Canadian Legal FAQs

Published by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta

National FAQs >Constitutional Language Rights >Language Rights – Additional Resources

Language Rights – Additional Resources

Constitutional Documents

Constitution Act 1867 to 1982: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/Const_index.html

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/charter/Charter_index.html

Courts and Access to Judgments

General

Federal Court of Canada:

Tax Court of Canada:

Supreme Court of Canada: http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Alberta

Alberta Courts: http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca

Last Reviewed: May 2011

British Columbia

The Courts of British Columbia: http://www.courts.gov.bc.ca

French language services are available for trials resulting from any criminal offense

The court will provide interpreters in certain situations as described here: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/faq/info/interpreter.htm#interpreter

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Manitoba

Manitoba Courts website, English: http://www.manitobacourts.mb.ca

Manitoba Courts website, French: http://www.manitobacourts.mb.ca/index.fr.html

Manitoba Courts, Judgments and Court Transcripts, French: http://www.manitobacourts.mb.ca/judgements_transcripts.fr.html

Last Reviewed: May 2011

New Brunswick

Courts of New Brunswick:

Cours du Nouveau-Brunswick:

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Newfoundland & Labrador

The law courts of Newfoundland and Labrador: http://www.court.nl.ca

The Provincial Court website has a French version; the Supreme Court does not: http://www.court.nl.ca/provincial/fr/

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories Courts: http://www.nwtcourts.ca

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Nova Scotia

The Courts of Nova Scotia: http://www.courts.ns.ca

This page has information about French translations in Small Claims Court (bottom of page): http://www.courts.ns.ca/Small_Claims_Court/NSSCC_home.htm

This page indicates that at least some Provincial Court forms must be available in French: http://www.courts.ns.ca/Small_Claims_Court/NSSCC_home.htm

Information Kit for Representing Yourself – most of the documents have French versions: http://www.courts.ns.ca/self_rep/self_rep_kits.htm

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Nunavut

Nunavut Court of Justice: http://www.nucj.ca

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Ontario

Ontario Courts website, titled Guide to Ontario Courts, main page for access to English or French: http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca

Court Interpretation Services in Ontario: “In Ontario, the Ministry of the Attorney General provides court interpretation services in … any language required in criminal and child protection matters … and French in all civil, family and Small Claims Court matters”. http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/courts/interpreters

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Prince Edward Island

Courts of Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/courts

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Saskatchewan

Courts of Saskatchewan: http://www.sasklawcourts.ca This website is not available in French, however, there is a page that says French-language court services are available and gives a contact phone number: http://www.sasklawcourts.ca/index.php/search?q=french+services

General Information pages in French about Provincial Court, Court of King’s Bench and the Court of Appeal are available from the Justice page of the French Services website: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/bonjour/government/ministries/justice

Rules of Court are available in French: http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/deplist.cfm?d=1&c=97

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Yukon

Yukon Courts website, English: http://www.yukoncourts.ca

Yukon Courts website, French: http://www.yukoncourts.ca/fr/index.html

Supreme Court of Yukon Territory – Practice Direction #43 French Language: http://www.yukoncourts.ca/pdf/pd_43_french_language.pdf

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Francophone Lawyers

Fédération des associations de juristes d’expression française de common law inc. (FAJEF) est le regroupement des associations régionales, provinciales ou territoriales de juristes d’expression française engagé à promouvoir et à défendre l’accès à la justice en français dans les provinces et territoires de common law partout au Canada.

7 provincial member associations listed here (Alberta, Columbie Britannique, Manitoba, Nouveau Brunswick, Nouvelle-Écosse, Saskatchewan): http://www.fajef.ca/associations.php

Francophone Schools and Francophone School Boards

Alberta

Alberta Education has a section of their website in French: http://www.education.alberta.ca/francais.aspx

List of Francophone school boards (5 of them) with contact information and links to their websites: Alberta Education – Autorités régionales francophones

Last Reviewed: May 2011

British Columbia

Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique (CSF): http://www.csf.bc.ca

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Manitoba

Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine: http://www.dsfm.mb.ca/ScriptorWeb/scripto.asp?resultat=669949

Éducation Manitoba – Programme français: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/m12/progetu/prog-fr.html

Also includes a downloadable list of Francophone schools with the addresses in French: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/schools/index.html

Last Reviewed: May 2011

New Brunswick

Department of Education and Early Childhood Services, Francophone Sector (K-12): http://www.gnb.ca/0000/francophone-f.asp

Government link to the School District websites (5 Francophone and 9 English) as well as a list with links for individual schools: http://www.gnb.ca/0000/web/web-f.asp

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Newfoundland & Labrador

Department of Education, Français langue première: http://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/french/languepremiere/index.html

  • Various policy documents about French language education

Conseil scolaire francophone provincial de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador: http://www.csfp.nl.ca/

  • The section “Ecoles” has a map showing locations of schools and links to the school websites.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Northwest Territories

Commission scolaire francophone, Territories du Nord-Ouest: http://www.csftno.com

There are two francophone schools: one in Yellowknife and one in Hay River. Contact information on this webpage:

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Nova Scotia

Conseil scolaire acadien provincial: http://csap.ednet.ns.ca

  • Covers the whole province; 20 schools – contact information and web links available from “Nos écoles” page.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Nunavut

Commission scolaire francophone du Nunavut: http://www.csfn.ca

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Ontario

Office of Francophone Affairs, French School Boards in Ontario: http://www.ofa.gov.on.ca/en/franco-schoolboards.html

  • There are twelve French-language school boards in Ontario, with over 425 French-language schools

See also: Ontario Ministry of Education, French-Language Education in Ontario, Admission to French-language schools: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/amenagement/admission.html

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Prince Edward Island

Government of PEI; French Language School Board webpage: http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=80799&lang=E

Commission scolaire de langue française de l’Ile-du-Prince-Eduourd (6 schools): https://cslfipe.wordpress.com/

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Saskatchewan

Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (provincewide, 13 schools):

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Yukon

Commission scolaire francophone du Yukon (1 school): http://commissionscolaire.csfy.ca/fr

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Governmental Resources

Federal

Federal Laws English: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/

Lois fédérales: http://lois-laws.justice.gc.ca/fra/

Federal website / site federal: http://www.gc.ca

BUROLIS: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ollo/appollo/burolis/search-recherche/aburolis-eng.aspx

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Alberta

Alberta Laws: http://www.qp.alberta.ca/Laws_Online.cfm

Lois de l’Alberta – seulement une loi en français: Loi Linguistique: http://www.qp.alberta.ca/570.cfm?frm_isbn=0779735927&search_by=link

The main government website does not have a French version, but there is a website that gathers all the French language government information: Bonjour Alberta: http://www.bonjour.alberta.ca/index.html

For further governmental inquiries: Francophone Secretariat: https://www.alberta.ca/francophone-secretariat.aspx

Legislative Assembly of Alberta: http://www.assembly.ab.ca

  • This website does not have a French version. Legislature tours can be arranged in French and some of the teaching resources about the Legislature are available in French

Last Reviewed: May 2011

British Columbia

Laws of British Columbia (English only): http://www.bclaws.ca

Information about court translation services: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/faq/info/interpreter.htm#interpreter

Government of British Columbia: http://www.gov.bc.ca

Affaires francophones de la Columbie Britannique: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/law-crime-and-justice/human-rights/human-rights-protection/french-what-you-need-to-know.pdf

  • This page includes a link to a list of Publications in French many of which are produced by other organizations (e.g. legal info pamphlets from Legal Services Society and People’s Law School)

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Manitoba

Laws of Manitoba: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/index.php

Lois du Manitoba: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/index.fr.php

Manitoba King’s Printer: http://www.gov.mb.ca/queensprinter/index.fr.html

Government of Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca

Gouvernement du Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/index.fr.html

Legislative Assembly of Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/index.html

Assemblée legislative du Manitoba: http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/index.fr.html

Bilingual Service Centers: “Bilingual Service Centres facilitate the active offer of French language services in the regions of Manitoba where the French-speaking population is concentrated. The Centres provide a wide range of federal, provincial, municipal, and community-based services under one roof.” http://www.csbsc.mb.ca/history.fr.html

Manitoba Translation Services. “The Translation Services Branch was established in 1974 to provide quality, cost-effective written and oral translation services in the official languages to Manitoba Government departments, agencies, Crown corporations, the Legislative Assembly and the Courts as required by The Manitoba Act and the French Language Services Policy of Manitoba.” http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/index.fr.html

Information about the use of French in the Legislative assembly:

Ville de Winnipeg: http://winnipeg.ca/francais

Last Reviewed: May 2011

New Brunswick

Laws of New Brunswick; King’s Printer website:

Lois du Nouveau-Brunswick; Imprimeur de la Reine:

Government of New Brunswick: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en.html

Gouvernement du Nouveau-Brunswick: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/fr.html

Service Nouveau-Brunswick (accès sécurisé et facile aux transactions, produits et renseignements): http://www.snb.ca/f/0001f.asp

New Brunswick Translation Bureau (a division of NB Supply and Services): http://www.gnb.ca/0099/Translation/index-e.asp

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/legis/index-e.asp

Assemblée legislative du Nouveau-Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/legis/index-f.asp

Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick: “The Act gives the Commissioner the mandate to investigate complaints from members of the public with respect to official languages and services provided by government institutions.”

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Newfoundland & Labrador

Laws of Newfoundland & Labrador: http://www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/default.htm

The Newfoundland & Labrador Office of French Language Services. Some regulations and acts have been translated in to French. This office may be a source of information about availability of these documents:

Government of Newfoundland: http://www.gov.nl.ca

  • No equivalent site in French.

Public Services Secretariat has an Office of French Services. OFS is responsible for building the capacity of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to deliver services in French and is the Francophone community’s point of contact on government programs and services. The OFS is also available to assist departments interested in developing more website content in French.

Newfoundland Legislative Assembly: http://www.assembly.nl.ca

  • Legislative Assembly website does not have any French pages.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Legislation: http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/Legislation/SearchLeg&Reg.shtml

Législation: http://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/Legislation/SearchLeg&RegFr.shtml

Department of Justice Library website has a French section: https://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/en/services/le-secretariat-de-leducation-et-des-langues-autochtones/languages-overview

Resources en français. The Department of Justice has a section which identifies webpages on their site as well as various publications that are available in French: https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/fr/les-divisions/division-des-politiques-et-de-la-planification/

Government of the Northwest Territories: http://www.gov.nt.ca

Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories: http://www.nwtlanguagescommissioner.ca

Services TNO. A new French language service centre for the Northwest Territories. This new single-window centre brings together a variety of information and services of the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT): http://www.servicestno.ca/fr/index.html

Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories: http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/

Assemblée législative des Territoires du Nord-Ouest: http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca/

  • The link opens English. For the French version, choose French from the drop-down menu in the upper right.

About Government Services in French from the Official Languages Manual, August 1997 (part of the Official Languages Policy). Lists designated office for French: http://www.nwtlanguagescommissioner.ca/nwt-official-languages/

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Acts, Statutes and Regulations: http://novascotia.ca/sns/access/store/default-fr.asp

A few laws are available in French: http://nslegislature.ca/legc/sol_f.htm

Government of Nova Scotia: http://www.gov.ns.ca

  • No equivalent site in French.

Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia / Assemblée Législative de la Nouvelle-Écosse: http://nslegislature.ca

  • Some pages are in French, some only in English.

There is a separate section that provides links to government ministries, offices and government organizations that offer services in French: http://www.gov.ns.ca/bonjour

Accès Nouvelle-Écosse – s’est engagé à permettre aux Néo-Écossais de langue française d’avoir accès, dans leur langue, aux informations, aux programmes et aux services gouvernementaux: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/access/services-en-francais.asp

Acadian Affairs: http://acadien.novascotia.ca/en

L’Office des affaires acadiennes: http://acadien.novascotia.ca/fr

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Nunavut

Nunavut Statutes and Regulations: http://gov.nu.ca/justice/information/legislation

Les lois et leur règlements: https://www.nunavutlegislation.ca/en

Government of Nunavut: http://www.gov.nu.ca/

Gouvernment du Nunavut: http://www.gov.nu.ca/fr

Legilslative Assembly of Nunavut: http://www.assembly.nu.ca

Assemblée Législative du Nunavut: http://www.assembly.nu.ca/fr

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Ontario

Ontario e-laws:http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/navigation?file=home&lang=en

Ontario Lois-en-ligne: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/navigation?file=home&lang=fr

Government of Ontario main website: http://www.ontario.ca/en/residents/index.htm

Gouvernement de l’Ontario: http://www.ontario.ca/fr/residents/index.htm

The website (both the English and French versions) has a section “For Francophones”. It includes links to the Office of Francophone Affairs and the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner: http://www.ontario.ca/fr/communities/francophones/index.htm?openNav=residents

ServiceOntario – vous offre un accès rapide, courtois et simple – en ligne, aux guichets, en personne et par telephone: http://www.ontario.ca/fr/services_for_residents/index.htm

Legislative Assembly of Ontario: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/home.do

Assemblée législative de l’Ontario: http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/home.do?locale=fr

Ville d’Ottawa: http://www.ottawa.ca/index_fr.html

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Prince Edward Island

Statutes of Prince Edward Island: http://www.gov.pe.ca/law/statutes/index.php3

No French legislation online. Print copies not available to order online: contact Publications Center to find out if translations are available: http://www.gov.pe.ca/publications/index.php3

PEI main government website: http://www.gov.pe.ca

Main government website does not have a French version. However, there is the start of a French language interface (but not all links result in French information): http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=1&lang=F

Department of Acadian and Francophone Affairs (English page, no French version): http://www.gov.pe.ca/eco/aafa-info/dg.inc.php3

  • Main role seems to be advising government departments about delivering services in French and providing translation services to government

Legislative Assembly of PEI: http://www.assembly.pe.ca

  • This website does not have a French version or any information in French.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Legislation: http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/legislation.cfm

Some French language versions are available: http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/deplist.cfm?d=1&c=92

Government of Saskatchewan: http://www.gov.sk.ca

The main government website does not have a full French version, however, a list French services is available at: http://www.bonjour.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=b1642a3c-c6c6-49a0-b762-05a45f4a669d&l=French

Government of Saskatchewan, Francophone Affairs Branch: http://www.ops.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=fc8ba0b2-6da1-4689-8047-a0bd9203f6b7&l=French

Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan: http://www.legassembly.sk.ca

  • Legislative Assembly website does not have any French pages.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Yukon

Yukon Legislative Website: http://www.gov.yk.ca/legislation/index.html

Lois et des règlements du Yukon: http://www.gov.yk.ca/legislation/fr/index.html

Government of the Yukon: http://www.gov.yk.ca

Gouvernement du Yukon: http://www.gov.yk.ca/fr

  • Some of the menu links go to French information, some to English.

French Services: http://www.gov.yk.ca/services/cat_frenchservices.html

Describes which services are bilingual. All text is in English.

French Language Services Directorate: http://www.flsd.gov.yk.ca/fr/services.html

  • Provides translation for Yukon government departments and information on French language services.

Yukon Legislative Assembly: http://www.legassembly.gov.yk.ca

Assemblée legislative du Yukon: http://www.legassembly.gov.yk.ca/fr/index.html

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Public Legal Information Providers

Alberta

Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta: http://www.cplea.ca

Some websites/information offered in French, for example:

Last Reviewed: May 2011

British Columbia

People’s Law School: http://www.publiclegaled.bc.ca

  • Some publications offered in French

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Manitoba

Community Legal Education Association: http://www.communitylegal.mb.ca.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

New Brunswick

Public Legal Ecudation and Information Service of New Brunswick: http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/en/index.php

Service publique d’éducation et information juridiques du Nouveau Brunswick: http://www.legal-info-legale.nb.ca/fr/index.php.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Newfoundland & Labrador

Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland: http://www.publiclegalinfo.com

Some publications in French: http://publiclegalinfo.com/?page_id=78

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Nova Scotia

Legal information Society of Nova Scotia: http://www.legalinfo.org

  • There are no links to French language information: call them directly for further information.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Ontario

Community Legal Education Ontario: http://www.cleo.on.ca/english/index.htm

Éducation juridique communautaire Ontario: http://www.cleo.on.ca/francais/indexf.htm

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Prince Edward Island

Community Legal Information Association of Prince Edward Island: http://www.cliapei.ca

  • There are no links to French language information: call them directly for further information.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Saskatchewan

Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan: http://www.plea.org

  • There are no links to French language information: call them directly for further information.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Yukon

Yukon Public Legal Education Association: http://www.yplea.com

  • There are no links to French language information: call them directly for further information.

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Language Rights Cases

Ref re Manitoba Language Rights – [1992] 1 S.C.R. 212: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1992/1992canlii115/1992canlii115.html

R. v. Mercure [1988] 1 S.C.R. 234: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1988/1988canlii107/1988canlii107.html

R. v. Paquette [1990] 2 S.C.R. 1103: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1990/1990canlii37/1990canlii37.html

A.G. Que. v. Blaikie [1979] 2 S.C.R. 1016: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1979/1979canlii21/1979canlii21.html

Re Manitoba Language Rights [1985] 1 S.C.R. 721: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1985/1985canlii33/1985canlii33.html

Re Manitoba Language Rights Order No. 3 [1992] 1 S.C.R. 212: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1992/1992canlii115/1992canlii115.html

Societe des Acadiens v. Association of Parents [1986] 1 S.C.R. 549: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1986/1986canlii66/1986canlii66.html

DesRochers v. Canada [2009] 1 S.C.R. 194: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2009/2009scc8/2009scc8.html

Societe des Acadiens v. Canada [2008] 1 S.C.R. 383: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2008/2008scc15/2008scc15.html

Attorney General of Quebec v. Quebec Protestant School Boards [1984] 2 S.C.R. 66: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1984/1984canlii32/1984canlii32.html

Solski v. Quebec [2005] 1 S.C.R. 201: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2005/2005scc14/2005scc14.html

Mahe v. Alberta [1990] 1 S.C.R. 342

Re Public Schools Act (Man.) [1993] 1 S.C.R. 839: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/1993/1993canlii119/1993canlii119.html

Arsenault-Cameron v. Prince Edward Island [2000] 1 S.C.R. 3: http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2000/2000scc1/2000scc1.html

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Texts, Articles and Further Information about Language Rights

Bastarache, Michel. Language Rights in Canada, 2nd Ed. Cowansville: Les Éditions Yvon Blais, Inc, 2004.

Dubé , Natasha. Minority Language Rights in Canada. Centre for Constitutional Studies.

Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages/Commissariat aux langues officielles: http://www.ocol-clo.gc.ca

Language Rights Support Program:

Programme d’appui aux droits linguistiques: http://www.padl-lrsp.uottawa.ca/index.php?lang=fr

Last Reviewed: May 2011

Funding for this section was provided by The Language Rights Support Program.

These FAQs were written with help from Laura Snowball, Barrister and Solicitor, and from The Centre for Constitutional Studies.

The Centre for Public Legal Education respectfully acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 territories, the traditional lands of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.
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