1255:
1267:
188:, who raise this question, answer it in the affirmative, explaining that in their view, "the logic applicable to federal, Quebec and Manitoba legislation under the Constitution would also apply : that is, where two languages versions of a statute are enacted simultaneously both versions will be considered equally authoritative."
58:
requires that the Civil Code of Lower Canada be printed only in bilingual form, with
English and French displayed on the same page: "he two texts, when printed, shall stand side by side." It has been suggested that this provision of the 1857 Act is "best understood as a non-verbal legislative sign
50:
The rule requires courts to treat "both versions of statutes equally valid and authoritative interpretations of the law." The rule holds that both versions are equally authoritative even if the statute in question was clearly drafted in one language and translated into the other, and even if the
183:
One question, not yet tested in the courts, "arises...as to whether both versions of bilingual legislation enacted in a province where there is no constitutional requirement to do so would be considered equally authoritative in the absence of an express Equal
Authenticity Rule." Bastarache
59:
that the two texts should be interpreted dialogically." Whether or not this is an overstatement, it is certainly true that side-by-side publication was the first step towards the eventual adoption of the equal authenticity rule for interpreting bilingual statutes.
152:
Some other provinces have opted to enact some or all of their statutes bilingually, although not required by the
Constitution to do so. A province which provides for bilingual enactment can expressly provide for equal authenticity in its legislation.
35:
requires that both versions of each bilingual law be treated as equally authoritative, which can result in problems when the
English and French versions are incongruent. The equal authenticity rule is derived from section 133 of the
135:
does not have an express statement of equal authenticity, but it is likely implied by the requirement of bilingual enactment, similar to the rule for federal and Quebec statutes under s. 133 of the
819:
962:
909:
904:
899:
894:
889:
884:
879:
874:
869:
864:
859:
854:
849:
844:
839:
834:
829:
824:
814:
809:
804:
799:
794:
789:
784:
1121:
779:
774:
769:
764:
759:
754:
749:
744:
739:
734:
346:
957:
989:
600:
595:
590:
585:
580:
562:
557:
552:
432:
167:
Where an Act or regulation is enacted, printed and published in
English and French, the English version and the French version are equally authoritative.
529:
524:
366:
925:
371:
31:) is a rule of judicial interpretation developed by Canadian courts as a way of interpreting laws written in parallel French and English texts. The
1308:
726:
103:
42:, which states that "The Acts of the Parliament of Canada and the Legislature of Quebec shall be printed and published in both those Languages."
1010:
519:
1037:
1151:
339:
1234:
941:
1005:
547:
605:
1303:
391:
1298:
1271:
1090:
412:
332:
299:
54:
An early version of the principle may be found a statute of the
Parliament of the Province of Canada, enacted in 1857. The
1186:
1000:
407:
1140:
662:
697:
641:
417:
1059:
1042:
491:
496:
474:
97:
first applied this rule of judicial interpretation to Acts of
Parliament in 1935, in its ruling in the case of
89:
By implication, the rule also related to all laws enacted by the
Parliament of Canada, as section 133 of the
1224:
1054:
479:
427:
376:
94:
73:
115:
New
Brunswick is also constitutionally required to enact their statutes bilingually. Section 18(2) of the
1293:
1229:
1181:
1015:
717:
506:
463:
355:
38:
32:
1176:
1171:
1111:
82:
1116:
514:
237:
56:
Act respecting the
Codification of the Laws of Lower Canada relative to Civil Matters and Procedure
285:
252:
1196:
1191:
1156:
1025:
647:
484:
402:
1106:
1069:
444:
270:
204:
1020:
702:
667:
657:
1101:
1047:
24:
1032:
1287:
1259:
1161:
1064:
438:
101:
The rule was reaffirmed with respect to federal statutes as subsection 18(1) of the
313:
652:
707:
686:
422:
93:
is equally binding upon the federal Parliament and Quebec legislation. The
131:
requires the province of Manitoba to enact its statutes bilingually. The
324:
224:
Michel Bastarache, Naiomi Metallic, Regan Morris and Christopher Essert,
119:
provides that "both language versions are equally authoritative".
1213:
1138:
1088:
987:
684:
630:
461:
389:
328:
16:
Rule of judicial interpretation developed by Canadian courts
632:
Amendments and other constitutional documents 1867–1982
179:
Unresolved issue regarding the application of the rule
919:
Part II – Rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada
950:
934:
918:
725:
716:
571:
538:
505:
160:of Saskatchewan. Section 10 of that Act provides:
72:The equal authenticity rule was developed by the
935:Part III – Equalization and regional disparities
727:Part I – Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
86:, which is enacted in both French and English.
162:
107:, when the constitution was patriated in 1982.
439:Report on the Affairs of British North America
340:
8:
239:Canadian Pacific Railway Company v. Robinson
220:
218:
216:
433:Declaration of Independence of Lower Canada
208:, 30 & 31 Victoria, c. 3, s. 133 (U.K.)
1210:
1135:
1085:
984:
722:
713:
681:
627:
535:
502:
458:
392:Pre-Confederation constitutional documents
386:
347:
333:
325:
156:For example, Saskatchewan has done so in
51:two versions of the law are incompatible.
266:
264:
148:Express provision for equal authenticity
708:Kitchen Accord/Night of the Long Knives
601:Fines and penalties for provincial laws
272:Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
197:
171:Ontario has a similar provision in its
104:Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
1038:Individual ministerial responsibility
228:(Markham, Ontario: LexisNexis, 2008).
7:
606:Matters of a local or private nature
1235:Constitution Act (British Columbia)
301:The Language Act / Loi linguistique
226:The Law of Bilingual Interpretation
158:The Language Act / Loi linguistique
1215:Provincial constitutions of Canada
1141:Interpretation of the Constitution
317:, SO 2006, c. 21, Sched. F, s. 65.
76:in 1891, in the court’s ruling in
14:
1006:Cabinet collective responsibility
548:Peace, order, and good government
1266:
1265:
1253:
367:List of constitutional documents
1309:Legal doctrines and principles
475:Charlottetown Conference, 1864
372:Amendments to the Constitution
303:, SS 1988–89, c. L-6.1, s. 10.
1:
1122:Other unsuccessful amendments
1187:Interjurisdictional immunity
1011:Disallowance and reservation
663:Statute of Westminster, 1931
563:Matters excepted from s. 92
80:. That case dealt with the
68:Federal and Quebec statutes
1325:
1152:Indigenous self-government
642:British North America Acts
428:Constitutional Act of 1791
418:Royal Proclamation of 1763
413:Constitution of New France
1247:
1220:
1209:
1147:
1134:
1097:
1084:
1060:Parliamentary sovereignty
1001:At His Majesty's pleasure
996:
983:
693:
680:
637:
626:
596:Administration of justice
591:Property and civil rights
470:
457:
398:
385:
362:
497:Fathers of Confederation
377:Quasi-constitutional law
1304:Supreme Court of Canada
1225:Constitution of Alberta
1167:Equal authenticity rule
1055:Parliamentary privilege
492:London Conference, 1866
480:Quebec Conference, 1864
95:Supreme Court of Canada
74:Supreme Court of Canada
21:equal authenticity rule
1299:Bilingualism in Canada
1230:Constitution of Quebec
1182:Implied Bill of Rights
1016:Responsible government
718:Constitution Act, 1982
698:Fulton–Favreau formula
668:Newfoundland Act, 1949
658:Saskatchewan Act, 1905
586:Works and undertakings
507:Constitution Act, 1867
356:Constitution of Canada
206:Constitution Act, 1867
169:
137:Constitution Act, 1867
111:New Brunswick statutes
91:Constitution Act, 1867
39:Constitution Act, 1867
33:constitution of Canada
29:règle d’égale autorité
28:
1091:Constitutional debate
403:Iroquois constitution
1112:Charlottetown Accord
408:Mi'kmaq constitution
83:Civil Code of Quebec
1117:Calgary Declaration
515:Canadian federalism
63:Current application
1197:Dialogue principle
1157:Pith and substance
1026:King-in-Parliament
951:Part VII – General
648:Manitoba Act, 1870
553:Trade and commerce
485:Quebec Resolutions
423:Quebec Act of 1774
287:Manitoba Act, 1870
254:The King v. Dubois
241:(1891), 19 SCR 292
133:Manitoba Act, 1870
129:Manitoba Act, 1870
1281:
1280:
1260:Canada portal
1243:
1242:
1205:
1204:
1130:
1129:
1107:Meech Lake Accord
1080:
1079:
1070:Royal prerogative
979:
978:
975:
974:
971:
970:
676:
675:
653:Alberta Act, 1905
622:
621:
618:
617:
614:
613:
453:
452:
445:Act of Union 1840
258:, at pp. 399–402.
123:Manitoba statutes
1316:
1269:
1268:
1258:
1257:
1256:
1211:
1192:Purposive theory
1136:
1086:
1021:Fusion of powers
985:
723:
714:
703:Victoria Charter
682:
628:
536:
503:
459:
387:
349:
342:
335:
326:
319:
311:
305:
297:
291:
283:
277:
268:
259:
250:
244:
235:
229:
222:
211:
202:
1324:
1323:
1319:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1314:
1313:
1284:
1283:
1282:
1277:
1254:
1252:
1239:
1216:
1201:
1143:
1126:
1102:Triple-E Senate
1093:
1076:
1048:Question Period
992:
967:
946:
930:
914:
712:
689:
672:
633:
610:
573:
567:
540:
534:
501:
466:
449:
394:
381:
358:
353:
323:
322:
315:Legislation Act
312:
308:
298:
294:
284:
280:
269:
262:
251:
247:
236:
232:
223:
214:
203:
199:
194:
181:
173:Legislation Act
150:
145:
143:Other provinces
125:
113:
78:CPR v. Robinson
70:
65:
48:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1322:
1320:
1312:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1286:
1285:
1279:
1278:
1276:
1275:
1263:
1248:
1245:
1244:
1241:
1240:
1238:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1221:
1218:
1217:
1214:
1207:
1206:
1203:
1202:
1200:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1169:
1164:
1159:
1154:
1148:
1145:
1144:
1139:
1132:
1131:
1128:
1127:
1125:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1104:
1098:
1095:
1094:
1089:
1082:
1081:
1078:
1077:
1075:
1074:
1073:
1072:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1051:
1050:
1043:Interpellation
1040:
1035:
1033:Implied repeal
1030:
1029:
1028:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
997:
994:
993:
988:
981:
980:
977:
976:
973:
972:
969:
968:
966:
965:
960:
954:
952:
948:
947:
945:
944:
938:
936:
932:
931:
929:
928:
922:
920:
916:
915:
913:
912:
907:
902:
897:
892:
887:
882:
877:
872:
867:
862:
857:
852:
847:
842:
837:
832:
827:
822:
817:
812:
807:
802:
797:
792:
787:
782:
777:
772:
767:
762:
757:
752:
747:
742:
737:
731:
729:
720:
711:
710:
705:
700:
694:
691:
690:
685:
678:
677:
674:
673:
671:
670:
665:
660:
655:
650:
645:
638:
635:
634:
631:
624:
623:
620:
619:
616:
615:
612:
611:
609:
608:
603:
598:
593:
588:
583:
577:
575:
569:
568:
566:
565:
560:
555:
550:
544:
542:
533:
532:
527:
522:
517:
511:
509:
500:
499:
494:
489:
488:
487:
477:
471:
468:
467:
462:
455:
454:
451:
450:
448:
447:
442:
436:
430:
425:
420:
415:
410:
405:
399:
396:
395:
390:
383:
382:
380:
379:
374:
369:
363:
360:
359:
354:
352:
351:
344:
337:
329:
321:
320:
306:
292:
278:
260:
245:
230:
212:
196:
195:
193:
190:
180:
177:
149:
146:
144:
141:
124:
121:
112:
109:
69:
66:
64:
61:
47:
44:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1321:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1294:Law of Canada
1292:
1291:
1289:
1274:
1273:
1264:
1262:
1261:
1250:
1249:
1246:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1222:
1219:
1212:
1208:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1190:
1188:
1185:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1168:
1165:
1163:
1162:Double aspect
1160:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1149:
1146:
1142:
1137:
1133:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1099:
1096:
1092:
1087:
1083:
1071:
1068:
1067:
1066:
1065:Reserve power
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1049:
1046:
1045:
1044:
1041:
1039:
1036:
1034:
1031:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
998:
995:
991:
986:
982:
964:
961:
959:
956:
955:
953:
949:
943:
940:
939:
937:
933:
927:
924:
923:
921:
917:
911:
908:
906:
903:
901:
898:
896:
893:
891:
888:
886:
883:
881:
878:
876:
873:
871:
868:
866:
863:
861:
858:
856:
853:
851:
848:
846:
843:
841:
838:
836:
833:
831:
828:
826:
823:
821:
818:
816:
813:
811:
808:
806:
803:
801:
798:
796:
793:
791:
788:
786:
783:
781:
778:
776:
773:
771:
768:
766:
763:
761:
758:
756:
753:
751:
748:
746:
743:
741:
738:
736:
733:
732:
730:
728:
724:
721:
719:
715:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
695:
692:
688:
683:
679:
669:
666:
664:
661:
659:
656:
654:
651:
649:
646:
643:
640:
639:
636:
629:
625:
607:
604:
602:
599:
597:
594:
592:
589:
587:
584:
582:
579:
578:
576:
572:Powers under
570:
564:
561:
559:
556:
554:
551:
549:
546:
545:
543:
537:
531:
528:
526:
523:
521:
518:
516:
513:
512:
510:
508:
504:
498:
495:
493:
490:
486:
483:
482:
481:
478:
476:
473:
472:
469:
465:
464:Confederation
460:
456:
446:
443:
440:
437:
434:
431:
429:
426:
424:
421:
419:
416:
414:
411:
409:
406:
404:
401:
400:
397:
393:
388:
384:
378:
375:
373:
370:
368:
365:
364:
361:
357:
350:
345:
343:
338:
336:
331:
330:
327:
318:
316:
310:
307:
304:
302:
296:
293:
290:
288:
282:
279:
275:
273:
267:
265:
261:
257:
255:
249:
246:
242:
240:
234:
231:
227:
221:
219:
217:
213:
209:
207:
201:
198:
191:
189:
187:
178:
176:
174:
168:
166:
161:
159:
154:
147:
142:
140:
138:
134:
130:
122:
120:
118:
110:
108:
106:
105:
100:
99:R. v. Dubois.
96:
92:
87:
85:
84:
79:
75:
67:
62:
60:
57:
52:
45:
43:
41:
40:
34:
30:
26:
22:
1270:
1251:
1166:
558:Criminal law
539:Powers under
314:
309:
300:
295:
286:
281:
271:
253:
248:
243:, at p. 325.
238:
233:
225:
205:
200:
185:
182:
172:
170:
164:
163:
157:
155:
151:
136:
132:
128:
126:
116:
114:
102:
98:
90:
88:
81:
77:
71:
55:
53:
49:
37:
20:
18:
1177:Living tree
1172:Paramountcy
990:Conventions
644:, 1867–1982
530:Section 125
525:Section 121
1288:Categories
687:Patriation
574:Section 92
541:Section 91
256:, SCR 378
192:References
581:Licensing
1272:Category
735:Preamble
520:Preamble
289:, s. 23.
274:, s. 18
117:Charter
46:History
441:(1839)
435:(1838)
186:et al.
25:French
820:16.1
127:The
19:The
1290::
963:59
958:52
942:36
926:35
910:34
905:33
900:32
895:31
890:30
885:29
880:28
875:27
870:26
865:25
860:24
855:23
850:22
845:21
840:20
835:19
830:18
825:17
815:16
810:15
805:14
800:13
795:12
790:11
785:10
263:^
215:^
175:.
165:10
139:.
27::
780:9
775:8
770:7
765:6
760:5
755:4
750:3
745:2
740:1
348:e
341:t
334:v
276:.
210:.
23:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.