In a Montreal court on Friday, a coalition of lawyers challenged one provision in particular — one that requires companies and nonprofits to translate English court documents into French at their own expense. The plaintiffs argued that this would mean increased costs and delays, hurting small businesses the most. One of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, Félix-Antoine Doyon, said the new language law violates a section of the constitution that guarantees the right to use English and French in court, representing serious prejudice and hindering access to justice. Doyon argued that the additional delays would also further strain the court system, which is already experiencing delays due to staff shortages, including a lack of translators. Lead plaintiff Douglas Mitchell says this requirement is more a political message than anything about actual justice. “I think the message is that ‘we don’t care how it works in practice, we want to send a message that Quebec is a French society,’” he told CBC Montreal in an interview outside the courtroom on Friday.

Fear-based arguments: government lawyers

Quebec government lawyers said the plaintiffs’ arguments are based on fears and assumptions, without numbers to back them up. They argued that the plaintiffs have not shown how much more the translations will cost or how long the delays will be. Members of the Kahnawake Mohawk Council filed an affidavit supporting the plaintiffs. “I do not think so [the plaintiffs’ concerns are] just fears. I think it makes sense. And the question I have is, do we expect it to happen? [Where] someone who loses his right to pursue an injustice actually happens?’ Council Chief Tonya Peron said. Government lawyers say the plaintiffs’ examples do not justify suspending the law while they discuss the merits of the case, adding that there are always adjustments people must make when laws are changed. The judge is expected to issue her decision before the end of next week.