Supporting the Vitality
of Canada's Minority
Language Communities.

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The International Observatory on Language Rights

The International Observatory on Language Rights aims, on the one hand, to promote the vitality of minority language communities in Canada by urging these communities to take part in the development of their rights and, on the other hand, to acquaint other countries with the Canadian experience by sharing with them how Canada has dealt with its official languages problems. Conversely, the Observatory hopes to help Canadians gain better insight into the linguistic situation in other countries, thereby providing an opportunity to learn from their experience, and offering different problem-solving avenues.
« Air Canada n’a pas fourni des services en français sur certains vols internationaux comme elle devait le faire aux termes de la Loi sur les langues officielles, L.R.C. 1985, ch. 31 (4e suppl.) (la « LLO »). Deux passagers, les appelants Michel et Lynda Thibodeau, ont réclamé devant la Cour fédérale des dommages-intérêts ainsi que des ordonnances dites « structurelles » ou « institutionnelles » obligeant Air Canada à prendre des mesures en vue d’assurer pour l’avenir le respect de la LLO. Le transporteur aérien a contesté les demandes de dommages-intérêts en invoquant la limite de responsabilité pour les dommages prescrite par la Convention pour l’unification de certaines règles relatives au transport aérien international, 2242 R.T.N.U. 350 (la « Convention de Montréal »), incorporée au droit fédéral canadien par l’effet de la Loi sur le transport aérien, L.R.C. 1985, ch. C-26, une loi fédérale. » “Air Canada failed to provide services in French on some international flights as it was obliged to do under the Official Languages Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.) (the “OLA”). Two passengers, the appellants Michel and Lynda Thibodeau, applied to the Federal Court for damages and for orders, referred to as “structural” or “institutional” orders, requiring Air Canada to take steps in order to ensure future compliance with the OLA. The airline defended against the claims for damages by relying on the limitation on damages liability set out in the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, 2242 U.N.T.S. 350 (the “Montreal Convention”), which is part of Canadian federal law by virtue of the Carriage by Air Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-26, a federal statute.”

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Each year, the Observatory participates in or organizes numerous conferences. Find out more about these events and what is involved!
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