The City of Ottawa is violating the rights of thousands of people by denying them jobs because they can't speak French, a lawyer for a lobby group said in court Thursday.

Canadians for Language Fairness is suing the city over its bilingualism bylaw, which came into effect in January 2004.

It calls the bylaw a "form of social engineering" that unfairly favours the French-speaking population.

CLF lawyer Arthur Cogan said in an Ottawa court that the bylaw violates the freedom of expression provisions of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by discriminating against job applicants who speak only English.

Cogan also argued that the bilingualism policy does not properly reflect the character of the city.

Citing the last census, Cogan said 61 per cent of Ottawa's anglophone population is unilingual, while 98 per cent of the city's francophone population is bilingual.

Lawyers for the city were scheduled to make opening statements in the case Friday.

Giant garter snake nabbed in northern Manitoba

A 1.34-metre-long red-sided garter snake slithered from the north end of Lake Winnipeg into the record books last weekend, with the help of a Manitoba snake researcher.

Jonathan Weins shows off the largest-known red-sided garter snake on record. (CBC)

Tributes flow as Klein marks end of an era

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein wiped tears from his eyes as he marked his last session in the provincial legislature Thursday.

Ralph Klein said he felt a sense of relief as he entered the Alberta legislature as premier for the final time. (CBC)

Fathers and husbands to get Memorial Crosses

The federal government will soon award the Memorial Cross, which is currently given only to mothers and wives of fallen Canadian soldiers, to their husbands and fathers as well.

The Memorial Cross, also known as the Silver Cross, was created to honour the mothers and widows of fallen Canadian soldiers. (CBC)

Toronto gang's leaders 'surgically removed' in 60 police raids

About 600 police officers from several forces arrested 78 people after carrying out dozens of raids with "military precision" in northwest Toronto early Thursday, the city's police chief said.

Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair commended his officers for carrying out the raids. (Frank Gunn/ Canadian Press)

Alberta forest fire grows overnight

An out-of-control forest fire burning in central Alberta grew overnight as hundreds of people remain on evacuation alert.