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.
Applied Filter(s)
Year: 2019
Province or Territory: Ontario
Court: Federal Court
Citation: 2019 FC 1102
Category: Language rights and services to the public
Background Mr. Michel Thibodeau and Ms. Lynda Thibodeau applied to the Federal Court for remedy under subsection 77(1) of the Official Languages Act, RSC, 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp....Year: 2019
Province or Territory: Ontario
Court: Federal Court
Citation: 2019 FC 1474
Category: Language rights and services to the public, Language rights in the federal public service
Background After having filed a complaint that was investigated by the Commissioner of Official Languages (the Commissioner), Mr. Thibodeau, the applicant, filed a claim for remedy against the Senate before the Federal Court under section 77 of the Official Languages Act,...Year: 2019
Province or Territory: British Columbia
Court: Supreme Court of Canada
Citation: 2019 SCC 31, 2015 BCPC 0230, 2016 BCSC 2416, 2017 BCCA 264, 2018 BCCA 59
Category: Legislative and judicial bilingualism
Background Mr. Bessette was charged with a provincial driving offence under British Columbia’s Motor Vehicle Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 318. Before the start of his trial, he made an application to be...Year: 2019
Province or Territory: Northwest Territories
Court: Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories
Citation: 2019 NWTSC 25
Category: Minority-language education rights
Background W.B.’s parents immigrated to Canada and settled in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Their son, W.B., was born a few months after their arrival. W.B. is a Canadian citizen and is fluent in Dutch, English and French. From the age of two, W.B. attended French-language daycare. W.B...Year: 2019
Province or Territory: Alberta
Court: Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
Citation: 2019 ABQB 859
Category: Legislative and judicial bilingualism
Background In this case, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta applied the JordanFootnote 1 decision for the first time in order to stop criminal proceedings in relation to language rights guaranteed under the Criminal Code...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...Filter by year
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