<P> The Official Languages Act (French: Loi sur les langues officielles) is a Canadian law that came into force on September 9, 1969, which gives French and English equal status in the government of Canada . This makes them "official" languages, having preferred status in law over all other languages . Although the Official Languages Act is not the only piece of federal language law, it is the legislative keystone of Canada's official bilingualism . It was substantially amended in 1988 . Both languages are equal in Canada's government and in all the services it controls, such as the courts . </P> <P> The Act provides, among other things, </P>

When did french become an official language of canada