Summary

Keywords

Official Languages - Federal Courts - Language rights of witnesses and counsels - Whether the Federal Court of Appeal erred in holding that language rights had been violated - Was the Tax Court obligated to adjourn the proceedings for translators under s. 15 of the Official Languages Act the moment that any witness or counsel for the respondent expressed some unease with the use of the English language - Official Languages Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 31, ss. 14 and 15.

Summary

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The appellant challenged a decision of the Minister of National Revenue finding that his work as a professional agent for the respondent Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. was not an insurable employment within the meaning of the Employment Insurance Act, S.C. 1996 c. 23. The Tax Court of Canada found that the appellant held insurable employment and varied the Minister of National Revenue’s decision. The Federal Court of Appeal granted the appeal, finding the witnesses’ language rights had been violated during the hearing before the Tax Court of Canada.

Lower Court Rulings