R. v. Paquette, (1990) 2 S.C.R. 1103 (S.C.C.)

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This was a trial and series of appeals by the Attorney General of Alberta, Department of Constitutional and Energy Law, which culminated in an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada pertaining to the language of proceedings in Alberta courts. The Supreme Court of Canada held that section 110 of the Northwest Territories Act (R.S.C. 1886, c. 50, as amended by S.C. 1891, c. 22, s. 18) is in force in Alberta in relation to proceedings commenced under federal legislation which are criminal in nature or which involve penal consequences. However, section 110 in the context of a criminal proceeding does not require that the courts understand an accused in his official language without the assistance of an interpreter or simultaneous translation, and further does not require that the courts and Crown attorneys use the accused’s official language at all stages in a criminal prosecution.