This book offers an overview of the events surrounding the development of the two official language communities (English and French) of Canada during the last 30 years and the establishment of a model of official bilingualism. The text is provided in both languages. Chapter 1 describes the context of language change: historical origins of populations speaking English and French; the current distribution of official language groups across the country, and the context for policy making in a bilingual country. Chapter 2 outlines the objectives pursued by federal and provincial governments for official languages, and the long-term action of the federal government to improve the status and use of official languages in federal institutions, to support the development of official language minority communities, and to promote English and French throughout Canadian society. Chapter 3 reviews the major shifts in provincial policies and programs for official language minorities. The final chapter presents the results of three decades of sustained effort to give English and French equal status in Canadian society, outlining provincial achievements, minority community development, and growing public support for the official languages and policies to promote them. Contains 47 references. (MSE)