'It doesn't feel human': Six Quebecers file legal challenge against Bill 96
One year less a day after Quebec's Bill 96 came into force, a new legal challenge was filed Wednesday at the Montreal courthouse on behalf of six people.
They argue the law to strengthen the French language will make it more difficult to access necessary services in English, adding that they believe it places language rights before human rights.
One of the six named in the lawsuit is Elena Montecalvo. Her son, Giancarlo, has autism and sometimes gets violent, she said.
His psychiatrist recommended an in-patient program at the Rivieres-des-Prairies Hospital that analyzes how he reacts to different medicines. He was denied entry to the program because he attends an English school.
"For my entire family's safety, we needed him to be treated – and to be denied that because of a language issue feels beyond discriminatory. It doesn't feel human," she said.
"I want to be part of this lawsuit because I realize that if they were legally allowed to make this decision before this bill passed, I can only imagine how much worse things will get."
The suit was filed by a group called the Task Force on Linguistic Policy.
"Today, we are obliged to take the Quebec government to court to ensure our rights are respected," said Andrew Caddell, task force president.
"No legislation can abolish individual rights, which is what Bill 96 tries to do by invoking the notwithstanding clause," added lawyer Michael Bergman.
When asked about the court challenge, Eric Girard, the minister responsible for relations with the English-speaking community, reiterated the party line that Bill 96 exists to promote the French language.
"I've had many meetings with members of the English community, and we have been quite clear that Bill 96 does not impact access to services with respect to health care," he said.
The opposition Liberals would not say whether they support the lawsuit, though appeared unsurprised by the latest court challenge.
"By using the blanket notwithstanding clause on these bills in general, the government freely admitted it was bypassing certain rights that are enshrined in our charters," said Liberal MNA Andre Fortin.
The task force warns it will likely take several years before a final ruling is determined in this case.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Saskatchewan households will continue to receive carbon tax rebate: Trudeau
Households in Saskatchewan will continue to receive Canada Carbon Rebate payments, despite the province refusing to remit the federal carbon price on natural gas, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.
'It's just so hard to let it go': Umar Zameer still haunted by death of Toronto police officer
'We hoped for this day, but we were scared that it would not never ever come because it took so long.' That’s what Umar Zameer, the man recently acquitted in the death of a Toronto police officer, told CTV News Toronto in a sit-down interview on Tuesday.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.