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
- English link: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/criminal/info/trialinfrench.htm
- French link: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/courts/criminal/info/trialenfrancais.htm
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: http://www.gnb.ca/cour/index-e.asp
Cours du Nouveau-Brunswick: http://www.gnb.ca/cour/index-f.asp
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 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 Queen’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
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 Queen’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:
- http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/education/fact_sheets.fr.html
- http://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/committees/index.fr.html
Ville de Winnipeg: http://winnipeg.ca/francais
Last Reviewed: May 2011
New Brunswick
Laws of New Brunswick; Queen’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.”
- English site: http://www.officiallanguages.nb.ca/publications-links-other/acts-regulations-policies
- French site: http://www.languesofficielles.nb.ca/publications-liens-et-autres/droits-linguistiques
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.
- Bureau des services en français: http://www.gov.nl.ca/frenchservices
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 Statutes and Regulations: http://gov.nu.ca/justice/information/legislation
Les lois et leur règlements: https://www.gov.nu.ca/human-resources/information/acts
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: http://www.padl-lrsp.uottawa.ca/index.php?lang=en
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.
