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The Questionable Relevance of the Constitution in Advancing Minority Cultural Rights in Manitoba*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2009

Nelson Wiseman
Nelson Wiseman
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Abstract

This article argues that constitutional guarantees for francophones and the laws abridging and expanding those rights have been to date largely irrelevant to the linguistic and political welfare of Franco-Manitobans. Rather than stressing the significance of jurisprudence, the article focusses on demography and behaviour. Franco-Manitobans, as defined by mother tongue, increased in relative numbers after their rights were infringed. Although the pattern might reverse itself in the future, francophones are decreasing now that their rights have been reinstated. Manitoba's behaviour has been influenced by and continues to be consistent with Ontario law and practice, a province not bound by similar constitutional obligations.

Résumé

Cet article soutient que les garanties constitutionnelles à l'égard des franco-phones et que les lois qui résument et élargissent ces droits, ont été jusqu'à ce jour inappropriées au bien-être linguistique et politique des Franco-Manitobains. Plutôt que de mettre l'accent sur la jurisprudence, cet article se concentre sur la démographie et l'attitude. Les Franco-Manitobains, définis par leur langue natale, ont augmenté en nombres relatifs, après que leurs droits aient enfreints. Bien que ce schéma pourrait s'inverser dans l'avenir, les francophones diminuent à présent que leurs droits ont été rétablis. L'attitude du Manitoba a été influencée par, et continue d'être compatible avec la loi et la pratique de l'Ontario, province qui n'est pas liée par des obligations constitution-nelles similaires.

Type
Research Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Political Science/Revue canadienne de science politique , Volume 25 , Issue 4 , December 1992 , pp. 697 - 721
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Political Science Association (l'Association canadienne de science politique) and/et la Société québécoise de science politique 1992

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