Justice and Rights

This section on Accessing Healthcare in English provides an overview of how English speakers can navigate healthcare in Quebec. Note to reader: Bill 15 introduced a large-scale reform of the healthcare system – some of the changes are explained herein. However,many government and healthcare institutions' websites have not yet been updated and may still refer ... Read more

What is the difference between being arrested and being detained? Though the two terms may seem to have the same meaning, Canadian law makes a distinction between detention and arrest. It is possible, for instance, to be detained by police without being arrested. Being Arrested You are considered under arrest by police if they take ... Read more

The Canadian and Quebec human rights charters each outline a list of personal traits against which differential treatment is prohibited. While “language” is overtly included in the Quebec charter as a forbidden type of discrimination, the same ground is not acknowledged in the Canadian charter. Anti-Discrimination Law in Canada The Supreme Court has described discrimination … Read more

Canada’s Constitution gives complete control over education to the provinces, granting them power over matters like curricula, enrolment, and admissions procedures. In that respect, the Quebec government imposes restrictions on which students can study at certain types of English-language schools. There are currently no legal limitations on who can study at English-language universities, adult education centres … Read more

The English-language employment rights owed to you depend on whether you work in a sector regulated by the provincial or federal government. Generally, Canada’s Constitution grants the provinces the power to regulate most job sectors. In Quebec, the Charter of the French Language (often referred to as “Bill 101”) restricts English-language employment opportunities by guaranteeing all employees the right to … Read more

In terms of age, partners who wish to marry must be at least 16 and granted permission by Quebec’s Superior Court if one of them is aged between 16 and 17. In contrast, partners who wish to enter a civil union must be at least 18 years of age. Once they apply to marry or ... Read more

What English-language rights do I have in Canadian and Quebec housing law? Canada’s Constitution gives the responsibility over all housing matters to the provinces. This means that each provincial government is tasked with setting up its own rules and regulations on the leasing of residences. Quebec’s Civil Code and Charter of the French Language (also ... Read more

What are the different ways I can come to Canada? Depending on your situation, there are generally three ways you can settle in Canada. Temporary Residency Status A temporary resident is a newcomer who is allowed to enter and stay in Canada on a temporary basis. They can obtain this status either as a visitor ... Read more