Alberta francophone groups urge Ottawa to keep Supreme Court bilingualism out of political debate

Two Alberta-based francophone organizations are pushing back against calls to loosen bilingualism requirements for Supreme Court of Canada judges, warning that language rights should not become a political bargaining tool.

The Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta and the Alberta chapter of the French Canadian Association say bilingualism at the country’s highest court is essential to ensure francophones can fully access the justice system in one of Canada’s two official languages. They argue the requirement reflects constitutional principles rather than regional politics.

The comments come after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith publicly called for sweeping changes to the judicial appointment process. In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney released this week, Smith said Alberta should have greater influence over how judges are selected and suggested the province could withhold future funding if reforms are not made.

Smith also urged Ottawa to reconsider mandatory bilingualism for Supreme Court justices, claiming the policy fuels western alienation by limiting the pool of eligible candidates. Her remarks have drawn concern from legal and community groups who say language access is a fundamental right, not an administrative preference.

Elsy Gagne, president of Alberta’s French lawyers association, said she does not accept the premier’s argument. Gagne noted that Supreme Court hearings are conducted in both English and French and that many judges already seek bilingual proficiency to properly understand cases before them.

While Gagne acknowledged that the judicial appointment system could be improved, she emphasized that political pressure has no place in decisions about the courts. She said maintaining an independent judiciary is critical to public confidence and the protection of minority language rights across Canada.