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Advocates for Canadian English say the federal government is sending the wrong message to the world with its recent use of British spelling in official documents.
In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, five linguistic experts and a representative from the editors' association say the easiest way to keep the nation's elbows up is to put Canadian style on the page.
The letter, dated Thursday and provided to The Canadian Press, notes the use of British spellings – such as “utilization”, “globalization”, “catalyze” (instead of “utilization, globalization and catalysis”) – in documents including the 2025 federal budget.
The letter states that Canadian orthography is used widely and fairly consistently in Canada—in book and magazine publishing, in newspapers and other media, and in the federal and provincial governments and their legislatures.
“If governments start using other spelling systems, it could lead to confusion about which spelling is Canadian.”
In addition, according to the letter's authors, Canadian orthography is a vital element of the country's unique identity.
Canadian spelling has been used since the 1970s.
The letter was signed by linguistics professors J.C. Chambers, Sandra Clark, Stefan Dollinger and Sali Tagliamonte, Canadian English Dictionary editor-in-chief John Chew and Editors Canada president Caitlin Littlechild.
They ask the Prime Minister's Office, the Government of Canada and Parliament to adhere to the Canadian English spelling “which they have consistently used from the 1970s to 2025.”
The Prime Minister's Office did not respond to PKR's request for comment on the letter.
Spelling is an aspect of Standard Canadian English, a distinct national variety of English recognized by the Oxford English Dictionary, the letter said.
“Raincouver,” “relocation” and “raise your elbows” are just some of the 137 new terms added to the Dictionary of Canadianisms. Stefan Dollinger, editor-in-chief of UBC, says updating the dictionary is a study and comparison of our language use with other English-speaking countries.
“Canadian English developed from Loyalist settlements after the American Revolutionary War, subsequent waves of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish immigration, and from European and global contexts.
“Today it reflects global influences and cultures from around the world represented in our population, and also contains words and phrases from Indigenous languages.”
Standard Canadian English is unique among varieties of English around the world because it has historically been influenced by its geographic proximity to the United States, but has features that differ from American English and British English, the letter adds.
Borrowings from the US and UK
Many Canadians are enthusiastic about the spelling of the word “Canadian,” but there are many opinions about what exactly is “Canadian,” the letter writers admit.
“This is because the Canadian style was borrowed from both Great Britain and the United States.”
Canadians sometimes choose spellings that may have originated in the United States—or, more accurately, North America, the letter says. “In other words, we follow the British style.”
However, in some cases the Canadian style never uses the British version (tire instead of tire, jail instead of prison), and in others it avoids the American version (check for check's sake, maneuver instead of maneuver).
University of Alberta research linguist Daniel Heber explains how the lack of a modern dictionary may be affecting Canadian English.
“Canadian English developed here and represents a unique aspect of our culture. It is part of our history and identity,” the letter says.
“Canadian English spelling must continue to be used in all communications and publications of the federal government. This is a matter of our national history, identity and pride. This is the easiest way to get into the elbows up position these days.
