Documents on the Controversy Surrounding the Language
of Commercial Signs in Quebec (Bill 178) December 1988
The
Legal Clauses at Issue A.
The Clauses of the Charter of the French Language:
S. 1 French is the
official language of Quebec. S.
58 Public signs and posters and public advertising shall be solely in the
official language. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the cases and under the circumstances
prescribed by regulation of the Office de la Langue Française, public signs and
posters and commercial advertising may be both in French and in another language
or solely in another language. S.
69 Subject to section 68, only the French name of a firm may be used in Quebec. S.
208 Any court of civil jurisdiction, on a motion by the Attorney General,
may order the removal or destruction at the expense of the defendant, within eight
days of the judgement, of any poster, sign, advertisement, bill-board, or illuminated
sign not in conformity with this act. B.
The Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms: S.
3 Every person is the possessor of the fundamental freedoms, including freedom
of conscience, freedom of religion, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression,
freedom of peaceful assembly, and freedom of association. S.
9.1 In excercising [sic] his freedoms and rights, a person shall retain a
proper regard for democratic values, public order and the general well-being of
the citizens of Quebec. In
this respect, the scope of the freedoms and rights, and limits to their exercise
may be fixed by law. S.
10 Every person has the right to full and equal recognition and excersise
of his human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion or preference
based on race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except
as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national
origin, social condition, a handicap, or the use of any means to palliate a handicap. Discrimination
exists where such a distinction, exclusion or preference has the effect
of nullifying or impairing such a right. C.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms: S.
1 The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights
and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by
law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society. S.
33 (1) Parliament of the legislature of a province may expressly declare in
an Act of Parliament or of the legislature, as the case may be, that the Act or
a provision thereof shall operate notwithstanding* a provision
included in section 2 or sections 7 to 15 of this Charter. (2)
An Act or a provision of an Act in respect of which a declaration under this section
is in effect shall have such operation as it would have but for the provision
of this Charter referred to in the declaration. (3)
A declaration made under subsection (1) shall cease to have effect five years
after it comes into force or on such earlier date as may be specified in the declaration. (4)
Parliament or a legislature of a province may re-enact a declaration made
under subsection (1). (5)
Subsection (3) applies in respect of a re-enactment made under subsection (4). *
[Note from C. Bélanger: hence the frequent use of the term notwithstanding clause
during the debates leading to Bill 178] ©
1999 Claude Bélanger, Marianopolis College | 
