Social science research that studies official minority language communities in Canada frequently refers to concepts of governance, autonomy and institutions, without searching for a legal foundation in the Canadian constitutional context. The present text explores that question, trying firstly to define a concept of right to autonomous minority institutions, then trying to find a legal basis for them. Territorial and sectorial autonomy are analyzed, in the field of municipalities, education, health, and Canada-community agreements. If such a right exists, it is still emerging and is so far confined to the administrative sphere.