JOINT NEWS RELEASE OF THE OFFICE OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE SERVICES COMMISSIONER OF ONTARIO AND THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES FOR NEW BRUNSWICK

March 12, 2013 — The French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario, François Boileau, and the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, Michel Carrier, today announced the signing of an agreement that will help their offices improve the protection and promotion of language rights.

“Mr. Boileau and I have very similar responsibilities,” noted Mr. Carrier. “Consequently, we have everything to gain by enhancing our cooperation to improve the observance of citizens’ language rights in our respective provinces.”

The agreement states in particular that the two agencies will share the findings and recommendations produced by their investigations. It also provides for greater collaboration in promotion initiatives and studies of the fulfilment of linguistic obligations.

“The obstacles that our linguistic communities encounter in accessing government services in their language can be similar or even sometimes interconnected from one province to another,” said Mr. Boileau. “I am delighted that the citizens of New Brunswick and Ontario can count on our combined strengths to guide our respective governments toward pragmatic solutions and lasting improvements.”

Mr. Carrier stated that this agreement formalizes a collaborative relationship that he had already established with Commissioner Boileau. “We have been collaborating on certain issues for several years now, and we now want to take that cooperation to another level. That is the rationale for this agreement.” 

It is worth noting that recently François Boileau and Michel Carrier each signed a cooperation agreement with the Commissioner of Official Languages of Canada, Graham Fraser.

Michel Carrier and François Boileau sign the collaboration agreement between their two offices. (To obtain a copy of this photo, please contact the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick.)

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To request more information or arrange an interview, please contact:

Simon Côté
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario
Telephone: 416-314-8247
Toll free: 1-866-246-5262
Email: communications.flsccsf@ontario.ca

Hugues Beaulieu
Director of Public Affairs and Research
Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick
Telephone: 506-444-4229
Toll free: 1-888-651-6444
Email: hugues.beaulieu@gnb.ca