The concept of a "bilingual district" (localized area in which the main language is different from surrounding districts) has been inherent in Canada's official policy for the last ten years. However, sociopolitical changes since the passage of the Official Languages Act of 1974, especially the election of a separatist government in Quebec, have severely reduced the usefulness of the concept. Objections to bilingual districts have come from individual communities as well as provincial governments; problems are anticipated ranging from difficulties in administering programs for minorities to disharmony among the various populations. Maps, tables, and statistics reinforce the awareness that a very complex situation has been oversimplified in the name of legislative convenience. In order to meet the real needs of language minority populations, a great deal more time and effort will have to be expended in assessing the individual character of each geographic-sociopolitical situation. (JB)