Constructing the self-sufficient citizen: Neoliberalism, citizenship, and language learning in the Canadian Language Benchmarks

​

The most recent Canadian Centre for Language Benchmarks (CCLB) Strategic Plan (2019) outlines how the organisation aims to continue its fulfillment of the strategic mandate given to it by the federal government through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The plan commits the CCLB to four goals as it oversees the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB):

• provide leadership for the development of quality teaching resources;

• continue to refine national standards found within the CLB for testing and assessment;

• enhance support for teachers and learners working with the CLB;

• refine its own capacities and leadership role; and

• “support the application of the CLB and the NCLC [its French language equivalent] in assisting successful labour market integration” (p.2)

In this paper we outline how IRCC and the CCLB construct labour market integration and explore the policy rationale used to justify this orientation. We argue that the framing of adult second language training in this context constructs the citizenship of language learners in terms consistent with neo-liberal imperatives: that of isolated market-orientated individuals.

​

Kelly Holmes is a Doctoral Candidate at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa interested in English as a Second Language programming for newcomers to Canada. She is also interested in how concepts of gender are utilized in policy, programming, and decision making in the Federal government. 
 

Douglas Fleming is a Professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa. His research and teaching focus on LINC, the CLBA, second language education, qualitative research methodology, citizenship, language policy and equity. Prior to becoming an academic in 2007, he had 20 years experience as a public-school teacher, administrator and curriculum writer for various NGO’s and government. 
 

​