Reference Re French Language Rights of Accused, (1987) 58 Sask.R. 161 (CA)

• Judge: Cameron, Wakeling and Gerwing, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (Saskatchewan)
• Case Date: July 27, 1987
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: (1987), 58 Sask.R. 161 (CA);1987 CanLII 204 (SK CA);44 DLR (4th) 16;[1987] 5 WWR 577;36 CCC (3d) 353;43 CRR 189;58 Sask R 161

Ref. Re French Language Rights (1987), 58 Sask.R. 161 (CA)

MLB headnote and full text

In The Matter Of the Constitutional Questions Act, R.S.S. 1978, Chapter C-19; and

In The Matter Of a reference pursuant thereto by the Lieutenant Governor-In-Council to the Court of Appeal for hearing and consideration of certain questions concerning the right of an accused to use French in criminal proceedings in the courts of Saskatchewan

(No. 8888)

Indexed As: Reference Re French Language Rights of Accused

Saskatchewan Court of Appeal

Cameron, Wakeling and Gerwing, JJ.A.

July 27, 1987.

Summary:

Pursuant to an Order in Council the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council of Saskatchewan referred to the Court of Appeal five constitutional questions pertaining to the use of the French language in the Province's Superior Courts of criminal jurisdiction.

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, Wakeling, J.A., dissenting in part, answered the questions accordingly.

See also R. v. Lefebvre, 74 A.R. 81.

Civil Rights - Topic 2702

Language - Use of language in court proceedings - Section 110 of the North-West Territories Act provided, inter alia, that either English or French may be used by any person in criminal proceedings before the courts - Section 16(2) of the Saskatchewan Act authorized the Province to abolish the Supreme Court of the North-West Territories - Pursuant to this section the Province enacted the Judicature Act and established the Supreme Court of Saskatchewan - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal stated that in establishing the new court, the government did not affect the right of a person to use the French language in criminal proceedings before the court - The court concluded that the portion of s. 110 of the North-West Territories Act allowing criminal proceedings in either English or French was continued in Saskatchewan by s. 16 of the Saskatchewan Act - See paragraphs 2 to 10.

Civil Rights - Topic 2702

Language - Use of language in court proceedings - Section 110 of the North-West Territories Act provided that either English or French may be "used" by any "person" in criminal proceedings before the courts - Section 11(3) of the Federal Official Languages Act "empowered the court" to order that an accused be "tried" in French - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal held that the two provisions are "markedly different" and that the later federal Act did not affect the prior provincial Act - The court held that s. 110 of the North-West Territories Act continued to apply to criminal proceedings in the Supreme Court of criminal jurisdiction in Saskatchewan - See paragraphs 11 to 22.

Civil Rights - Topic 2704

Language - General principles - Language rights v. rules of natural justice - Section 110 of the North-West Territories Act provided, inter alia, that either English or French may be used by any person in criminal proceedings before the court - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal stated that s. 110 bestows a limited language right which should not be confused with the broader common law or Charter rights to a fair hearing - The court stated that s. 110 does not guarantee that an accused will understand or be understood - The court held that the right to be heard and understood and to understand court proceedings was part of the right to a fair hearing - See paragraphs 23 to 30.

Civil Rights - Topic 2947

Language - Criminal proceedings - Right to be tried in either official language (Criminal Code, Part XIV.1) - Part XIV.1 of the Criminal Code entitled an accused to a trial in either official language - An argument was made that the purpose of the enactment was to advance the equality of status or use of Canada's two official languages, bringing it within the ambit of s. 16(3) of the Charter (the language provisions), thereby exempting it from s. 15 of the Charter (equality provisions) - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal held that in enlarging the language guarantees of the Charter, the Parliament or the legislators cannot disregard the other provisions of the Charter including s. 15 - See paragraphs 34 to 53.

Civil Rights - Topic 2947

Language - Criminal proceedings - Right to trial in either official language (Criminal Code, Part XIV.1) - [See first Civil Rights - Topic 5660.3 below].

Civil Rights - Topic 3113

Trials - Due process, fundamental justice and fair hearings - Due process - Right to understand proceedings - [See Civil Rights - Topic 2704 above].

Civil Rights - Topic 5511

Equality and protection of the law - Equal benefit of the law - [See first Civil Rights - Topic 5660.3 below].

Civil Rights - Topic 5660.3

Equality and protection of the law - Particular cases - Language rights - Part XIV.1 of the Criminal Code entitled an accused to a trial in either official language - The sections were not proclaimed in force in Saskatchewan when proclamation occurred in other provinces - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal stated that the nonproclamation of the sections infringed the rights of an accused in Saskatchewan whose language was French, contrary to s. 15(1) of the Charter - The court held that the provisions were not saved by s. 1 of the Charter as it applied individually to the Province of Saskatchewan because the limit was not a reasonable limit demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society - The court held however, that Part XIV.1 of the Code was not inconsistent with s. 15 of the Charter, when viewed as having a single national existence - See paragraphs 54 to 137.

Civil Rights - Topic 5660.3

Equality and protection of the law - Particular cases - Language rights - [See first Civil Rights - Topic 2947 above].

Civil Rights - Topic 8348

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Application - Exceptions - Reasonable limits prescribed by law - [See first Civil Rights - Topic 5660.3 above].

Civil Rights - Topic 8367

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - General - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal discussed the remedies available to a judge where an accused person is denied a Charter right under s. 15, because of nonproclamation of sections of a federal statute in a province - See paragraphs 138 to 147.

Civil Rights - Topic 8474

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Precedent - Bill of Rights cases - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal stated that in interpreting s. 15 of the Charter, jurisprudence under s. 1(b) of the Canadian Bill of Rights is of limited application - The court stated that "s. 15 of the Charter undoubtedly has a reach quite beyond s. 1(b) of the Canadian Bill of Rights" - The court stated that the Charter is structurally different from the Bill of Rights - See paragraphs 76 to 81.

Civil Rights - Topic 8486

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Particular subjects - Equality provisions - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal discussed the interpretation of s. 15 of the Charter - The court stated that the phrase equality before and under the law should not be dominated by the term "without discrimination" - The court concluded that s. 15 involves "two distinct plains of definition: that concerning the concepts of equality themselves, and that having to do with the term discrimination" - See paragraphs 65 to 74.

Civil Rights - Topic 8486

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Interpretation - Particular subjects - Equality provisions - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal stated that "the determination of whether an inequality in the law in the nature contemplated by s. 15(1) is justified or unjustified, having regard for the nature, object, and effect of, and perhaps the inspiration for, the act giving rise to it, falls to be made in the context of s. 1 rather than s. 15(1)" - See paragraph 85.

Constitutional Law - Topic 6477

Federal jurisdiction - Criminal law - Procedure in criminal matters - Language - The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal held that the language in which criminal proceedings are conducted fall under federal jurisdiction over the criminal law under s. 91(27) of the Constitution Act - See paragraphs 42 and 53.

Cases Noticed:

Mercure v. Saskatchewan, [1986] 2 W.W.R. 1; 44 Sask.R. 22 (C.A.); leave to appeal granted 65 N.R. 76, appld. [paras. 5 and 23].

R. v. Standard Soap Co. (1907), 12 C.C.C. 287, refd to. [para. 13].

Jones v. Attorney General of New Brunswick, [1975] 2 S.C.R. 182 (S.C.R.), consd. [paras. 15 and 153].

R. v. Paquette, [1985] 6 W.W.R. 594; 63 A.R. 258, consd. [para. 20].

Montreal (City of) v. MacDonald, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 460; 67 N.R. 1, appld. [para. 24].

Societe des Acadiens du Nouveau Brunswick Inc. et al. v. Minority Language School Bd. No. 50, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 549; 66 N.R. 173; 69 N.B.R.(2d) 271; 177 A.P.R. 271, appld. [paras. 24 and 164].

R. v. Pare (1986), 31 C.C.C.(3d) 260; 9 C.R.D. 700; 17 W.C.B. 304 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [paras. 36 and 165].

Ringuette v. Canada (Attorney General) and Newfoundland (Attorney General) (1987), 63 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 126; 194 A.P.R. 126 (Nfld. C.A.), consd. [paras. 36 and 168].

R. v. Pacquette, [1986] 3 W.W.R. 232 (Alta. Q.B.), consd. [paras. 36 and 162].

R. v. Tremblay (1985), 41 Sask.R. 49; 20 C.C.C.(3d) 454 (Q.B.), consd. [paras. 36, 122 to 126].

McDonnell v. Federation des Franco-Canadiens, [1986] 6 W.W.R. 704 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

R. v. Big M Drug Mart, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 295; 58 N.R. 81; 60 A.R. 161; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 321; [1985] 3 W.W.R. 481, consd. [paras. 46 and 177].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter et al., [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 11 D.L.R.(4th) 641; 14 C.C.C. (3d) 97; 41 C.R.(3d) 97; [1984] 6 W.W.R. 577; 9 C.R.R. 355; 33 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 27 B.L.R. 297, consd. [para. 60].

City of Fredericton v. The Queen (1880), 3 S.C.R. 505, refd to. [para. 63].

Attorney General of B.C. v. Smith, [1967] S.C.R. 702, refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. Burnshine, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 693; 2 N.R. 53, refd to. [para. 63].

Prata v. Minister of Manpower and Immigration, [1976] 1 S.C.R. 376; 3 N.R. 484, refd to. [para. 63].

R. v. MacKay, [1980] 2 S.C.R. 372; 33 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 63].

A.G. Canada v. Lavell, [1974] S.C.R. 1349, refd to. [para. 66].

R. v. Oakes, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 103; 65 N.R. 87; 14 O.A.C. 335; 50 C.R.(3d) 1; 24 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 26 D.L.R.(4th) 200, appld. [paras. 78 and 177].

R. v. Therens, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 613; 59 N.R. 122; 40 Sask.R. 122; 18 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 45 C.R.(3d) 97; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 655; 32 M.V.R. 153; [1985] 4 W.W.R. 286, consd. [para. 79].

Reference Re Section 94(2) Motor Vehicle Act (B.C.), [1985] 2 S.C.R. 486; 63 N.R. 266; 23 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 48 C.R.(3d) 289; 24 D.L.R.(4th) 536; 36 M.V.R. 240; [1986] 1 W.W.R. 481, consd. [para. 79].

R. v. Talbourdet, [1984] 3 W.W.R. 524; 32 Sask.R. 5, consd. [para. 79].

Re Certain Aspects of the Laws on the Use of Language in Education in Belgium (1968), 1 E.H.R.R. 252, refd to. [para. 83].

Andrews v. The Law Society of British Columbia (1986), 2 B.C.L.R.(2d) 305 (B.C.C.A.), not agreed with [para. 88].

R. v. Century 21 Ramos Realty Inc. (1987), 19 O.A.C. 25; 56 C.R.(3d) 150 (Ont. C.A.), not agreed with [paras. 88 and 172].

R. v. Killen (1986), 70 N.S.R.(2d) 278; 166 A.P.R. 278; 24 C.C.C.(3d) 40 (N.S.C.A.), not agreed with [para. 88].

R. v. McDonald (1985), 10 O.A.C. 321; 21 C.C.C.(3d) 330, consd. [para. 93].

R. v. R.L. (1986), 14 O.A.C. 318; 26 C.C.C.(3d) 417, consd. [para. 93].

Canard Estate et al. v. Attorney General of Canada and Rees, [1976] 1 S.C.R. 170; 4 N.R. 91; 52 D.L.R.(3d) 548, consd. [para. 95].

R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al., [1986] 2 S.C.R. 713; 71 N.R. 161; 19 O.A.C. 239; 55 C.R.(3d) 193; 30 C.C.C.(3d) 385 (S.C.R.), refd to. [para. 101].

R. v. Edwards Books and Art Limited - see R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al.

Edwards Books and Art Limited v. R. - see R. v. Videoflicks Ltd. et al.

Operation Dismantle Inc. et al. v. Canada et al., [1985] 1 S.C.R. 441; 59 N.R. 1; 18 D.L.R.(4th) 481, refd to. [para. 102].

R. v. Hamilton, Assein and McCullogh (1986), 17 O.A.C. 241; 54 C.R.(3d) 193 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 111].

R. v. Hamilton; R. v. Punch, [1986] 1 W.W.R. 592, refd to. [para. 137].

R. v. Mills, [1986] 1 S.C.R. 863; 67 N.R. 241; 16 O.A.C. 81; 52 C.R.(3d) 1; 26 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 29 D.L.R.(4th) 161, refd to. [para. 145].

Bell v. Director of Public Prosecutions of Jamaica, [1985] 2 All E.R. 585, refd to. [para. 145].

Connelly v. D.P.P., [1964] 2 All E.R. 401, refd to. [para. 145].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 1 [paras. 33, 57, 66, 75 to 88, 90, 102, 109, 111, 142, 143, 150, 176 to 187]; sect. 15 [paras. 33 to 138, 141, 150, 156, 163, 171 to 176]; sect. 15(1) [paras. 33 to 138]; sect. 16 [paras. 151, 167]; sect. 16(1) [paras. 150, 175]; sect. 16(2) [para. 51]; sect. 16(3) [paras. 34 to 52, 150 to 171]; sect. 24(1) [paras. 57, 98, 100, 138 to 146]; sect. 32(1)(a) [para. 102]; sect. 33 [para. 66]; sect. 52 [paras. 66, 138, 139].

Canadian Bill of Rights, sect. 1(b) [paras. 70, 76, 77, 79, 84, 109].

Constitution Act, 1867, sect. 91(27) [paras. 15, 42, 52, 104]; sect. 92(14) [para. 104]; sect. 133 [paras. 50, 153, 155].

Constitutional Questions Act, R.S.S. 1978, c. C-29, sect. 2 [para. 1].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. C-34, Part XIV.1 [paras. 31, 32, 39, 59, 96, 112, 122, 132, 134, 144, 145].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1927, c. 36, sect. 9 [paras. 12, 13, 16].

Criminal Law Amendment Act, S.C. 1977-78, c. 36, sect. 6 [paras. 31, 102, 105, 108, 134, 141]; sect. 6(1) [para. 31]; sect. 6(5), sect. 6(6) [paras. 31, 107].

North-West Territories Act, 54-55 Vict. c. 22, sect. 110 [paras. 2 to 30].

Official Languages Act, R.S.C. 1970, c. O-2, sect. 11(3), sect. 11(4) [paras. 18 to 20].

Saskatchewan Act, 4-5 Edward VII, c. 27, sect. 16(1) [para. 4]; sect. 16(2) [paras. 1, 7, 9, 15].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Bayefsky, Equal Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, pp. 3 to 24 [para. 69]; 77 to 79 [para. 87].

Hogg, Constitutional Law of Canada (2nd Ed.), pp. 807 [para. 160]; 880 [para. 88].

House of Commons Debates (1978), p. 5088 [para. 106].

Minutes of Procedure and Evidence of the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, 3rd session, 30th Parliament, p. 31.8 [para. 106].

Tarnopolsky, W.S. and G.A. Beaudoin, "The Language Rights" in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: Commentary (1982), pp. 395-423 [para. 69]; 459 [para. 158]; 460 [para. 159].

Tribe, American Constitutional Law, c. 16, [para. 82].

Counsel:

Robert G. Richards, for the Attorney General of Saskatchewan;

R.L. Barclay, Q.C., for the Attorney General of Canada;

Peter T. Costigan, for the Attorney General of Alberta;

Rodger LePage, for L'Association Culturelle Franco-Canadienne de la Saskatchewan;

Mary Moreau, for the Association Canadienne-Francaise de L'Alberta;

G. Rupert Baudais, for Alliance Quebec, Alliance Pour Les Communautes Linguistiques au Quebec.

These constitutional questions were heard before Cameron, Wakeling and Gerwing, JJ.A. of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal. The judgment of the Court of Appeal was delivered on July 27, 1987, when the following opinions were filed.

Cameron, J.A. (Gerwing, J.A., concurring) - See paragraphs 1 to 147;

Wakeling, J.A., dissenting in part - See paragraphs 148 to 188.