Official languages commissioner concerned about federal budget cuts

Official Languages Commissioner Raymond Theberge responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on May 9, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

MONTREAL — Canada’s commissioner of official languages says he wants to ensure language rights don’t suffer as a result of federal spending cuts.

Raymond Théberge was speaking today in Dieppe, N.B., where he tabled his midterm findings on the 2023-2028 action plan, which includes $4.1 billion in funding.

The commissioner says it’s important that official languages aren’t disproportionately affected as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government looks to reduce federal spending.

In its fall budget, the Liberal government outlined a plan to shave program spending and administrative costs by about $60 billion over the next five years, and to cut 40,000 public service jobs by 2029.

Théberge told a news conference that official languages have been affected by past budget cuts, with language training, research and job cuts ordered without measuring the government’s ability to deliver services in both official languages.

The commissioner, who has held the post since 2018 and plans to retire in January, says official languages are a fundamental Canadian value.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2025.

Frédéric Lacroix-Couture, The Canadian Press