Canada's official languages policy has its roots in the past and in the present. English and French have been spoken for centuries in what is now Canada. Fundamental to the Canadian reality, then as now, is the need to establish a working relationship between two linguistic communities.
The modern era in official languages begins with the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism (1963-1970), as the federal administration attempted to adapt to new realities, notably the "Quiet Revolution" in Quebec. In 1969, following recommendations from the Royal Commission's Bilingualism and Biculturalism report, Parliament adopted the first Official Languages Act, which recognized English and French as the official languages of all federal institutions. The Act required those institutions to serve Canadians in their official language of choice.
