a community-by-community basis to offer French language instruction if the French population was large enough and requested such instruction. In 1916 under Premier T.C. Norris, the prior compromise was rescinded and the Franco-Manitoban minority lost their right to receive instruction in French in Manitoba's public schools. Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867 in the province's opinion had been contravened by the Laurier-Greenway compromise and no longer had legal standing. Moreover, in section 93 the province had ultimate authority to decide on minority language instruction. The latter remained the practice in place until two changes were made to Manitoba's Public Schools Act: in 1966 and 1970, when French language instruction was once again recognized as an official language of instruction. Manitoba's minority French language instruction rights have developed since the introduction of the Charter and section 23 to a point where they have allowed for the inclusion of a separate school board (La Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine) that is fully funded by the provincial treasury and operates throughout the Province. Significant with regards to the province's interpretation of section 23 is how the "number of students" and not "mother tongue" is the basis upon which French language (minority) instruction rights are respected. Minority language instruction in Manitoba is in transition and still presents various legal issues and related constitutionally charged questions (see Manitoba Act 1870, Louis Riel, Manitoba Schools Question, Laurier-Greenway Compromise). Notes See also Legal dispute over Quebec's language policy References Dyck, Rand. Canadian Politics: Critical Approaches. Third ed. Scarborough, Ontario: Nelson Thomson Learning, 2000. Hogg, Peter W. Constitutional Law of Canada. 2003 Student Ed. Scarborough, Ontario: Thomson Canada Limited, 2003. External links Digest of court decisions relating to Section 23(1) in the Canadian Legal Information Institute's Canadian Charter of Rights Decisions Digest Digest of court decisions relating to Section 23(2) in the Canadian Legal Information Institute's Canadian Charter of Rights Decisions Digest Digest of court decisions relating to Section 23(3) in the Canadian Legal Information Institute's Canadian Charter of Rights Decisions Digest Section 23 Section 23 Education policy Bilingualism in Canada Minority rights Minority schools Language policy in Canada Language legislation Minority languages