Official Language Act (1974)

Quebec

Replaced in 1977 by the Charter of the French language

With the tabling of the Gendron report (15,000 typed pages) in 1972, the Quebec government had analyses and recommendations at its disposal to satisfy the francophone majority and silence separatist elements without alienating the anglophone minority. The government therefore took into account various of the Gendron commission's recommendations on the use of French in the public service, the workplace, and the economy. This law sought to identify areas where it was necessary for the law to intervene, notably on the subject of business, trade, and access to English schools. The Quebec National Assembly adopted the Official Language Act (Bill 22) in July 1974. It made French the official language in Quebec, while granting anglophones the rights they had historically enjoyed. Bill 22 sought to integrate allophones into francophone culture by teaching them French. The Official Language Act was the first step by a Quebec government toward a broad-based approach to language.

The law is intimidating with its 123 sections. Section 1 proclaimed that "French is the official language of Quebec." Sections 6 to 17 addressed the "language of public administration," which was French in principle, but with allowances for the use of English. Sections 18 to 23 were devoted to the "language of professions and publicly held businesses," which had to use the official language in all public documents, but could also produce an English version. Under sections 24 to 29, French was the working language and businesses had to adopt and apply francization programs if they wished to obtain a certificate entitling them to receive government subsidies or contracts. Sections 30 to 39 involved the "language of business," which referred to company names, contracts, product labelling, restaurant menus, billboards, and public signage. However, an English version could also accompany the French version. Education was addressed in sections 40 to 44. French was the normal language of learning institutions, but provisions existed for aboriginals (Amerindians and Inuit) and children who would be taught in English. The education minister could also require children who wished to be taught in English to take aptitude tests (Section 43). Other sections concerned language research (sections 49 to 53), Régie de la langue française (sections 54 to 77), and investigative commissioners (sections 78 to 99). Other sections ("Final Provisions") were aimed at bringing several other laws in line with the Official Language Act. However, this law was repealed in 1977 with the adoption of the Charter of the French language (Bill 101).

Sections 1 to 99.

Official language Act, 1974

(Bill 22)

1974 L.Q. CHAPTER 6 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ACT

[Assented to 31st July 1974].

WHEREAS the French language is a national heritage which the body politic is in duty bound to preserve, and it is incumbent upon the government of the province of Québec to employ every means in its power to ensure the preeminence of that language and to promote its vigour and quality;

Whereas the French language must be the ordinary language of communication in the public administration;

Whereas the public utilities and the professional bodies must use it in communicating with the public and with the public administration;

Whereas the members of the personnel of business firms must, in their work, be able to communicate in French among themselves and with their superior officers;

Whereas the French language must be in use at every level of business activity, especially in corporate management and in firm names, on public signs, in contracts pre-determined by one party and in consumer contracts;

Whereas it is relevant to determine the status of the French language in instruction;

Therefore, Her Majesty, with the advice and consent of the National Assembly of Québec, enacts as follows:

TITLE I
THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF QUÉBEC

Section 1

French is the official language of the province of Québec.

TITLE II
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 2

Where any discrepancy cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the ordinary rules of interpretation, the French text of the statutes of Québec prevails over the English text.

Section 3

In this act,

(a) "Minister" means the Minister designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council;

(b) "Régie" means the Régie de la langue française;

(c) "regulation" means any regulation made in virtue of this act by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Section 4

The various services of the public administration, the public utilities and the professional corporations contemplated by this act are listed in the Schedule.

TITLE III
STATUS OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

Section 5

This title governs the juridical effects of section 1.

CHAPTER I
THE LANGUAGE OF THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Section 6

Official texts and documents emanating from the public administration must be drawn up in French

Section 7

The following are deemed official:

(a) texts and documents emanating from the public administration and declared authentic by law because of their public nature, particularly the writings contemplated in article 1207 of the Civil Code;

(b) authorizations, notices and other documents of the same kind emanating from the public administration.

Section 8

Official texts and documents may be accompanied with an English version; in such a case, only the French version is authentic, subject to the exceptions provided in this act.

Section 9

If at least ten per cent of the persons administered by a municipal or school body are English-speaking and it has been its practice to draw up its official texts and documents in English, it must draw them up in both French and English.

Title IV specifies the manner in which the municipal and school bodies contemplated above are determined.

Where an amalgamation or union reduces the percentage contemplated in the first paragraph to less than ten per cent, this section continues to govern the body resulting from the amalgamation or union, if the deed establishing it so provides, for the period determined by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Section 10

The public administration must use the official language to communicate with the other governments of Canada and, within the province of Québec, with moral persons.

Every person may address the public administration in French or in English, as he may choose.

Section 11

Government agencies shall be designated by their French names alone.

Section 12

The official language is the, language of internal communication in the public administration.

Section 13

French and English are the languages of internal communication in municipal and school bodies in which the majority of the persons administered are English-speaking.

Such bodies shall communicate- in French or in English with other governments and with moral persons.

Title IV specifies the manner in which the municipal and school bodies contemplated above are determined.

Section 14

No one shall be appointed, transferred or promoted to an administrative office in the public administration unless his knowledge of the official language is appropriate to the employment sought.

Such knowledge must be proved by application of the standards established by the regulations made to that effect by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

The offices mentioned above shall be determined by the regulations contemplated in the second paragraph; those regulations may, however, exclude from the application of this section offices which do not entail direct contact with the public.

This section does not apply to bodies contemplated in section 13.

Section 15

Remarks addressed to the chair at formal discussions held within the public administration may be made in the French language or in the English language, at the option of the persons addressing the remarks.

Section 16

The Minister of Justice must see to it that judgments pronounced by the courts in English are translated into the official language.

Section 17

Contracts formed in the province of Québec by the public administration, and the related sub-contracts, must be drawn up in the official language; they may also be drawn up in both French and English, or, when the public administration contracts with a foreign party, in both French and the language of the interested country.

CHAPTER II
THE LANGUAGE OF PUBLIC UTILITIES AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES

Section 18

Public utilities and professional corporations must see to it that their services are offered to the public in the official language.

Section 19

Public utilities and professional corporations must use the official language: when addressing the public administration.

Section 20

Notices, communications, forms and printed matter issued by public utilities and professional corporations and intended for the public must be in the official language; this section also applies to passenger tickets and bills of lading.

The texts and documents mentioned above may nevertheless be accompanied with an English version.

Section 21

No professional corporation shall issue a permit to a person who does not have a working-knowledge of the French language determined in accordance with the standards established for that purpose by regulation of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Sections 22

A professional corporation may however issue a temporary permit valid for one year to a person who does not have the working-knowledge of the French language required in accordance with section 21. It shall not renew such a permit except with the authorization of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, when the public interest requires it.

Section 23

A professional corporation may issue, to a Canadian citizen who is a member of a similar corporation of another province and who does not have the working-knowledge of the French language required in accordance with section 21, a restrictive permit which authorizes its holder to practise his profession for the exclusive account of one employer in a function which does not lead him to deal directly with the public.

CHAPTER III
THE LANGUAGE OF THE LABOUR FIELD

Section 24

Employers must draw up in French the notices, communications and directions addressed to their personnel.

The texts and, documents mentioned above may however be accompanied with an English version when the personnel are partly English speaking.

Section 25

French is the language of labour relations, to the extent and in accordance with the terms and conditions provided in the Labour Code.

Section 26

The Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall, by regulation, provide for the issue of certificates to business firms attesting that they have adopted and are applying a francization program in accordance with sections 29 and 39 or that the status of the French language within their firms is already that envisaged by such programs.

Such regulations shall establish classes of business firms on the basis of their kinds of activities, the size of their personnel, the breadth of the programs to be adopted and other relevant particulars; they shall also determine, for each class so established, the date on which the certificates mentioned above become exigible for the application of section 28.

Section 27

The Régie may request any business firm which does not have the certificate contemplated in section 26 to take up the elaboration and implementation of a francization program.

The Régie must each year make a report to the Minister of the requests it has so made and of the steps taken by the business firms pursuant to such requests.

Section 28

In addition to the requirements of any other act, business firms must have the certificates contemplated in section 26 in order to be entitled to receive the premiums, subsidies, concessions or benefits from the public administration determined by regulation, or to make with the government the contracts of purchase, service, lease or public works also determined by regulation, from the date fixed in accordance with that section.

Such regulations may provide for the issue of provisional certificates in lieu of the certificates provided for in the first paragraph to business firms which plan to adopt the francization program contemplated above if they show that they have made the required provisions to that effect.

Section 29

The francization programs which must be adopted and applied by business firms wishing to obtain the certificates mentioned above, must, while taking account of the situation and structure of each firm, of its head office and of its subsidiaries and branches, relate especially to:

(a) the knowledge that the manage ment and the personel must have of the official language;

(b) the francophone presence in management;

(c) the language in which the manuals catalogues, written instructions and other documents distributed to the personne must be drawn up;

(d) the provisions that the business firms must make for communication in French by the members of their personnel in their work, among themselves and with their superior officers;

(e) the terminology employed.

The programs mentioned above mus also pursue the objectives contemplate in section 39.

CHAPTER IV
THE LANGUAGE OF BUSINESS

Section 30

Juridical personality shall not be conferred unless the adopted firm name is in the French language. Firm names may nevertheless be accompanied with an English version.

Changes of firm names are subject the sames rules. The same applies to the registration of firm names effected in virtue of the Companies and Partnerships Declaration Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 272).

Section 31

Proper names or expressions formed by the artificial combination of letters, syllables or figures may appear in firm names, in conformity with the law.

Section 32

The French firm names must stand out or at least figure no less prominently in the texts and documents than their English versions.

Section 33

Contracts pre-determined by one party, contracts containing printed standard clauses, and printed order forms, invoices and receipts must be drawn up in French.

Such documents must however be drawn up in English when the customer or the person who accedes to the contract so requires.

Every contract drawn up in French and English conforms to this section. In the case of contradiction between the two texts, the interpretation more favourable to the client or the person who accepts the contract prevails.

Section 34

Products must be labelled in French, except within certain limits provided by regulation; the same applies to the warranty certificates and directions supplied with products, and to menus and wine lists.

Every person who contravenes this section is liable, on summary proceedings instituted by the Attorney-General or by the person authorized by him, in addition to the cost,

(a) for the first offence, to a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $500, in the case of an individual, and of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 in the case of a corporation;

(b) for any subsequent offence within two years, to a fine of $3,000 in the case of an individual, and of $5,000 in the case of a corporation.

Part II of the Summary Convictions Act applies to such proceedings.

Section 35

Public signs must be drawn up in French or in both French and another language, except within certain limits provided by regulation. This section also applies to advertisements in writing, in particular to bill-boards and electric signs.

Section 36

Section 35 does not apply to advertisements appearing in newspapers or periodicals published in a language other than French.

Section 37

Owners of bill-boards or electric signs erected before 31 July 1974 shall have a delay of five years from that date to comply with section 35.

Section 38

Any court of civil jurisdiction may on a demand brought by the Attorney-General by way of a motion, order the removal or destruction within eight days of the judgment, of any advertisement, particularly a bill-board or electric sign, which contravenes this act, at the expense of the respondent.

The motion may be directed against the advertiser or against whoever placed the advertisement or had it placed.

Section 39

The francization program adopted by any business firm wishing to obtain the certificate contemplated in sections 26: and 28 must, while taking account of the situation and structure of each firm, of its head office and of its subsidiaries and branches, also relate to:

(a) the firm name of the business;

(b) the language in which the firm must carry on its day-to-day dealings with its customers and other persons;

(c) the language in which notices, communications, certificates and forms intended for the public, or for the shareholders or members of the firm resident in the province of Québec, must de drawn up.

CHAPTER V
THE LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION

Section 40

The language of instruction shall be French in the schools governed by the school boards, the regional school boards and the corporations of trustees.

The school boards, regional school boards and corporations of trustees shall continue to provide instruction in English.

An existing or future school board, regional school board or corporation of trustees cannot validly decide to commence, cease, increase or reduce instruction in English unless it has received prior authorization from the Minister of Education, who shall not give it unless he considers that the number of pupils whose mother tongue is English and who are under the jurisdiction of such body warrants it; in the case of cessation or reduction of such instruction, the Minister shall also take into account, when giving his authorization, the number of pupils otherwise qualified.

Nevertheless, the School Board of New Québec may provide instruction to the Indians and Inuits in their own languages.

Section 41

Pupils must have a sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction to receive their instruction in that language.

Pupils who do not have a sufficient knowledge of any of the languages of instruction must receive their instruction in French.

Section 42

It is the function of each school board, regional school board and corporation of trustees to determine to what class, group or course any pupil may be assigned, having regard to his aptitudes in the language of instruction.

Section 43

The Minister of Education may however, in accordance with the regulations, set tests to ascertain that the pupils have sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction to receive their instruction in that language. He may, if need he, require a school board, regional school board or corporation of trustees to reassign the pupils on the basis of the results of those tests.

Such tests must take account of the levels of instruction, including kindergarten, for which the applications for enrolment are made, and of the age and previous education of the examinees.

The regulations must provide for an appeal to the Minister, who, before deciding the matter, must obtain the advice of a supervisory committee on the language of instruction established for that purpose. His decision is final.

Section 44

The curricula must ensure that pupils receiving their instruction in English acquire a knowledge of spoken and written French, and the Minister of Education shall adopt the necessary measures to that effect.

The Minister of Education must also, take the necessary measures to ensure instruction in English as a second language to pupils whose language of instruction in French.

CHAPTER VI
MISCELLANEOUS

Notices emanating from the public administration and required by law to be published in French and English may nevertheless be published only in French.

Similarly, notices emanating from the public administration and required by law to be published in a French newspaper and an English newspaper may be published only in a French newspaper.

These rules do not apply, however, to municipal and school bodies contemplated in section 9. In the case of an amalgamation or union, the third paragraph of such section 9 also applies to this section.

Title IV specifies the manner in which the municipal and school bodies contemplated above are determined.

Section 46

The French version of the texts and documents contemplated by this act must stand out, or at least figure no less prominently than any version in another language.

Section 47

Subject to section 33, where texts may or must by law be drawn up in both French and another language, the French version not being the only authentic one, and any discrepancy between the two versions cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the ordinary rules of interpretation, the French version prevails over the other.

Section 48

Sections 6, 8, 17 and 47 do not apply to loans contracted by the public administration with a lender whose domicile or head office is situated outside Canada, nor to the documents authorizing or authenticating them or attached thereto, regardless of where such contracts and documents are entered into, signed or issued.

Nothing shall prevent the use of a language in derogation of this act where international usage requires it.

TITLE IV
MACHINERY FOR SUPERVISION AND ENFORCEMENT

CHAPTER I
LINGUISTICS RESEARCH - TERMINOLOGY COMMITTEES

Section 49

It shall be the responsibility of the Minister to develop research in linguistics and to coordinate linguistics research in the province of Québec.

Section 50

The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may by regulation establish terminology committees, determine their composition and their terms and conditions of operation, and attach them to the various departments and agencies of the public administration.

Section 51

The mandate of the terminology committees shall be to make an inventory of the technical expressions in use in the sector assigned to them, to indicate any lacunae that become apparent, and to prepare a list of the terms they recommend, particularly in the field of neologisms and borrowings.

Section 52

Once their work has been completed, the terminology committees shall submit their conclusions to the Board for approval, and it must see to the standardizing of the usage of the terms.

The standardized expressions and terms shall be forwarded to the ministers or to the managing officers of the interested agencies, and they may confirm them and' prepare a list of them.

Section 53

Upon publication in the Québec Official Gazette of the list contemplated, in section 52, the use of the expressions and terms appearing in it shall become obligatory in texts and documents emanating from the public administration, in contracts to which the public administration is a party and in teaching manuals and educational and research works published in French in the province of Québec and approved by the Minister of Education.

CHAPTER II
THE "RÉGIE DE LA LANGUE FRANÇAISE"

DIVISION I
ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONS

Section 54

A Régie de la langue française is established.

Section 55

The functions of the Régie are:

(a) to give its opinion to the Minister on the regulations provided for by this act, except those contemplated in section 43 which must be submitted for study to the Superior Council of Education;

(b) to see to the correction and enrichment of the spoken and written language;

(c) to advise the government on questions submitted by it to the Régie;

(d) to recognize, for the purposes of sections 9, 13 and 45, the municipal and school bodies contemplated in section 9 or in section 13;

(e) to conduct the inquiries contemplated by this act in order to ascertain whether the' statutes and regulations regarding the French language are observed;

(f) to advise the Minister on the allocation by him of appropriations to linguistics research and to the dissemination of the French language;

(g) to cooperate with business firms in elaborating and implementing francization programs;

(h) to issue the certificates contemplated in sections 26 and 28;

(i) to standardize the usage of vocabulary in the province of Québec and to approve the expressions and terms recommended by the terminology committees.

Section 56

The Régie may:

(a) solicit opinions and receive and hear petitions and suggestions from the public regarding the status of the French language;

(b) submit recommendations to the Minister on any matter regarding the French language;

(c) have any study or research done which it considers expedient or necessary for the attainment of its purposes;

(d) subject to approval by the Lieu tenant-Governor in Council, adopt internal by-laws;

(e) establish by by-law the services and committees necessary for the attainment of its purposes;

(f) with the approval of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, make agreements with any other agency or government to facilitate the application of this act.

Section 57

The Lieutenant-Governor in Council may prescribe, by regulation, the measures by which the services of the public administration must lend their assistance to the Régie.

Section 58

Business firms which adopt a program contemplated in sections 29 and 39 shall submit it to the Régie.

If the Régie considers that the program is adequate to the desired objectives and that it is being effectively applied by the firm, it shall forward the application to the Minister for his approval.

If it considers that the program is inadequate or that it is not being effectively applied by the firm, it must make recommendations to the Minister on the improvements it believes necessary

Section 59

The Régie shall issue the certificate contemplated above after approval by the Minister.

With the approval of the Minister and for valid cause, the Régie may revoke the certificate.

Section 60

Every three years, the Régie shall ascertain the number of English-speaking persons administered in each municipal and school body. For that purpose, it shall consult the available statistics, the records and documents of the bodies in question and any other information it may obtain.

On the basis of the information so acquired, it shall then publish, in the Québec Official Gazette, a list of the municipal and school bodies contemplated in section 9 and a list of those contemplated in section 13.

These lists shall be incontestable and shall be the sole criterion for the application of sections 9, 13 and 45.

The Régie, for cause, upon the application of any interested person, may review any decision it has rendered under this section.

DIVISION II
COMPOSITION AND OPERATIONS OF THE RÉGIE

Section 61

The Régie is composed of nine members, including the president and two vice-presidents, appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

The president and the vice-presidents shall be appointed for not more than ten years and the other members for not more than five years.

Section 62

The Lieutenant-Governor in Council shall determine the fees, allowances or salaries of the president and the vice-presidents of the Régie, or, as the case may be, their additional salaries.

The other members shall not be remunerated. They are entitled however to reimbursement of their justifiable expenses in the exercise of their functions and they shall receive an attendance allowance fixed by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Section 63

Before entering on their functions, the members of the Régie shall take the oaths provided in Schedules A and B to the Civil Service Act.

Section 64

The office of president or vice-president of the Régie is incompatible with any other office.

Section 65

If the president is unable to act, his powers shall be exercised by the vice-president designated by him, or, if he is unable to make such designation, by the vice-president designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Section 66

Notwithstanding the expiry o their term, the members of the Régie shall remain in office until they are reappointed or replaced.

Section 67

The members of the Régie shall not participate in the discussion of matter in which they have a personal interest.

The Régie shall decide whether they have any personal interest in the matter the members in question shall have no par in such decision.

Section 68

Three members of the Régie, including the president or one of the vice presidents, are a quorum.

The president has a casting vote.

Section 69

The Régie may sit simultaneously in several sections each composed of a least three members designated by the president.

The president of each section has casting vote.

Section 70

The head office of the Régie is in the City of Québec or in the City of Montreal, as the Lieutenant-Governor in Council may decide by an order which shall come into force on publication in the Québec Official Gazette.

The Régie shall also have an office it that city of the two mentioned above it which it does not have its head office

Section 71

The Régie may hold sittings anywhere in the province of Québec.

It must meet at least once each month.

Section 72

The minutes of sittings approved by the Régie and certified by the president or the secretary are authentic. The same applies to documents or copies emanating from the Régie or forming part of its records, if they are signed by the president of the Régie or the director general.

Section 73

The Régie shall appoint a director general, who shall have the day to day administration thereof.

The director general shall exercise his functions in conformity with the by-laws adopted by the Régie.

Section 74

The director general and the other staff members of the Régie shall be appointed and remunerated in accordance with the Civil Service Act (1965, 1st session, chapter 14).

The president of the Régie shall exercise in this regard the powers granted by the said act to the deputy-heads of departments.

Section 75

The members and the staff of the Régie shall not be prosecuted for official acts performed in good faith in the exercise of their functions.

Section 76

No extraordinary recourse provided in articles 834 to 850 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be exercised nor shall any injunction be granted against the Régie or the members of the Régie when they act in their official capacity.

Section 77

Two judges of the Court of Appeal may, upon motion, summarily annul any writ, order or injunction inconsistent with section 76.

CHAPTER III
INQUIRIES

Section 78

A chief investigation-commissioner and investigation commissioners shall be appointed to the Régie. These persons and their support staff shall be appointed and remunerated in accordance with the Civil Service Act.

In addition to his attributions under the sections following, the chief investigationcommissioner shall, under the authority of the Régie, direct, coordinate and assign the work of the investigation commissioners.

Section 79

Sections 75 and 76 apply to the chief investigation-commissioner, to the investigation commissioners and to their staff.

Section 80

The investigation commissioners shall make an inquiry whenever they have reason to believe that this act has not been observed or that a business firm fails to comply with the requirements of a program contemplated in sections 29 and 39.

Applications for certificates provided for in section 59 must also be inquired into by the commissioners, at the request of the Minister.

Section 81

Any person or group of persons may petition for an inquiry.

Section 82

The investigation commissioners must refuse to make an inquiry:

(a) if they do not have the required competence under the terms of this act;

(b) if the petitioners have a right of appeal or other sufficient recourse;

(c) if the petitioners could have brought their petition more than one year previously;

(d) if the question is a matter within the jurisdiction of the Public Protector.

In the case contemplated in subparagraph d, the investigation-commissioners shall forward the record to the Public Protector.

Section 83

The investigation commissioners may refuse to make an inquiry if, in their opinion,

(a) the petitioners do not have a sufficient personal interest;

(b) the petition is frivolous, vexatious or in bad faith;

(c) the circumstances do not justify it.

Section 84

If they refuse the petition, the investigation commissioners must notify the petitioners, give them the reasons for their refusal, and advise them of their other recourses, if any.

Section 85

Petitions for inquiry must be in writing and be accompanied with indications of the grounds on which they are based and identification of the petitioners.

Section 86

The petitioners are entitled to the assistance of the investigation commissioners and their staff to draw up their petitions.

Section 87

For the purposes of their inquiries, the investigation commissioners and any members of their staff they may designate are vested with the powers and immunity granted commissioners appointed under the Public Inquiry Commission Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 11).

Section 88

Articles 307, 308 and 309 of the Code of Civil Procedure apply to witnesses heard by the investigation commissioners.

Section 89

When the investigation commissioners entrusted with an inquiry consider that a program contemplated in sections 29 and 39 is not being properly applied or that this act has not been observed, they must, at the conclusion of their inquiry, invite the parties concerned to appear before the Régie.

Section 90

The Régie shall hear the parties concerned. It may have all the documents and information it considers essential to the hearing communicated to it and hear all the interested persons.

Sections 87 and 88 apply to the Régie and its members and to the witnesses appearing before it.

Section 91

If the Régie concludes that this act has not been observed, it shall give notice of that fact to the head of the interested department or agency.

It may add to the notice so given the recommendations it considers expedient and it may require that it be kept informed of the measures envisaged, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, of those adopted, to implement such recommendations.

When, in the opinion of the Régie, justice has been done, it must also notify the interested persons of that fact.

Section 92

If the Régie considers that its recommendations have not been followed with sufficient haste, it may notify the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, or, if it sees fit, submit a special report to the Minister, who shall immediately lay it before the National Assembly; it may also, if it so chooses, set forth the situation in its annual report.

Section 93

If, in the opinion of the Régie, a person has suffered an injustice by the effect of any act or regulation, it may suggest amendments to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council and, if it sees fit, submit a special report to the Minister, who shall immediately lay it before the National Assembly; it may also, if it so chooses, set forth the situation in its annual report.

Section 94

The Public Protector may be seized directly with any matter arising under this act within his jurisdiction.

Section 95

The investigation commissioners, after making an inquiry which does not entail referral of the matter to the Régie, must inform the petitioners of the results of the inquiry within a reasonable period of time.

Section 96

Not later than 31 March each year, the Régie must submit to the Minister a report of its activities of the preceding calendar year, on the state of the French language in the province of Québec and on the inquiries made.

The Minister shall lay such report before the National Assembly if he receives it during a session, or, if between sessions, within thirty days of the opening of the next session.

Section 97

Every member of the Régie or its staff who is guilty of an indiscretion regarding any question in connection with the exercise of his functions commits an offence and is liable to summary prosecution which may entail, in addition to any other penalties possibly incurred, a fine of $100 to $1,000 and payment of the costs.

Section 98

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, neither the members of the Régie nor its staff shall be compelled to testify or to file documents in relation to any question in connection with the exercise of their functions.

Section 99

No civil action may be instituted by reason or in consequence of the publication of the whole or part of the, reports made by the Régie in virtue of this act, or of the publication in good faith of summaries of such reports.

TITLE V
FINAL PROVISIONS

Section 100

Draft regulations related to this act shall be adopted only on prior notice of ninety days published in the Québec Official Gazettetogether with the text of the draft.

The regulations mentioned above shall come into force on the day of publication in the. Québec Official Gazette of a notice of their approval by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council or, if amended by him, approval of the final text.

Section 101

The Minister designated by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council is entrusted with the application of this act.

Section 102

Within fifteen days of the opening of each session, the Minister shall submit a detailed report to the National Assembly of the activities of his department devoted to dissemination of the French language during the preceding fiscal year.

Section 103

Articles 1682c and 1682d of the Civil Code, enacted by section 1 of chapter 40 of the statutes of 1910, are repealed.

Section 104

Section 3 of the Cultural Affairs Department Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 57), amended by section 17 of chapter 26 of the statutes of 1969, is amended by striking out paragraph a.

Section 105

Section 13 of the said act is repealed.

Section 106

Section 14 of the said act, replaced by section 4 of chapter 9 of the statutes of 1969, is repealed.

Section 107

Section 14a of the said act, en acted by section 4 of chapter 9 of the statutes of 1969, is repealed.

Section 108

Section 15 of the said act is re pealed.

Section 109

Section 203 of the Education Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 235) amended by section 1 of chapter 62 of the statutes of 1966/1967, section 2 of chapter 67 and section 2 of chapter 9 of the statutes of 1969 and section 43 of chapter 67 of the statutes of 1971, is again amended by replacing paragraphs 3 and 4 by the following:

"(3) To take the measures necessary to have the courses from the first year level to the eleventh year level inclusively adopted or recognized for Catholic of Protestant public schools, as the case may be, given to all the children domiciled it the territory under their jurisdiction it they are deemed capable of following suck courses and desirous of enrolling for them For that purpose, the school commissioner: or trustees must adopt one or more of the following measures, namely, provide suck courses in their schools or avail themselves of the provisions of sections 469 to 495 or of section 496;

"(4) To ensure that the courses of study given in their schools comply with the curricula and regulations prescribed of approved for Catholic, Protestant or other public schools, as the case may be;".

Section 110

Section 2 of the Education Department Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 233), amended by section 1 of chapter 9 of the statutes of 1969, is again amended by striking out the second paragraph.

Section 111

Section 3 of the Immigration Department Act (1968, chapter 68), amended by section 3 of chapter 9 of the statutes of 1969, is again amended by striking out subparagraph e.

Section 112

The Act to promote the French language in Québec (1969, chapter 9) is repealed.

Section 113

Sections 46 to 48 and 197 of the Professional Code (1973, chapter 43) are repealed and section 41 of the said Code is amended by replacing the figure "47" in the first line by the following: "22 of the Official Language Act".

Section 114

The staff members of the Department of Education assigned to the French Language Bureau shall continue to be employed at the Department of Education until the Lieutenant-Governor in Council decides to transfer them.

Section 115

In any act, proclamation, order in council, contract or document:

(a) references to provisions repealed by this act are presumed to refer to this act;

(b) the expression "French Language Bureau" is to be construed as Régie de la langue française.

Section 116

The sums made available to the Department of Education under the entry of the French Language Bureau shall be affected to the payment of the expenditures incurred toward the application of this act; the supplementary expenditures incurred toward the application of this act shall be paid for the 1974/1975 and 1975/1976 fiscal years out of the consolidated revenue fund.

Section 117

Sections 6 to 9, the first paragraph of section 10 and section 13 apply from 1 January 1976 in the case of municipal bodies and from 1 July 1976 in the case of school bodies.

Section 118

Section 19 applies from 1 January 1976.

Section 119

Section 21 applies to the issue of a permit to a Canadian citizen from 1 July 1976.

Section 120

Sections 33, 35 and 36 apply from 31 July 1974.

Section 121

Sections 40 to 44 apply from 1 September 1974 but the regulations provided for in such sections may be adopted and published before that date, to become effective on that date.

Sections 40 to 44 do not apply in respect of registrations for the school year 1974/1975.

Section 122

Sections 26 to 29, 34, 39, 7 8 to 99 and 111 shall come into force on the date to be fixed by proclamation of the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Section 123

Subject to section 122, this act shall come into force on the day of its sanction.

SCHEDULE

A. Public administration

1. The government and the government departments;

2. The government agencies:

Agencies to which the Lieutenant-Governor in Council or a minister appoints the majority of the members, to which, by law, the officers or employees are appointed or remunerated in accordance with the Civil Service Act, or at least half of whose resources are derived from the Consolidated Revenue Fund;

3. The municipal and school bodies:

(a) the urban communities:

The Québec Urban Community, the Montreal Urban Community and the Outaouais Regional Community, the Québec Urban Community Transit Commission, the Greater Québec Water Purification Board, the Montreal Urban Community Transit Commission, the Outaouais Regional Community Transit Commission, the Outaouais Development Corporation, the City of Laval Transit Commission and the Montreal South Shore Transit Commission;

(b) the municipalities:

The city, town, village, country and county corporations, whether incorporated under a general law or a special act, and the agencies under the jurisdiction of such corporations which participate in the administration of their territory;

(c) the school bodies:

The regional school boards, the school boards and the corporations of school trustees governed by the Education Act (Revised Statutes, 1964, chapter 235), the School Council of the island of Montreal, the general and vocational colleges and the universities;

B.Public utilities

Establishments within the meaning of the Act respecting health services and social services, the telephone and telegraph companies, the air, ship, autobus and rail transport companies, the companies which produce, transport, distribute or sell gas, water or electricity, and those enterprises which hold authorization from the Transport Commission;

C.Professional corporations

The professional corporations listed in Schedule I to the Professional Code (1973, chapter 43) under the designation "professional corporations", or established in accordance with that Code.