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.

AB v Territoires du Nord-Ouest (Éducation, Culture et Formation), 2019 NWTSC 25

[16]         L’article 23 de la Charte accorde aux parents appartenant à la minorité linguistique de leur province ou territoire le droit à l’enseignement dispensé dans leur langue pour leurs enfants.  [16]         S. 23 of the Charter grants parents belonging to the linguistic minority population of their province or territory the right to have their children educated in their language.
[17]         Cette garantie constitutionnelle « vise à maintenir les deux langues officielles du Canada ainsi que les cultures qu’elles représentent et à favoriser l’épanouissement de chacune de ces langues » : Mahe c. Alberta, 1990 CanLII 133 (CSC), [1990] 1 R.C.S. 342, à la p. 362. L’article 23 comporte un aspect réparateur et ne doit pas être interprété de manière restrictive.  [17] This constitutional guarantee “is to preserve and promote the two official languages of Canada, and their respective cultures, by ensuring that each language flourishes” (Mahe v. Alberta, [1990] 1 S.C.R. 342, at p. 362). S. 23 has a remedial aspect and should not be given a narrow construction.

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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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