Establishing a Foundational Economic Vitality and Shared Prosperity Pillar for the 2028–2033 Official Languages Action Plan
On Thursday, October 15, CEDEC presented its initial contribution to the Government of Canada’s 2026 Cross-Canada Official Languages Consultation in Québec City.
At the centre of our proposal is the conviction that the long-term vitality of Official Language Minority Communities, and of the languages that define them, depends fundamentally upon their economic vitality.
Accordingly, CEDEC proposes that the renewed 2028–2033 Official Languages Action Plan (OLAP) incorporate a dedicated, foundational Economic Vitality and Shared Prosperity Pillar, supported by coherent federal policies, coordinated and sustained investment, community-led implementation, and meaningful accountability for economic and linguistic results.
CEDEC’s submission establishes the policy rationale for this proposed Pillar and articulates three distinct, mutually reinforcing objectives:
- sustained economic prosperity,
- substantive economic equality, and
- linguistic vitality.
Together, these objectives recognize that generating economic opportunity, addressing demonstrable disparities, and expanding opportunities for the meaningful use of minority Official Languages in economic life are complementary, yet independently necessary, conditions for enduring community vitality.
To advance these objectives, the submission outlines
- a preliminary economic development architecture encompassing collaborative partnerships and community-led economic development capacity;
- an Economic Vitality Lab and Venture development;
- strengthened workforce development and labour-market participation;
- targeted measures to reduce economic disparities; and
- a shared sectoral framework for measuring results, informing policy decisions, and supporting continuous improvement.
These proposed components are presented as an initial framework for further examination and collaborative development, rather than as finalized program measures. CEDEC intends to refine this architecture through continued research, stakeholder engagement, practical implementation experience, and dialogue with relevant federal departments and agencies, with a more fully developed and costed policy submission anticipated in the summer of 2027.