Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced