Court decisions
This database presents summaries of key court decisions in Canada related to official languages and of events relating to language rights since 2003. These summaries have been prepared by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada.
This database is not exhaustive. It was designed to be used as a reference tool for people directly or indirectly interested in language rights. The database is updated on an ongoing basis.
1. R. v Wilkins
Year: 2016
Province or Territory: Ontario
Court: Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Citation: 2016 ONSC 2966
Category: Legislative and judicial bilingualism
This case was about the right of an accused, under subsection 638(1)(f) of the Criminal CodeFootnote 1, to challenge prospective jurors for cause on the basis that they do not speak the official...2. R v Dumont
Year: 2012
Province or Territory: Ontario
Court: Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Citation: 2014 ONSC 4133
Category: Legislative and judicial bilingualism
The Superior Court of Justice of Ontario was asked to determine whether the rights set out in section 10(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the “Charter”), that is the right to retain counsel without delay and to be informed of that right, were breached when the...3. R v Mathieu
Year: 2014
Province or Territory: Ontario
Court: Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Citation: 2014 ONSC 6124
Category: Language rights and services to the public
The Superior Court of Justice of Ontario was asked to determine the validity of statements made by a Francophone accused during his questioning in English by the police. Background Mr. Mathieu was accused of attempted murder, suffocation and aggravated assault. The Crown sought to present as...Year: 2014
Province or Territory: Ontario
Court: Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Citation: 2015 ONSC 5328
Category: Minority-language education rights
The Conseil des Écoles Publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) and Claude Provost brought this motion seeking an interlocutory injunction to suspend the application of certain administrative regulations of the respondent, the Ontario Federation of School...Year: 2019
Province or Territory: Ontario
Court: Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Citation: 2019 ONSC 1062
Category: Language rights and services to the public
Context Zacharie Tessier (the Respondent) was accused of an offence under the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, (the Criminal Code) for driving a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration over the...