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Official languages

The Official Languages Act establishes that English and French are the official languages of Canada and are of equal status within all federal institutions. The Treasury Board Secretariat Policy on Official Languages sets requirements for Government of Canada departments (including DND), and DAOD 5039-0, Official Languages sets requirements for DND employees and CAF members. The DND/CAF Official Languages Strategy and Action Plan aim to meet the requirements of the Official Languages Act, with the goal of contributing to an accessible and productive Defence workforce that represents and respects the core Canadian value of linguistic duality. DND/CAF also recognizes the unique experiences and contributions of allophones (those whose first language is neither English nor French).

A culture of inclusion and belonging is reinforced by ensuring equal opportunities for DND/CAF employees and members regardless of their official language preference.

Sentiment towards official languages

These metrics are from the 2020-2021 and 2022-2023 Public Service Employee Survey (PSES), which is sent to all DND public service employees, and the 2022 Your Say Matters (YSM) survey, which is sent to both DND public service employees and CAF members.

Defence Team

I am satisfied with access to second language training:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Gender DND public service employees Men 2022 57% 44%
Gender DND public service employees Women 2022 50% 50%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2022 25% 75%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2022 31% 69%
Gender Regular Force Men 2022 46% 54%
Gender Regular Force Women 2022 42% 58%
Component DND public service employees 2022 53% 47%
Component Primary Reserve 2022 25% 75%
Component Regular Force 2022 45% 55%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 23% 78%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2022 15% 85%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 21% 79%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2022 46% 54%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 43% 57%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2022 43% 57%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 52% 48%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2022 43% 57%
Gender DND public service employees Men 2024 62% 38%
Gender DND public service employees Women 2024 53% 47%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2024 27% 73%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2024 35% 65%
Gender Regular Force Men 2024 44% 56%
Gender Regular Force Women 2024 47% 53%
Component DND public service employees 2024 58% 42%
Component Primary Reserve 2024 28% 72%
Component Regular Force 2024 44% 56%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 33% 67%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2024 20% 80%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 32% 68%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2024 19% 81%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 43% 57%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2024 44% 56%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 50% 50%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2024 37% 63%

I am satisfied with the quality of second language training:

category subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Gender DND public service employees Men 2022 61% 39%
Gender DND public service employees Women 2022 58% 42%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2022 57% 43%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2022 60% 40%
Gender Regular Force Men 2022 65% 35%
Gender Regular Force Women 2022 64% 36%
Component DND public service employees 2022 59% 41%
Component Primary Reserve 2022 53% 47%
Component Regular Force 2022 65% 35%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 35% 65%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2022 58% 42%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2022 83% 17%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 63% 37%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2022 58% 43%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2022 75% 25%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2022 62% 38%
Gender DND public service employees Men 2024 65% 36%
Gender DND public service employees Women 2024 59% 42%
Gender Primary Reserve Men 2024 53% 47%
Gender Primary Reserve Women 2024 53% 47%
Gender Regular Force Men 2024 60% 40%
Gender Regular Force Women 2024 63% 38%
Component DND public service employees 2024 60% 40%
Component Primary Reserve 2024 52% 48%
Component Regular Force 2024 60% 40%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 55% 45%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Junior Officer 2024 34% 66%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 65% 35%
CAF Rank Primary Reserve Senior Officer 2024 45% 55%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 54% 46%
CAF Rank Regular Force Junior Officer 2024 63% 37%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Non-Commissioned Member 2024 65% 35%
CAF Rank Regular Force Senior Officer 2024 67% 33%

Data Source: Your Say Matters: Defence Team Well-Being Survey (2022)

DND public service employees

During meetings in my work unit, I feel free to use the official language of my choice:

Category Subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2024 86% 14%
Age 24 years and under 2024 87% 13%
Age 25 - 29 years 2024 91% 9%
Age 30 - 34 years 2024 87% 13%
Age 35 - 39 years 2024 87% 13%
Age 40 - 44 years 2024 87% 13%
Age 45 - 49 years 2024 86% 14%
Age 50 - 54 years 2024 85% 15%
Age 55 - 59 years 2024 86% 14%
Age 60 years and over 2024 86% 14%
Disability Person with a disability 2024 87% 13%
Disability Person without a disability 2024 87% 13%
First official language English 2024 93% 7%
First official language French 2024 69% 31%
Gender Another gender 2024 94% 6%
Gender Man 2024 85% 15%
Gender Woman 2024 88% 12%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2024 86% 14%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2024 87% 13%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2024 86% 14%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2024 92% 8%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2024 90% 10%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2024 84% 16%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2024 89% 11%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2024 99% 1%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2024 89% 11%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2024 90% 10%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 89% 11%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2024 89% 11%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 79% 21%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2024 89% 11%
Racialized group Non-racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 87% 13%
Racialized group Racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 89% 11%
Sexual orientation Does not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 87% 13%
Sexual orientation Identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 86% 14%

When I prepare written materials, including emails, I feel free to use the official language of my choice:

Category Subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2024 84% 16%
Age 24 years and under 2024 84% 16%
Age 25 - 29 years 2024 88% 12%
Age 30 - 34 years 2024 84% 16%
Age 35 - 39 years 2024 85% 15%
Age 40 - 44 years 2024 84% 16%
Age 45 - 49 years 2024 82% 18%
Age 50 - 54 years 2024 83% 17%
Age 55 - 59 years 2024 84% 16%
Age 60 years and over 2024 85% 15%
Disability Person with a disability 2024 85% 15%
Disability Person without a disability 2024 84% 16%
First official language English 2024 92% 8%
First official language French 2024 62% 38%
Gender Another gender 2024 94% 6%
Gender Man 2024 84% 16%
Gender Woman 2024 85% 15%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2024 85% 15%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2024 84% 16%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2024 87% 13%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2024 92% 8%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2024 91% 9%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2024 81% 19%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2024 88% 12%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2024 92% 8%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2024 89% 11%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2024 90% 10%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 89% 11%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2024 87% 13%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 70% 30%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2024 89% 11%
Racialized group Non-racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 84% 16%
Racialized group Racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 87% 13%
Sexual orientation Does not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 85% 15%
Sexual orientation Identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 83% 17%

When I communicate with my immediate supervisor, I feel free to use the official language of my choice:

Category Subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2019 91% 9%
Overall Overall 2022 92% 8%
Overall Overall 2024 93% 7%
Age 24 years and under 2019 94% 6%
Age 24 years and under 2022 93% 7%
Age 24 years and under 2024 94% 6%
Age 25 - 29 years 2019 92% 8%
Age 25 - 29 years 2022 94% 6%
Age 25 - 29 years 2024 95% 5%
Age 30 - 34 years 2019 92% 8%
Age 30 - 34 years 2022 94% 6%
Age 30 - 34 years 2024 95% 5%
Age 35 - 39 years 2019 93% 7%
Age 35 - 39 years 2022 94% 6%
Age 35 - 39 years 2024 93% 7%
Age 40 - 44 years 2019 91% 9%
Age 40 - 44 years 2022 92% 8%
Age 40 - 44 years 2024 93% 7%
Age 45 - 49 years 2019 90% 10%
Age 45 - 49 years 2022 93% 7%
Age 45 - 49 years 2024 92% 8%
Age 50 - 54 years 2019 90% 10%
Age 50 - 54 years 2022 92% 8%
Age 50 - 54 years 2024 92% 8%
Age 55 - 59 years 2019 89% 11%
Age 55 - 59 years 2022 91% 9%
Age 55 - 59 years 2024 92% 8%
Age 60 years and over 2019 90% 10%
Age 60 years and over 2022 91% 9%
Age 60 years and over 2024 92% 8%
Disability Person with a disability 2019 89% 11%
Disability Person with a disability 2022 91% 9%
Disability Person with a disability 2024 92% 8%
Disability Person without a disability 2019 91% 9%
Disability Person without a disability 2022 93% 7%
Disability Person without a disability 2024 93% 7%
First official language English 2019 94% 6%
First official language English 2022 95% 5%
First official language English 2024 95% 5%
First official language French 2019 84% 16%
First official language French 2022 84% 16%
First official language French 2024 86% 14%
Gender Another gender 2019 91% 9%
Gender Another gender 2022 87% 13%
Gender Another gender 2024 96% 4%
Gender Man 2019 89% 11%
Gender Man 2022 91% 9%
Gender Man 2024 93% 7%
Gender Woman 2019 93% 7%
Gender Woman 2022 94% 6%
Gender Woman 2024 93% 7%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2019 86% 14%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2022 92% 8%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2024 91% 9%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2019 91% 9%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2022 92% 8%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2024 93% 7%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2019 88% 12%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2022 92% 8%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2024 88% 12%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2019 92% 8%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2022 92% 8%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2024 95% 5%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2019 90% 10%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2022 96% 4%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2024 91% 9%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2019 90% 10%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2022 92% 8%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2024 93% 7%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2019 90% 10%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2022 93% 7%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2024 93% 7%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2019 93% 7%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2022 97% 3%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2024 97% 3%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2019 88% 12%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2022 79% 21%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2024 89% 11%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2019 91% 9%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2022 91% 9%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2024 94% 6%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2019 92% 8%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 92% 8%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 93% 7%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2019 82% 18%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2022 98% 2%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2024 91% 9%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2019 94% 6%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 95% 5%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 93% 7%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2019 91% 9%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2022 95% 5%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2024 88% 12%
Racialized group Non-racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 93% 7%
Racialized group Racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 93% 7%
Sexual orientation Does not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 93% 7%
Sexual orientation Identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 93% 7%

Senior managers in my department use both official languages in their interactions with employees:

Category Subcategory Year % Agree % Other
Overall Overall 2019 65% 35%
Overall Overall 2020 66% 34%
Overall Overall 2022 68% 32%
Overall Overall 2024 68% 32%
Age 24 years and under 2019 74% 26%
Age 24 years and under 2020 75% 25%
Age 24 years and under 2022 71% 29%
Age 24 years and under 2024 76% 24%
Age 25 - 29 years 2019 67% 33%
Age 25 - 29 years 2020 71% 29%
Age 25 - 29 years 2022 66% 34%
Age 25 - 29 years 2024 72% 28%
Age 30 - 34 years 2019 67% 33%
Age 30 - 34 years 2020 65% 35%
Age 30 - 34 years 2022 72% 28%
Age 30 - 34 years 2024 68% 32%
Age 35 - 39 years 2019 67% 33%
Age 35 - 39 years 2020 65% 35%
Age 35 - 39 years 2022 66% 34%
Age 35 - 39 years 2024 66% 34%
Age 40 - 44 years 2019 63% 37%
Age 40 - 44 years 2020 67% 33%
Age 40 - 44 years 2022 67% 33%
Age 40 - 44 years 2024 65% 35%
Age 45 - 49 years 2019 66% 34%
Age 45 - 49 years 2020 66% 34%
Age 45 - 49 years 2022 69% 31%
Age 45 - 49 years 2024 69% 31%
Age 50 - 54 years 2019 65% 35%
Age 50 - 54 years 2020 67% 33%
Age 50 - 54 years 2022 67% 33%
Age 50 - 54 years 2024 66% 34%
Age 55 - 59 years 2019 62% 38%
Age 55 - 59 years 2020 63% 37%
Age 55 - 59 years 2022 68% 32%
Age 55 - 59 years 2024 66% 34%
Age 60 years and over 2019 65% 35%
Age 60 years and over 2020 67% 33%
Age 60 years and over 2022 69% 31%
Age 60 years and over 2024 68% 32%
Disability Person with a disability 2019 63% 37%
Disability Person with a disability 2020 64% 36%
Disability Person with a disability 2022 66% 34%
Disability Person with a disability 2024 66% 34%
Disability Person without a disability 2019 66% 34%
Disability Person without a disability 2020 66% 34%
Disability Person without a disability 2022 69% 31%
Disability Person without a disability 2024 68% 32%
First official language English 2019 65% 35%
First official language English 2020 66% 34%
First official language English 2022 70% 30%
First official language English 2024 69% 31%
First official language French 2019 67% 33%
First official language French 2020 65% 35%
First official language French 2022 64% 36%
First official language French 2024 65% 35%
Gender Another gender 2019 72% 28%
Gender Another gender 2020 88% 12%
Gender Another gender 2022 87% 13%
Gender Another gender 2024 60% 40%
Gender Man 2019 63% 37%
Gender Man 2020 64% 36%
Gender Man 2022 66% 34%
Gender Man 2024 65% 35%
Gender Woman 2019 69% 31%
Gender Woman 2020 68% 32%
Gender Woman 2022 70% 30%
Gender Woman 2024 71% 29%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2019 57% 43%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2020 54% 46%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2022 68% 32%
Indigenous Indigenous people 2024 63% 37%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2019 66% 34%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2020 66% 34%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2022 68% 32%
Indigenous Non-Indigenous people 2024 68% 32%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2019 44% 56%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2020 48% 52%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2022 52% 48%
Province/territory of work Alberta 2024 50% 50%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2019 35% 65%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2020 39% 61%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2022 47% 53%
Province/territory of work British Columbia 2024 48% 52%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2019 52% 48%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2020 64% 36%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2022 61% 39%
Province/territory of work Manitoba 2024 58% 42%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2019 76% 24%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2020 76% 24%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2022 75% 25%
Province/territory of work National Capital Region 2024 75% 25%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2019 59% 41%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2020 63% 37%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2022 64% 36%
Province/territory of work New Brunswick 2024 60% 40%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2019 51% 49%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2020 55% 45%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2022 60% 40%
Province/territory of work Newfoundland and Labrador 2024 55% 45%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2020 69% 31%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2022 76% 24%
Province/territory of work Northwest Territories 2024 59% 41%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2019 49% 51%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2020 48% 52%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2022 51% 49%
Province/territory of work Nova Scotia 2024 51% 49%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2019 65% 35%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 63% 37%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 66% 34%
Province/territory of work Ontario (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 68% 32%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2019 70% 30%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2020 80% 20%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2022 92% 8%
Province/territory of work Outside of Canada 2024 88% 12%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2019 75% 25%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2020 73% 27%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2022 72% 28%
Province/territory of work Quebec (excluding National Capital Region) 2024 70% 30%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2019 53% 47%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2020 58% 42%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2022 67% 33%
Province/territory of work Saskatchewan 2024 57% 43%
Racialized group Non-racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 67% 33%
Racialized group Racialized, non-Indigenous population 2024 74% 26%
Sexual orientation Does not identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 68% 32%
Sexual orientation Identifies as 2SLGBTQIA+ 2024 66% 34%

Data Source: Public Service Employee Survey (2024)

First official language (FOL) preference

The metrics below indicate the percentage of CAF members and DND public service employees that prefer English or French as their First official language. For comparative figures, Statistics Canada publishes data on first official language spoken most often at home and languages used at work for the Canadian population.

CAF members

First official language % of member
English 76.38%
French 23.62%

Data Source: CAF HR Management System (Last Updated: 2025/01/31)

DND public service employees

First Official Language % of employees
English 74.75%
French 25.25%

Data Source: DND HR Management System (Last Updated: 2025/01/31)

Data sources

For details on the methodology of data analysis, including descriptions of each data source, please visit the list of data sources page.

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2026-07-30

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