Official Languages Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. 31 (4th Supp.))

Marginal note:Rights relating to other languages

• 83. (1) Nothing in this Act abrogates or derogates from any legal or customary right acquired or enjoyed either before or after the coming into force of this Act with respect to any language that is not English or French.

• Marginal note:Preservation and enhancement of other languages

  (2) Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted in a manner that is inconsistent with the preservation and enhancement of languages other than English or French.

Marginal note:Consultations

84. The President of the Treasury Board, or such other minister of the Crown as may be designated by the Governor in Council, shall, at a time and in a manner appropriate to the circumstances, seek the views of members of the English and French linguistic minority communities and, where appropriate, members of the public generally on proposed regulations to be made under this Act.

Marginal note:Draft of proposed regulation to be tabled

• 85. (1) The President of the Treasury Board, or such other minister of the Crown as may be designated by the Governor in Council, shall, where the Governor in Council proposes to make any regulation under this Act, lay a draft of the proposed regulation before the House of Commons at least thirty days before a copy of that regulation is published in the Canada Gazette under section 86.

• Marginal note:Calculation of thirty day period

  (2) In calculating the thirty day period referred to in subsection (1), there shall not be counted any day on which the House of Commons does not sit.

Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulation

• 86. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under this Act shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least thirty days before the proposed effective date thereof, and a reasonable opportunity shall be afforded to interested persons to make representations to the President of the Treasury Board with respect thereto.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) No proposed regulation need be published under subsection (1) if it has previously been published pursuant to that subsection, whether or not it has been amended as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection.

• Marginal note:Calculation of thirty day period

  (3) In calculating the thirty day period referred to in subsection (1), there shall not be counted any day on which neither House of Parliament sits.

Marginal note:Tabling of regulation

• 87. (1) A regulation that is proposed to be made under paragraph 38(2)(a) and prescribes any part or region of Canada for the purpose of paragraph 35(1)(a) shall be laid before each House of Parliament at least thirty sitting days before the proposed effective date thereof.

• Marginal note:Motion to disapprove proposed regulation

  (2) Where, within twenty-five sitting days after a proposed regulation is laid before either House of Parliament under subsection (1), a motion for the consideration of that House to the effect that the proposed regulation not be approved, signed by no fewer than fifteen Senators or thirty Members of the House of Commons, as the case may be, is filed with the Speaker of that House, the Speaker shall, within five sitting days after the filing of the motion, without debate or amendment, put every question necessary for the disposition of the motion.

• Marginal note:Where motion adopted

  (3) Where a motion referred to in subsection (2) is adopted by both Houses of Parliament, the proposed regulation to which the motion relates may not be made.

• Marginal note:Prorogation or dissolution of Parliament

  (4) Where Parliament dissolves or prorogues earlier than twenty-five sitting days after a proposed regulation is laid before both Houses of Parliament under subsection (1) and a motion has not been disposed of under subsection (2) in relation to the proposed regulation in both Houses of Parliament, the proposed regulation may not be made.

• Marginal note:Definition of “sitting day”

  (5) For the purposes of this section, “sitting day” means, in respect of either House of Parliament, a day on which that House sits.