Language Rights in Quebec
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Language Rights in Quebec Note: This table is intended as an overview (not exhaustive) of language rights in Quebec, and does not constitute legal opinion. Rights Examples Implemented by Reference Right to use French and English All statutes and regulations adopted Federal Section 133 of the during parliamentary debates, for by the federal and Quebec government and Constitutional Act, printing and publishing laws, as well governments must be written and provincial 1867 as Records and Journals of Houses published in both official languages. government of Legislatures of Quebec and of (constitutional Houses of the Parliament of Canada Members of parliament can use right) English or French during parliamentary debates. A person may testify in the language of his or her choice in courts. Rights in sections 16 to 19 of the Federal Section 16 to 19 of Canadian Charter of Rights and government and the Canadian Freedom are detailed by the Official federal courts Charter of Rights Languages Act. (constitutional and Freedom rights) For more details, see the Official Languages Act Right to receive services and The government has the obligation Federal Section 20 of the communications from the federal to communicate in both official government Canadian Charter government in both official languages when communicating with (constitutional of Rights and languages where there is “significant the public. Ex.: communications right) Freedom demand” from Ministers to the population For more details, Right to services of “substantive Central offices of the Federal see the Official equality” offered by the federal government have the obligation to Languages Act and government to official language offer services in both official Official Languages minority communities languages. Ex. : CRTC, Passport Regulations Canada. Obligation to offer in both languages equal service (ex. Comparable waiting time, equal quality of service) such as the Passport Service, the postal service. Right to education and management English-language school boards in Provincial Section 23 of the of school boards regions where the number of government Canadian Charter citizens warrants it. (constitutional of Rights and right) Freedom Right to bilingual signs and posters, The bilingual status of a city or Provincial Section 29.1 of the access to municipal services in both borough gives citizens the right to government and Charter of the official languages. receive municipal services in English the municipality French Language and gives city employees the right to gives the bilingual work in English. status to a city if more than 50% of its population speaks English Rights Examples Implemented by Reference Right to bilingual health and social Some hospitals offer English Provincial Section 29.1 of the service institutions where services services. Ex.: Royal Victoria Hospital, government Charter of the are provided to persons who, in the Montreal. French Language majority, speak English. For more details, see An Act respecting health services and social services and the Regulation respecting the formation of regional committees for programs of access to health services and social services in the English language Right to signs and posters in both Essential safety services must be Provincial Section 22 of the official languages when reasons of indicated in both official languages government Charter of the health and public safety require its Ex. : first aid services in case of an French Language use. emergency. Right to signs and posters in both Publication of schedules and routes Metropolitan Section 22 and official languages when reasons of in English by the Communauté communities and Appendix A of the health and public safety require its métropolitaine de Quebec and the public transit Charter of the use. Communauté métropolitaine de companies as French Language Montréal, the Société de transport listed in the de Québec, the Société de transport Charter de Montréal, the Société de transport de l'Outaouais, the Société de transport de Laval, and the Société de transport de Longueuil. Right to signs and posters in both Signs and posters in English by Utility companies Section 22 and official languages when reasons of telephone, cable, and bus and professional Appendix A of the health and public safety require its companies; and by gas, water and orders Charter of the use. electricity production, French Language transportation, distribution or sales companies that are not government agencies. Ex. : Gazifère, 911 service, the Barreau du Québec Right to a bilingual status for cities The following cities and/or boroughs The status is Section 29.1 of the or municipalities when more than have a bilingual status: Westmount, given by a Charter of the half of its residents have English as Senneville, Beaconsfield, Dorval, provincial law and French Language their first language. Mont-Royal, Kirkland, Baie-d'Urfé, is implemented l'Île-Dorval, Hampstead, Pointe- by the The bilingual status gives citizens the Claire, Côte-Saint-Luc, Dollard-des- municipality Section 11 of the right to receive services in both Ormeaux et Montréal-Ouest, Charter of Ville de official languages, and gives Pierrefonds-Roxboro. Montréal for Rights Examples Implemented by Reference municipal employees the right to In order to retain its bilingual status, Montreal boroughs use both official languages at work. Grosse-Île officially became a borough of the new municipality of More than 90 cities and boroughs Îles-de-la-Madeleine. have a bilingual status in Quebec. Receiving municipal services in both Many cities in Quebec offer services Municipal (No reference : official languages on a voluntary basis in both official Services given on a languages despite the absence of voluntary basis) policies or regulations. Ex. : City of Gatineau, City of Chelsea, Temiscaming, Manicouagan, etc. Note: In 2000, Bill 171 (L.Q. 2000, chap. 57), which is the criterion for the recognition of municipal bodies under Section 29.1, specifies that more than half the residents of any given territory must have English as their first language. .