Bilingual Quebec communities lose bid to suspend application of language law rules [Video]

Bilingual Quebec municipalities have lost their bid to have several parts of the government’s French-language reform suspended while their case makes its way through the courts.

The communities asked the Quebec Superior Court last month to suspend the application of parts of Bill 96 — as the language reform is known — arguing it would cause them serious and irreparable harm.

A lawyer for the cities argued the law could block federal subsidies to cities that don’t comply with it, and would give the language watchdog vast powers of search and seizure that exceed those of police.

The Quebec government argued there was no evidence the law has caused any harm, adding that concern alone should not be enough to warrant a stay.

In a decision dated Tuesday, Justice Silvana Conte refused the request for a stay, noting that one should be granted only in exceptional cases and that the …