SCHEDULE BCONSTITUTION ACT, 1982

PART ICanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Official Languages of Canada

16Official languages of Canada

1

English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada.

2Official languages of New Brunswick

English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick.

3Advancement of status and use

Nothing in this Charter limits the authority of Parliament or a legislature to advance the equality of status or use of English and French.

17Proceedings of Parliament

1

Everyone has the right to use English or French in any debates and other proceedings of Parliament.

2Proceedings of New Brunswick legislature

Everyone has the right to use English or French in any debates and other proceedings of the legislature of New Brunswick.

18Parliamentary statutes and records

1

The statutes, records and journals of Parliament shall be printed and published in English and French and both language versions are equally authoritative.

2New Brunswick statutes and records

The statutes, records and journals of the legislature of New Brunswick shall be printed and published in English and French and both language versions are equally authoritative.

19Proceedings in courts established by Parliament

1

Either English or French may be used by any person in, or in any pleading in or process issuing from, any court established by Parliament.

2Proceedings in New Brunswick courts

Either English or French may be used by any person in, or in any pleading in or process issuing from, any court of New Brunswick.

20Communications by public with federal institutions

1

Any member of the public in Canada has the right to communicate with, and to receive available services from, any head or central office of an institution of the Parliament or government of Canada in English or French, and has the same right with respect to any other office of any such institution where

a

there is a significant demand for communications with and services from that office in such language ; or

b

due to the nature of the office, it is reasonable that communications with and services from that office be available in both English and French.

2Communications by public with New Brunswick institutions

Any member of the public in New Brunswick has the right to communicate with, and to receive available services from, any office of an institution of the legislature or government of New Brunswick in English or French.

21Continuation of existing constitutional provisions

Nothing in sections 16 to 20 abrogates or derogates from any right, privilege or obligation with respect to the English and French languages, or either of them, that exists or is continued by virtue of any other provision of the Constitution of Canada.

22Rights and privileges preserved

Nothing in sections 16 to 20 abrogates or derogates from any legal or customary right or privilege acquired or enjoyed either before or after the coming into force of this Charter with respect to any language that is not English or French.