Precedent Language Challenge

May 2006

J. Arthur Cogan has recently represented the non-profit group Canadians for Language Fairness in their lawsuit against the City of Ottawa over its bilingualism by-law which came into effect in January 2004.

Cogan argued that the requirements for bilingualism within the City of Ottawa hiring policy should be proportionate to the demographics of the City of Ottawa. Cogan rejects 100% bilingualism requirements for all senior management positions which results in unfair discrimination to anglophones and favours francophones to all senior management positions. The ratio is 5 to 1 in favour of anglophones according to the 2002 census.

For further information please visit the Canadians for Language Fairness (CLF) website at www.languagefairness.ca

Canadians for Language Fairness

The Court has advised that they will hear our Application concerning the validity of the Bilingual Policy of the City of Ottawa the week of February 6th, 2006.

Arthur Cogan key note speaker - Canadians for Language Fairness

Mr. Cogan will be the key note speaker at a luncheon being held on Sunday May 29, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at Best Western Macie's, 1274 Carling Avenue. This is a fund raising lunch hosted by the Canadians for Language Fairness in an effort to fund their legal challenge against the City of Ottawa's billingual hiring policies.