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Section 16 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

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1631: 1591: 1655: 1603: 1643: 328: 492:, are limited, this does not mean that section 16 is limited or cannot have an effect on the growth of language rights. As far as New Brunswick is concerned, she added, bilingualism was considered "crucial" to "social and cultural development," and thus there should be "heightened public expectations" that this could be supported by the 483:
went on to speculate that section 16 is meant to represent an opportunity for expansion of language rights. Thus, courts must always ask themselves how their rulings fit in with the current state of affairs regarding official languages policy, and how their rulings are consistent with it. While the
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made reference to the "academic debate about the precise significance of s. 16," and the question of "Whether s. 16 is visionary, declaratory or substantive in nature." He did, however, decide that "at the very least it provides a strong indicator of the purpose of the language guarantees in the
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wrote that the political nature of section 16, as opposed to the generous nature of the rights in the rest of the Charter, indicate that courts should be cautious in interpreting section 16 in new ways. Elected governments would play a larger role in determining its scope. Justice
392:(2) English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick. 405: 388:
16. (1) English and French are the official languages of Canada and have the equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada.
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besides New Brunswick; as the only province that currently considers itself to be officially bilingual, New Brunswick is the only province to have its bilingualism guaranteed by section 16. When
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Charter ... the federal government of Canada and the government of New Brunswick have demonstrated their commitment to official bilingualism within their respective jurisdictions."
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Justice Wilson added that subsection 16(3) demonstrates that while language rights need to be improved, they should not be eroded once they have been established.
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Subsection 16(3) provides that a Parliament or provincial government may strive for progress in official bilingualism. This reflects a 1975 court decision,
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has argued that it is the elected governments and "political compromise", rather than the courts, that will mostly advance language rights.
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cases regarding the use of the English and French languages have not been fought on the grounds of section 16. For example, Quebec's
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had provided for this at the federal level since 1969, and New Brunswick had similar legislation. Those laws, however, were merely
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communities (i.e. those who speak English or French in a region where that language is the minority language) achieve equality.
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legislature, and in some courts, section 16 goes further by allowing bilingualism in the federal and New Brunswick
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2003 Student Ed. Scarborough, Ontario: Thomson Canada Limited, 2003.
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It has not been easy to understand how section 16 can be applied. In
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Under the heading "Official Languages of Canada", the section reads:
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is the first of several sections of the Constitution dealing with
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This section sets out general principles that are expanded in
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Section Sixteen of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
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rights guaranteed under another language provision of the
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Amendments and other constitutional documents 1867–1982
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Part II – Rights of the Aboriginal peoples of Canada
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merely allowed for both languages to be used in the
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Attorney General of New Brunswick 315: 301: 29: 1676:Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 1626: 1044:Kitchen Accord/Night of the Long Knives 937:Fines and penalties for provincial laws 606: 353:Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms 284: 268: 232: 220: 208: 168: 156: 116: 104: 84: 72: 60: 32: 652:Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches 646: 644: 642: 1374:Individual ministerial responsibility 7: 942:Matters of a local or private nature 1571:Constitution Act (British Columbia) 1551:Provincial constitutions of Canada 1477:Interpretation of the Constitution 209:Minority Language Education Rights 25: 1342:Cabinet collective responsibility 884:Peace, order, and good government 331:A bilingual (English and French) 1653: 1641: 1629: 1602: 1601: 1589: 703:List of constitutional documents 61:Guarantee of Rights and Freedoms 590:Official bilingualism in Canada 27:Official bilingualism in Canada 811:Charlottetown Conference, 1864 708:Amendments to the Constitution 1: 1458:Other unsuccessful amendments 615:Constitutional Law of Canada. 418:; whereas section 133 of the 1523:Interjurisdictional immunity 1347:Disallowance and reservation 999:Statute of Westminster, 1931 169:Official Languages of Canada 899:Matters excepted from s. 92 550:Re Manitoba Language Rights 453:Subsections 16(1) and 16(2) 1707: 1488:Indigenous self-government 978:British North America Acts 764:Constitutional Act of 1791 754:Royal Proclamation of 1763 749:Constitution of New France 474:In the same case, Justice 1686:Language policy in Canada 1583: 1556: 1545: 1483: 1470: 1433: 1420: 1396:Parliamentary sovereignty 1337:At His Majesty's pleasure 1332: 1319: 1029: 1016: 973: 962: 932:Administration of justice 927:Property and civil rights 806: 793: 734: 721: 698: 528:, which is guaranteed by 833:Fathers of Confederation 713:Quasi-constitutional law 1561:Constitution of Alberta 1503:Equal authenticity rule 1391:Parliamentary privilege 828:London Conference, 1866 816:Quebec Conference, 1864 448:Judicial interpretation 1681:Bilingualism in Canada 1566:Constitution of Quebec 1518:Implied Bill of Rights 1352:Responsible government 1054:Constitution Act, 1982 1034:Fulton–Favreau formula 1004:Newfoundland Act, 1949 994:Saskatchewan Act, 1905 922:Works and undertakings 843:Constitution Act, 1867 692:Constitution of Canada 437:Official Languages Act 420:Constitution Act, 1867 415:Constitution Act, 1867 397: 344: 47:Constitution Act, 1982 37:of Rights and Freedoms 1427:Constitutional debate 739:Iroquois constitution 526:freedom of expression 330: 1691:Language legislation 1448:Charlottetown Accord 744:Mi'kmaq constitution 575:Société des Acadiens 424:Parliament of Canada 73:Fundamental Freedoms 1453:Calgary Declaration 851:Canadian federalism 1533:Dialogue principle 1493:Pith and substance 1362:King-in-Parliament 1287:Part VII – General 984:Manitoba Act, 1870 889:Trade and commerce 821:Quebec Resolutions 759:Quebec Act of 1774 362:official languages 345: 1617: 1616: 1596:Canada portal 1579: 1578: 1541: 1540: 1466: 1465: 1443:Meech Lake Accord 1416: 1415: 1406:Royal prerogative 1315: 1314: 1311: 1310: 1307: 1306: 1012: 1011: 989:Alberta Act, 1905 958: 957: 954: 953: 950: 949: 789: 788: 781:Act of Union 1840 511:minority language 325: 324: 85:Democratic Rights 16:(Redirected from 1698: 1658: 1657: 1646: 1645: 1634: 1633: 1632: 1625: 1605: 1604: 1594: 1593: 1592: 1547: 1528:Purposive theory 1472: 1422: 1357:Fusion of powers 1321: 1059: 1050: 1039:Victoria Charter 1018: 964: 872: 839: 795: 723: 685: 678: 671: 662: 655: 648: 637: 629: 618: 613:Hogg, Peter W. 611: 563:Subsection 16(3) 317: 310: 303: 35:Canadian Charter 30: 21: 1706: 1705: 1701: 1700: 1699: 1697: 1696: 1695: 1666: 1665: 1664: 1652: 1640: 1630: 1628: 1620: 1618: 1613: 1590: 1588: 1575: 1552: 1537: 1479: 1462: 1438:Triple-E Senate 1429: 1412: 1384:Question Period 1328: 1303: 1282: 1266: 1250: 1048: 1025: 1008: 969: 946: 909: 903: 876: 870: 837: 802: 785: 730: 717: 694: 689: 659: 658: 649: 640: 630: 621: 612: 608: 603: 586: 565: 455: 450: 402: 382: 337:Parliament Hill 321: 157:Equality Rights 105:Mobility Rights 36: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1704: 1702: 1694: 1693: 1688: 1683: 1678: 1668: 1667: 1663: 1662: 1650: 1638: 1615: 1614: 1612: 1611: 1599: 1584: 1581: 1580: 1577: 1576: 1574: 1573: 1568: 1563: 1557: 1554: 1553: 1550: 1543: 1542: 1539: 1538: 1536: 1535: 1530: 1525: 1520: 1515: 1510: 1505: 1500: 1495: 1490: 1484: 1481: 1480: 1475: 1468: 1467: 1464: 1463: 1461: 1460: 1455: 1450: 1445: 1440: 1434: 1431: 1430: 1425: 1418: 1417: 1414: 1413: 1411: 1410: 1409: 1408: 1398: 1393: 1388: 1387: 1386: 1379:Interpellation 1376: 1371: 1369:Implied repeal 1366: 1365: 1364: 1354: 1349: 1344: 1339: 1333: 1330: 1329: 1324: 1317: 1316: 1313: 1312: 1309: 1308: 1305: 1304: 1302: 1301: 1296: 1290: 1288: 1284: 1283: 1281: 1280: 1274: 1272: 1268: 1267: 1265: 1264: 1258: 1256: 1252: 1251: 1249: 1248: 1243: 1238: 1233: 1228: 1223: 1218: 1213: 1208: 1203: 1198: 1193: 1188: 1183: 1178: 1173: 1168: 1163: 1158: 1153: 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63: 62: 58: 57: 51: 50: 41: 40: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1703: 1692: 1689: 1687: 1684: 1682: 1679: 1677: 1674: 1673: 1671: 1661: 1656: 1651: 1649: 1644: 1639: 1637: 1627: 1623: 1610: 1609: 1600: 1598: 1597: 1586: 1585: 1582: 1572: 1569: 1567: 1564: 1562: 1559: 1558: 1555: 1548: 1544: 1534: 1531: 1529: 1526: 1524: 1521: 1519: 1516: 1514: 1511: 1509: 1506: 1504: 1501: 1499: 1498:Double aspect 1496: 1494: 1491: 1489: 1486: 1485: 1482: 1478: 1473: 1469: 1459: 1456: 1454: 1451: 1449: 1446: 1444: 1441: 1439: 1436: 1435: 1432: 1428: 1423: 1419: 1407: 1404: 1403: 1402: 1401:Reserve power 1399: 1397: 1394: 1392: 1389: 1385: 1382: 1381: 1380: 1377: 1375: 1372: 1370: 1367: 1363: 1360: 1359: 1358: 1355: 1353: 1350: 1348: 1345: 1343: 1340: 1338: 1335: 1334: 1331: 1327: 1322: 1318: 1300: 1297: 1295: 1292: 1291: 1289: 1285: 1279: 1276: 1275: 1273: 1269: 1263: 1260: 1259: 1257: 1253: 1247: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1237: 1234: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1212: 1209: 1207: 1204: 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672: 667: 666: 663: 653: 647: 645: 643: 639: 635: 634: 628: 626: 624: 620: 616: 610: 607: 600: 596: 593: 591: 588: 587: 583: 581: 578: 576: 572: 571: 562: 560: 558: 557: 552: 551: 546: 542: 537: 535: 531: 527: 523: 519: 514: 512: 508: 504: 503: 502:R. v. Beaulac 497: 495: 491: 487: 482: 481:Bertha Wilson 477: 472: 469: 468:Brian Dickson 466: 465:Chief Justice 462: 461: 452: 447: 445: 443: 439: 438: 433: 432:bureaucracies 429: 425: 421: 417: 416: 411: 407: 406:sections 16.1 399: 396: 393: 390: 385: 379: 377: 375: 374:New Brunswick 371: 367: 363: 359: 355: 354: 349: 342: 338: 334: 329: 318: 313: 311: 306: 304: 299: 298: 296: 295: 292: 289: 288: 283: 280: 276: 273: 272: 267: 264: 260: 256: 252: 248: 244: 240: 237: 236: 231: 228: 225: 224: 219: 216: 213: 212: 207: 204: 200: 196: 192: 188: 184: 180: 176: 173: 172: 167: 164: 161: 160: 155: 152: 148: 144: 140: 136: 132: 128: 124: 121: 120: 115: 112: 109: 108: 103: 100: 96: 92: 89: 88: 83: 80: 77: 76: 71: 68: 65: 64: 59: 56: 53: 52: 49: 48: 43: 42: 39: 38: 31: 19: 1606: 1587: 1150: 894:Criminal law 875:Powers under 651: 650:Dyck, Rand. 631: 614: 609: 579: 574: 568: 566: 556:Manitoba Act 554: 548: 538: 533: 517: 515: 500: 498: 493: 485: 473: 458: 456: 435: 419: 413: 403: 394: 391: 387: 383: 351: 347: 346: 174: 117:Legal Rights 45: 44:Part of the 34: 1513:Living tree 1508:Paramountcy 1326:Conventions 980:, 1867–1982 866:Section 125 861:Section 121 426:and in the 269:Application 221:Enforcement 1670:Categories 1023:Patriation 910:Section 92 877:Section 91 601:References 490:section 20 476:Jean Beetz 348:Section 16 917:Licensing 541:provinces 530:section 2 507:purposive 333:stop sign 1648:Language 1608:Category 1071:Preamble 856:Preamble 584:See also 545:Manitoba 522:Bill 101 463:(1986), 442:statutes 400:Function 285:Citation 55:Preamble 1622:Portals 636:(1986). 534:Charter 532:of the 518:Charter 494:Charter 486:Charter 366:English 360:'s two 350:of the 233:General 1636:Canada 777:(1839) 771:(1838) 428:Quebec 370:French 358:Canada 341:Ottawa 516:Many 1156:16.1 380:Text 368:and 179:16.1 1660:Law 499:In 408:to 339:in 335:on 1672:: 1299:59 1294:52 1278:36 1262:35 1246:34 1241:33 1236:32 1231:31 1226:30 1221:29 1216:28 1211:27 1206:26 1201:25 1196:24 1191:23 1186:22 1181:21 1176:20 1171:19 1166:18 1161:17 1151:16 1146:15 1141:14 1136:13 1131:12 1126:11 1121:10 641:^ 622:^ 559:. 536:. 496:. 488:, 410:22 376:. 364:, 291:34 279:33 277:, 275:32 263:31 261:, 259:30 257:, 255:29 253:, 251:28 249:, 247:27 245:, 243:26 241:, 239:25 227:24 215:23 203:22 201:, 199:21 197:, 195:20 193:, 191:19 189:, 187:18 185:, 183:17 181:, 177:, 175:16 163:15 151:14 149:, 147:13 145:, 143:12 141:, 139:11 137:, 135:10 133:, 129:, 125:, 97:, 93:, 1624:: 1116:9 1111:8 1106:7 1101:6 1096:5 1091:4 1086:3 1081:2 1076:1 684:e 677:t 670:v 316:e 309:t 302:v 131:9 127:8 123:7 111:6 99:5 95:4 91:3 79:2 67:1 20:)

Index

Section Sixteen of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Canadian Charter
of Rights and Freedoms

Constitution Act, 1982
Preamble
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
16.1
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

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