Language Education Language Education Rights Rights FOCUS QUESTIONS FOCUS QUESTIONS How does the Canadian Charter of Rights How does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms meet the needs of and Freedoms meet the needs of Francophones in minority settings? Francophones in minority settings? Should government support and promote Should government support and promote the rights of official language the rights of official language minorities? minorities? How does the Charter meet the needs of How does the Charter meet the needs of
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Language Education Language Education RightsRights
FOCUS QUESTIONSFOCUS QUESTIONSHow does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms How does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
meet the needs of Francophones in minority settings?meet the needs of Francophones in minority settings?
Should government support and promote the rights of Should government support and promote the rights of
official language minorities?official language minorities?
How does the Charter meet the needs of Francophone's in How does the Charter meet the needs of Francophone's in
Quebec?Quebec?
““Minority-language education guarantee has Minority-language education guarantee has two purposes: first, education in ones two purposes: first, education in ones
language provides an important way to language provides an important way to preserve and promote the minority group’s preserve and promote the minority group’s
language and culture…there is also a strong language and culture…there is also a strong remedial component-designed to protect the remedial component-designed to protect the
French and English minorities from French and English minorities from assimilation and to give recognition and assimilation and to give recognition and
encouragement to the two official language encouragement to the two official language groups in Canada” groups in Canada”
Chief Justice DicksonChief Justice Dickson
Collective RightsCollective Rights
Rights justified by the interests of a Rights justified by the interests of a minority minority groupgroup..
Confirm Confirm language rights, aboriginal rightslanguage rights, aboriginal rights and and the the multicultural charactermulticultural character of Canada. of Canada.
It is a Collective Right for parents in a French It is a Collective Right for parents in a French speaking community to enroll their children in speaking community to enroll their children in a French-Language Program (so long as the a French-Language Program (so long as the numbers warrant).numbers warrant).
It is Canada’s volatile history that has created It is Canada’s volatile history that has created a necessary step to protect minority rights in a necessary step to protect minority rights in Canada.Canada.
This has allowed Canada to retain its identity This has allowed Canada to retain its identity as a fair and tolerant democracy.as a fair and tolerant democracy.
HistoryHistory Minority Rights have had a long and difficult history in Minority Rights have had a long and difficult history in
Canada.Canada. 1890 Manitoba Schools Act – eliminated funding for French-1890 Manitoba Schools Act – eliminated funding for French-
language schools (which were guaranteed in 1870 when language schools (which were guaranteed in 1870 when Manitoba entered confederation)Manitoba entered confederation)
1896 – PM Laurier reached a compromise with Premier 1896 – PM Laurier reached a compromise with Premier Greenway in Manitoba.Greenway in Manitoba.
1912 Regulation 17 – In Ontario French as a language of 1912 Regulation 17 – In Ontario French as a language of instruction beyond Grade 1 was prohibited and the teaching of instruction beyond Grade 1 was prohibited and the teaching of French after Grade 4 was banned.French after Grade 4 was banned.
Bills 66, 22 & 101 – more recently have limited the use of Bills 66, 22 & 101 – more recently have limited the use of English within Quebec (action taken by separatist English within Quebec (action taken by separatist government).government).
Official Language MinoritiesOfficial Language Minorities
Who Are They?Who Are They?
The official minority language groups in The official minority language groups in Canada include French, English and Inuktitut Canada include French, English and Inuktitut speaking Canadians.speaking Canadians.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsFreedoms
Language rights in the Charter are included Language rights in the Charter are included into 2 main sections (16-23) of the Charter:into 2 main sections (16-23) of the Charter:
1. Official Languages of 1. Official Languages of CanadaCanada
2. Minority Language 2. Minority Language Education Education RightsRights
Sections 16 & 17Sections 16 & 17
Section 16Section 16 - English and French are the official - English and French are the official language of Canada and have equality of status language of Canada and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada.government of Canada.
Section 17Section 17 – Everyone has the right to use – Everyone has the right to use English or French in any debates and other English or French in any debates and other proceeding of Parliament.proceeding of Parliament.
Sections 18 & 19Sections 18 & 19
Section 18 –Section 18 – The statues, records and journals of The statues, records and journals of Parliament shall be printed in published in Parliament shall be printed in published in English and French and both language English and French and both language versions are equally authoritative.versions are equally authoritative.
Section 19Section 19 – Either English or French may be – Either English or French may be used by any person in, or in any pleading in or used by any person in, or in any pleading in or process issuing from, any court established by process issuing from, any court established by Parliament.Parliament.
Section 20Section 20 Any member of the public in Canada has the right to Any member of the public in Canada has the right to
communicate with , and to receive available services from, communicate with , and to receive available services from, any head or central office of an institution of the Parliament or any head or central office of an institution of the Parliament or government of Canada in English or French and has the same government of Canada in English or French and has the same right with respect to any other office of any such institution right with respect to any other office of any such institution where:where:
a) there is a significant demand for a) there is a significant demand for communication with and services from that office in such communication with and services from that office in such language; orlanguage; or
b) due to the nature of the office, it is reasonable that b) due to the nature of the office, it is reasonable that communications with and services from that office be communications with and services from that office be available in both English and French.available in both English and French.
Section 23Section 23
Ensures minority educational rights to French-Ensures minority educational rights to French-speaking Canadians residing outside of speaking Canadians residing outside of Quebec and English-speaking citizens within Quebec and English-speaking citizens within Quebec. Quebec.
““The number of Children must be sufficient to The number of Children must be sufficient to warrant” public funding to support minority warrant” public funding to support minority education.education.
Situation in QuebecSituation in Quebec
1974 - the province adopted Bill 22 making 1974 - the province adopted Bill 22 making French the only official language of the French the only official language of the Province.Province.
1981 – Parti Quebecois adopted Bill 101 1981 – Parti Quebecois adopted Bill 101 which offers less recognition to English than which offers less recognition to English than bill 22.bill 22.
1982 – Section 23 Rights, has placed limits on 1982 – Section 23 Rights, has placed limits on the Parti Quebecois and recognizes the rights the Parti Quebecois and recognizes the rights of the English-Speaking Minorities in Quebec.of the English-Speaking Minorities in Quebec.
Were you listening?Were you listening?
On a blank sheet of lined paper please On a blank sheet of lined paper please answer the following questions.answer the following questions.
True or False:True or False:1.1. Every Canadian citizen has the right to have Every Canadian citizen has the right to have
their child educated in the language of their their child educated in the language of their choice.choice.
2.2. English is Canada’s official language and is English is Canada’s official language and is the only language used in institutions of the the only language used in institutions of the Parliament and Government of Canada.Parliament and Government of Canada.
Were you listening?Were you listening?
True and False Continued:True and False Continued:3. The Manitoba Schools Act of 1890 eliminated 3. The Manitoba Schools Act of 1890 eliminated
funding for English-language schools within funding for English-language schools within the province of Manitoba.the province of Manitoba.
4. Collective Rights include minority groups 4. Collective Rights include minority groups across the country.across the country.
Short Answer:Short Answer:5. What 2 sections of the Charter are Minority 5. What 2 sections of the Charter are Minority
