Bill C-559 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Supreme Court Act (understanding the official languages)

This bill was last introduced in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in September 2008.

Sponsor

Yvon Godin  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 5, 2008
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Supreme Court Act and introduces a new requirement for judges appointed to the Supreme Court to understand English and French without the assistance of an interpreter.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Supreme Court ActRoutine Proceedings

June 5th, 2008 / 10:05 a.m.
See context

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-559, An Act to amend the Supreme Court Act (understanding the official languages).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill, in both official languages, amending the Supreme Court Act.

As we all know, the laws themselves are written in each of the two languages. There is one set of laws written in English and one written in French; neither one is a translation of the other.

The bill would amend the Supreme Court Act and introduce a new requirement for judges appointed to the Supreme Court to understand English and French without the assistance of an interpreter.

This is why I am proud to introduce this bill. Our country is officially bilingual, and it is only natural that judges in our country's highest court be able to read the law in the client's preferred language. This is why I am introducing this bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)