Thank you for the question.
Don't forget that, in French, to express the imperative, we use the present tense. So, whether we write "take the necessary measures to advance" or "advance", we come to the same result. In English, we always say "shall." Therefore, it is an obligation.
When I read both the amendment and the sub-amendment, off the top of my head, it seems to me that the idea is to ensure that the Minister advances the equality of status and use of English and French. It's obviously the principle underlying section 16(3) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The text also indicates that the minister may avail themselves to a range of measures. That's how I read it in French.
I'm trying to capture it in English. It would be:
The Minister of Canadian Heritage in advancing the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, may take measures to
It seems to me it would lead to the same result.
We take for granted that the minister will promote—"advance" in the English text—the equality of status and use of French and English, and that they can avail themselves to a range of measures to do so.