provincial government to curtail the French language in other areas. Following the Supreme Court's ruling on R. v Mercure, a case involving a Fransaskois in Saskatchewan, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta passed the Languages Act in 1988, in which English was declared the province's official language, and replaced many of the French language rights permitted under the North-West Territories Act; although the Act still permitted the use of French in its legislature, and for judicial cases concerning provincial offences as directed by the court. French language access to the latter was later expanded in 1995, when a francophone service system was created for criminal proceedings. 21st century In 2017, the government of Alberta established its first French language policy, and adopted the Franco-Albertan Flag as an official symbol of the community. In the following year, the provincial government declared March as Alberta Francophonie Month. Politics After the Alberta Languages Act was passed in 1988, English was made the only official language in the province. However, the same legislation provides stipulations that permits the use of French for deliberations in the legislature of Alberta, as well as provincial judicial system as directed by the courts. Access to government services in the French language was promoted in the "French Policy", introduced by the provincial government in 2017. However, no legislation exists that mandates provincial services provide accessibility in French, outside the rights afforded in the Languages Act; or the Education Act, the latter act only establishing the province's francophone public school system. There are four municipalities in Alberta that provide municipal services in both English and French, although the majority of communities in the province provide municipal services in only English. Franco-Albertans interests are formally represented by the Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta, an organization formed in 1928, and officially incorporated by the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1964 in order to ensure its independence. The government of Alberta also established the Francophone Secretariat in 1999 to serve as a government liaison to the Franco-Albertan community. The secretariat forms a part of Alberta Culture, a ministry of the provincial government. Education Elementary and secondary French language education rights for minority francophone populations in Canada is guaranteed under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and is further reinforced under section 14 of the province's Education Act. Prior to their enactment, francophone rights were limited in Alberta, with most public schools