<P> English and French have had limited constitutional protection since 1867 . Section 133 of the Constitution Act , 1867 guarantees that both languages may be used in the Parliament of Canada , in its journals and records , and in court proceedings in any court established by the Parliament of Canada . The section also mandates that all Acts of the Parliament of Canada be printed and published in both languages . Guarantees for the equal status of the two official languages are provided in sections 16 -- 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , which became law in 1982 . Sections 16 -- 19 guarantee the equal status of both languages in Parliament , in all federal government institutions , and in federal courts . These sections also mandate that all statutes , records and journals of Parliament be published in both languages , with the English and French versions both holding equal status before the courts . Section 20 guarantees the right of the Canadian public to communicate in English and French with any central government office or with regional offices where there is `` a significant demand for communication with and services from that office '' . Significant demand is not defined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . One of the purposes of the Official Languages Act of 1988 was to remedy this omission . </P>
<P> English and French have had limited constitutional protection since 1867 . Section 133 of the Constitution Act , 1867 guarantees that both languages may be used in the Parliament of Canada , in its journals and records , and in court proceedings in any court established by the Parliament of Canada . The section also mandates that all Acts of the Parliament of Canada be printed and published in both languages . Guarantees for the equal status of the two official languages are provided in sections 16 -- 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , which became law in 1982 . Sections 16 -- 19 guarantee the equal status of both languages in Parliament , in all federal government institutions , and in federal courts . These sections also mandate that all statutes , records and journals of Parliament be published in both languages , with the English and French versions both holding equal status before the courts . Section 20 guarantees the right of the Canadian public to communicate in English and French with any central government office or with regional offices where there is `` a significant demand for communication with and services from that office '' . Significant demand is not defined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms . One of the purposes of the Official Languages Act of 1988 was to remedy this omission . </P>
when did french become canada 's second language
when did french become canada 's second language
1867
1867