Linguistics experts and editors are urging the federal government to stop using British spellings in official documents, warning that the practice undermines Canadian identity and risks confusion over what constitutes Canadian English.
In a letter sent Thursday to Prime Minister Mark Carney, five linguistics scholars and a representative from Editors Canada criticized the use of British spellings such as utilisation, globalisation and catalyse in government materials, including the 2025 federal budget. They argue the government should instead adhere to established Canadian spellings like utilization, globalization and catalyze.
The signatories say Canadian spelling has been used widely and consistently across publishing, media, and federal and provincial governments for decades. Departing from that standard, they warn, could blur the definition of Canadian English and weaken a key marker of national identity.
“Canadian spelling is a vital element of our unique identity,” the letter states. “If governments begin using other systems, it creates uncertainty about what is distinctly Canadian.”
The letter was signed by linguistics professors J.K. Chambers, Sandra Clarke, Stefan Dollinger and Sali Tagliamonte, Canadian English Dictionary editor-in-chief John Chew, and Editors Canada president Kaitlin Littlechild. They call on the Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament and the federal public service to maintain Canadian English spelling, noting it has been the government’s standard from the 1970s until recently. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to a request for comment.
The authors emphasize that spelling is a core feature of Standard Canadian English, a nationally recognized variety of English acknowledged by the Oxford English Dictionary. They note that Canadian English has evolved through Loyalist settlement after the American Revolutionary War, successive waves of British and European immigration, and influences from Indigenous languages and global cultures.
Canadian English occupies a unique middle ground, shaped by proximity to the United States while retaining distinct features that differ from both American and British English. While Canadian spelling borrows selectively from both systems, it has developed its own consistent conventions over time.
In some cases, Canadian English avoids British spellings entirely, such as tyre or gaol, while in others it rejects American forms, preferring cheque over check or manoeuvre over maneuver. This balance, the experts say, reflects a coherent and historically grounded national standard.
“Canadian English evolved here and represents a unique aspect of our culture,” the letter concludes. “It must continue to be used in all federal communications. It’s a matter of history, identity and pride — and today, it’s one of the simplest ways to take an ‘elbows up’ stance.”
