Supreme Court will hear Quebec language law appeal

The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal of the Quebec language law that imposes strict limits on who can attend English-language schools in the province.

The Quebec government asked the Supreme Court for standing after the province's court of appeal struck down Bill 104 last summer, ruling it violates the federal Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The law had been challenged by 25 families.

That ruling won't be implemented until the Supreme Court decides on the case.

The province's legislature adopted Bill 104 in 2002 to close a loophole in the province's controversial language law Bill 101, known also as the Charter of the French Language.

The charter declares French as Quebec's official language in government, law, work, instruction, communication, commerce and business — and required most children attend French language schools.

But a loophole in Bill 101 allowed students who attend an English private school for a year to transfer to the English public school system.

Bill 104 amended Bill 101 to preclude students with a year of English private school instruction from being eligible to attend an English public school.

In a short ruling issued Thursday, the Supreme Court granted Quebec's appeal request, but said it would not expedite the hearing.

A date for the hearing will be set this spring, with the case likely going before the court in the fall.