Languages Act

LANGUAGES ACT Chapter L‑6 Table of Contents 1 Definitions 2 Validation of Acts and other matters 3 Language of Acts and regulations 4 Language in the courts 5 Language in the Assembly 6 Effect of validation 7 Non‑application 8 English and French versions HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: Definitions 1 In this Act, “Act” means an Act of the Legislature; “Assembly” means the Legislative Assembly of Alberta; “Ordinance” means an Ordinance of the North‑West Territories that is or was at any time in force in Alberta or that part of the North‑West Territories that formed Alberta; “regulation” means a regulation, order, bylaw or rule that is enacted under an Act or an Ordinance; “Standing Orders” means the document of the Assembly entitled the “Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta”. 1988 cL‑7.5 s1 Validation of Acts and other matters 2 (1) All Acts, Ordinances and regulations enacted before July 6, 1988 are declared valid notwithstanding that they were enacted, printed and published in English only. (2) All (a) actions, proceedings, transactions or other matters taken, done or arising by or under an Act, Ordinance or regulation validated under subsection (1) are declared not to be invalid, (b) rights, obligations, duties, powers and other effects created, limited, revoked or otherwise dealt with by or under an Act, Ordinance or regulation validated under subsection (1) are declared not to have been invalidly created, limited, revoked or otherwise dealt with, and (c) matters or things, in addition to those referred to in clauses (a) and (b), done by, in, in reliance on or under an Act, Ordinance or regulation validated under subsection (1) are declared not to have been invalidly done, solely by reason of the fact that the Act, Ordinance or regulation was enacted, printed and published in English only. 1988 cL‑7.5 s2 Language of Acts and regulations 3 All Acts and regulations may be enacted, printed and published in English. 1988 cL‑7.5 s3 Language in the courts 4 (1) Any person may use English or French in oral communication in proceedings before the following courts: (a) the Court of Appeal of Alberta; (b) the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta; (c) repealed RSA 2000 c16(Supp) s50; (d) the Alberta Court of Justice. (2) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations for the purpose of carrying this section into effect, or for any matters not fully or sufficiently provided for in this section or in the rules of those courts already in force. RSA 2000 cL‑6 s4;RSA 2000 c16(Supp) s50;AR 217/2022;AR 75/2023 Language in the Assembly 5 (1) Members of the Assembly may use English and French in the Assembly. (2) The Standing Orders and the records and journals of the Assembly, within the meaning of section 110 of The North‑West Territories Act (Canada) as it applied to Alberta, made before July 6, 1988 are declared valid notwithstanding that they were made, printed and published in English only. (3) The Standing Orders and records and journals of the Assembly may be made, printed and published in English. (4) The Assembly may, by resolution, direct that all or part of the Standing Orders or the records and journals of the Assembly shall be made, printed and published in English or French or both. 1988 cL‑7.5 s5 Effect of validation 6 The declaration of validity of Acts, Ordinances, regulations and the Standing Orders under this Act does not revive any Act, Ordinance, regulation and Standing Order that has been repealed, substituted or superseded or that has otherwise ceased to be in force on or before July 6, 1988. 1988 cL‑7.5 s6 Non-application 7 Section 110 of The North‑West Territories Act (Canada), RSC 1886 c50, as it existed on September 1, 1905, does not apply to Alberta with respect to matters within the legislative authority of Alberta. 1988 cL‑7.5 s7 English and French versions 8 The English version and the French version of this Act are equally authoritative. 1988 cL‑7.5 s8