On
August 6, 1977, the
René Lévesque led
Parti Québécois passed the
French Language Charter (la
Charte de la Langue Française), more commonly known as
Bill 101. This bill required that
French be the only language used on commerical signs, restricted access to
English schools, and required businesses to use French in the workplace.
Because it was clearly contrary to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the infamous Notwithstanding Clause was invoked. Regardless, the Supreme Court of Canada threw out the law in 1988, ruling the law violated the Canadian Constitution. It was replaced with Bill 86, a much less harsh law that allows bilingual signs.