ECMI Publications Database

#93: The Notion of 'Institutional Completeness' in Canada : The Contribution of the Judiciary towards New Avenues of Non-Territorial Autonomy
Author:
Raphaëlle Mathieu-Bédard
Pages:
19
Source:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Release Date:
10-06-2016

 The concept of ‘institutional completeness’, which refers to the organizational influence of a minority group and the degree to which it can provide its members with all necessary services, has recently enjoyed renewed interest in Canada. ‘Institutional completeness’ could represent an interesting avenue of ‘non-territorial autonomy’ for European minorities, one that might curtail some of the issues associated to current arrangements delegating power and autonomy to minorities, which often remain more ornamental than substantial. This paper exposes the recent jurisprudential developments in Canada pertaining to the modernization and revival of the concept of ‘institutional completeness’, most notable in the sphere of education for Francophone minority groups living outside of the province of Quebec, and encourages an in-depth exploration of the concept and of its potential not only for the autonomy of minorities, but also as a means of compensation for past harms and injustices.

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