Section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Along with the language rights in the "Charter" (sections 16-23), section 6 was meant to protect Canadian unity. French Canadians, who have been at the centre of unity debates, are able to travel throughout all Canada and receive government and educational services in their own language. Hence, they are not confined to Quebec (the only province where they form the majority and where most of their population is based), which would polarize the country along regional lines. According to the Supreme Court in "Canadian Egg Marketing Agency v. Richardson" (1998), section 6 is also "rooted in a concern with human
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of the Canadian government is responsible for achieving the objectives of, and promoting, Canada's Official Languages Act. Canada has two official languages: English and French. The 1988 Official Languages Act mandates this office and its commissioner, who holds office for seven years. Its mission has three main objectives: ensuring the equality of English and French within the Government of Canada and institutions subject to the Act; preserving and developing official language communities; and ensuring the equality of English and French in Canadian society at large.