Promoters of Canadian English are urging the federal government to reverse what they describe as a growing shift toward British spelling in official documents, warning that it risks blurring Canada’s linguistic identity and confusing the public.
In a letter sent to Prime Minister Mark Carney, a group of linguistics scholars and an editors’ association representative argue that the federal government is sending the wrong message by using British spellings such as utilisation, globalisation, and catalyse instead of the Canadian-standard utilization, globalization, and catalyze.
The December 11 letter, shared with The Canadian Press, points specifically to the 2025 federal budget and other official publications where British spellings have appeared. The authors say maintaining Canadian English on the page is a simple but meaningful way to reinforce national identity.
Canadian spelling, they note, has been used widely and consistently across the country — in books, newspapers, magazines, and by both federal and provincial governments and legislatures — for decades.
“If governments start to use other systems for spelling, this could lead to confusion about which spelling is Canadian,” the letter states.
Beyond clarity, the writers argue that Canadian spelling is a vital expression of the country’s cultural independence.
The letter was signed by linguistics professors J.K. Chambers, Sandra Clarke, Stefan Dollinger, and Sali Tagliamonte, along with Canadian English Dictionary editor-in-chief John Chew and Editors Canada president Kaitlin Littlechild. They are calling on the Prime Minister’s Office, the federal government, and Parliament to continue using Canadian English spelling — the standard they say was followed consistently from the 1970s through 2025.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to a request for comment from The Canadian Press.
Spelling is a key component of Standard Canadian English, a nationally distinct variety recognized by the Oxford English Dictionary, the letter explains. Canadian English evolved through Loyalist settlement following the American Revolutionary War, later shaped by immigration from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and other parts of the world.
Today, it reflects Canada’s multicultural society and incorporates words and expressions influenced by Indigenous languages, as well as global cultures represented in the population.
Canadian English occupies a unique linguistic space, the letter adds. While influenced by proximity to the United States, it remains distinct from both American and British English.
The authors acknowledge that Canadians often have strong feelings about what constitutes “Canadian” spelling, partly because the country historically borrows from both British and American traditions.
In some cases, Canadian English follows North American conventions; in others, it aligns more closely with British usage. However, there are also clear boundaries — Canadians do not use tyre or gaol, for example, and generally avoid American spellings like check in place of cheque or maneuver instead of manoeuvre.
“Canadian English evolved here and represents a unique aspect of our culture,” the letter concludes. “It is part of our history and identity.”
The authors argue that Canadian spelling should remain the standard in all federal communications, calling it a matter of national pride — and, in their words, “the simplest way to take an ‘elbows up’ stance.”