Two Montreal suburbs filed a court challenge Wednesday to Quebec’s 2022 language reform, seeking to be exempted from several articles of the law commonly known as Bill 96.
Hampstead and Town of Mount Royal say the articles, which limit government communications in languages other than French, contradict elements of the law that allow certain municipalities and government agencies to use other languages.
The lawsuit also seeks to have the court declare unconstitutional a provision of the law that declares the French text of Quebec laws takes precedence over the English version if there is a discrepancy between the two.
It also argues that the Quebec government cannot unilaterally change the Canadian Constitution — which states that French and English can be used in Quebec’s legislature and courts — to make French the province’s only official language.
Both towns have bilingual status, allowing them to communicate with citizens in French and English, but they say provisions of the law call into question their ability to provide bilingual services.
In June, 23 other municipalities sued to overturn elements of the law, which proactively invoked the notwithstanding clause to shield it from court challenges.
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English CEGEPs bracing for impact as parts of Quebec language law come into effect -
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Car protest held to denounce Quebec’s Bill-96 French language law -
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Yet another group of Anglo-Quebecers gears up to challenge Bill 96 -
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Bill 96: Quebec’s new language law prompts stricter communication, less accessible services -
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Lawyers for English-language advocates seeking to have sections of Quebec’s Bill 96 overturned -
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EMSB hosts community leaders to speak about Bill 96 impact -
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Some Quebec municipalities gearing up to fight for bilingual status after notice from OQLF -
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Quebec aims to welcome Francophone immigrants only -
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Quebec notaries warn testaments could get lost in translation with Bill 96 -
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Quebec constitutional lawyer calls for suspension of Bill 96
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