July 7, 2008

Commissioner Encouraging Comments from the Public On Province’s Post-Secondary Plan

Fredericton, NB – The Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, Michel Carrier, is encouraging members of the public to contact his office to share their comments on the provincial government’s Action Plan to Transform Post-Secondary Education, released on June 26.

The Commissioner’s e-mail address is: commissioner@officiallanguages.nb.ca

The Commissioner’s interest in the Action Plan stems from his mandate to ensure that the provincial government’s programs and initiatives respect linguistic rights and the principles upon which they are founded.

“Post-secondary education is vital to the development of New Brunswick’s francophone population, in particular,” Mr. Carrier said. “My review of the province’s plan will focus on those areas that touch on language rights as interpreted by our Courts and I intend to bring any problem or concerns to the attention of the Premier and the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.”

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For more information, please contact Giselle Goguen, Director of Public Affairs and Research, at 444-4229 or giselle.goguen@gnb.ca

May 9, 2008

MPs, law profs call for more bilingual judges

OTTAWA – Every judge the federal government appoints in officially bilingual New Brunswick and to the Supreme Court of Canada should be bilingual, a Commons committee was told Thursday.

Official languages commissioner Graham Fraser and two Université de Moncton law professors told MPs too few judges in superior courts and courts of appeal are bilingual, and that shortcoming is denying a significant number of francophones equal access to justice.

In New Brunswick, a lawyer and client who decide to proceed in French face a situation where "two-thirds of the judges are not eligible to hear them," which has led to delays, said Michel Doucet, who has argued several language rights cases before the Supreme Court.

"New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada and we should ensure any judge who is appointed is bilingual," said Doucet.

The committee also heard concerns that prospective judges do not have to pass any objective test of their language abilities or undergo an interview when they undergo confidential screening by judicial advisory committees in each province.

Fraser said federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson's practice of consulting with chief justices in each province about their need for bilingual judges is a positive step.

Overall, however, the federal government's responses to repeated calls for reform from his predecessors and from parliamentary committees "have been timid and largely inadequate," said Fraser.

Darren Eke, a spokesman for Nicholson, said the government is guided by merit and legal excellence in all judicial appointments, and seeks linguistic competence.

The Conservative government has named eight new judges in New Brunswick, of whom four have been bilingual.

He said the appointment process already allows the justice minister to address the need for access to justice in both languages, particularly by requiring applicants to declare their language ability.

But Louise Aucoin, another Université de Moncton law professor who heads a group representing 1,300 francophone lawyers, told MPs some judges have stated they are bilingual when they are not.

That led some MPs to express shock that a judge would be misleading about his or her abilities – until Aucoin and other witnesses clarified that allegation.

"I don't think people are cheating," said Fraser. "When they declare they are bilingual, they do so in good faith but they may not appreciate the level of bilingualism judges need."

The Supreme Court of Canada, which now has eight bilingual justices and one unilingual anglophone, does not require all its members to be bilingual. Interpreters are used when needed.

Doucet said from experience that has left him wondering whether language barriers tipped the balance of at least one case.

After losing a ruling by a 5-4 split decision a few years ago, when a few members of the court were unilingual and his words had been translated, he happened to hear the interpreters' words later while watching CPAC.

He said he couldn't make sense of what he heard.

"I asked myself later, 'would it have been a different outcome if I had argued the case in English?' "

NDP official languages critic Yvon Godin said all appointees to the Supreme Court should be bilingual.

"At the top court, the person being judged truly has their entire future hanging in the balance," said Godin.

Liberal official languages critic Denis Coderre said he planned to table a motion calling on the committee to recommend all Supreme Court justices be bilingual.

The discussion about language ability on the Supreme Court comes as the Harper government must choose a replacement for Michel Bastarache, the Acadian New Brunswicker who steps down from the top court in June.

April 1, 2008

Health Reform: Letter from the Commissioner to Minister Murphy

In response to your department’s recent decision to transition from eight Regional Health Authorities to two, some have been promoting the idea of identifying the two RHA’s along linguistic lines. I have been provided with a copy of the March 17th, 2008 letter addressed to the Premier by the Société des Acadiens et Acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick (SAANB) in which it is recommended that these designations be formally added to the new legislation. Specifically, the Société recommends that the legislation designate RHA “A” a francophone institution and RHA “B” an Anglophone institution. The recommendation clearly states that these designations must be subject to the obligation for both RHAs and the health establishments within those RHAs to deliver all services in conformity with the Official Languages Act

Hon. Michael Murphy, Minister
Department of Health
HSBC Place
520 King Street, 5th Floor
Fredericton, N.B.
E3B 6G3

Dear Minister Murphy:

In response to your department’s recent decision to transition from eight Regional Health Authorities to two, some have been promoting the idea of identifying the two RHA’s along linguistic lines. I have been provided with a copy of the March 17th, 2008 letter addressed to the Premier by the Société des Acadiens et Acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick (SAANB) in which it is recommended that these designations be formally added to the new legislation. Specifically, the Société recommends that the legislation designate RHA “A” a francophone institution and RHA “B” an Anglophone institution. The recommendation clearly states that these designations must be subject to the obligation for both RHAs and the health establishments within those RHAs to deliver all services in conformity with the Official Languages Act (OLA).

I have taken the time to reflect on the proposed reform and on all that I have heard and read on the topic. Based on this review, I have concluded that the amendments as proposed by the SAANB, if implemented, would not have a detrimental impact to the effective management of our health system. Furthermore, I would assume that such an addition would do much to quell some of the concerns expressed by those who have perceived the reform or parts thereof as having a negative impact on the advancement of our linguistic communities. Quite frankly, it appears to me that this amendment would simply be reflecting reality. In fact, former regional health authorities operating in mostly francophone areas find themselves joined under RHA “A”, while those authorities in areas where the majority population is English-speaking are found under RHA “B”.

I therefore wish to go on record as supporting the request made by the SAANB in its letter to the Premier.

I hasten to add, however, that in the implantation of the reform, other issues related to the delivery of health services in the language of choice and with respect to the advancement of both linguistic communities must be addressed.

Firstly, since the OLA clearly states that all health establishments must serve members of the public in the language of choice, the new legislation should contain a clear statement to the effect that RHAs will be operating under similar obligations. While the OLA already provides a general obligation to that effect for provincial institutions, I suggest that a repeat of this requirement would not be superfluous.

In addition, I strongly believe that there is a need for a clear recognition and directive that, as per the obligations of the OLA, both RHAs and their institutions are required to proactively establish strategic plans and performance measures designed to ensure that they are providing equal services in the language of choice wherever services are provided.

Furthermore, I believe it must be also clearly established that the Non-clinical Shared Services Agency must offer all of its services in the language of choice when dealing with the RHAs, their employees, the health establishments and the employees of those establishments. In other words, it must be clearly indicated that those services and communications provided by or emanating from this agency are subject to the OLA requirements as outlined in sections 27, 28, 28.1, 29 and 30.

And finally, I recommend that the mandate of the NB Health Council must clearly contain the obligation to ensure that all their deliberations, recommendations and actions reflect and be inspired by the language rights contained not only in the OLA and the Act Recognizing the Equality of the two Official Linguistic Communities in New Brunswick but as well by the rights contained in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as interpreted by our Courts. I would suggest that any legislation dealing with the work of the Council should contain a clause or clauses to that effect.

I wish to assure you that the above is respectfully submitted in a spirit of healthy progression of linguistic rights and with hope that such additions will go a long way to continue to foster healthy interactions between the two official linguistic communities while providing a health system that works for all.

I am obviously available should you wish to discuss this further.

Yours truly,

Michel A. Carrier, Q.C.
Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick

MAC:pp

March 20, 2008

FSL Review: Comments by the Commissioner

Fredericton, March 20, 2008 – The Official Languages Act of New Brunswick states that it does not apply to the Department of Education. This in fact limits the power of the Commissioner of Official Languages to investigate complaints with respect to the operation of the education system. The Act, however, does provide him with the authority and the responsibility to promote the advancement of both official languages. It is based on this part of his mandate that Commissioner Michel Carrier became involved with FSL reform in the province, beginning with his own review, the details of which were included in his 2005-2006 annual report.

The Commissioner has been speaking in favor of improving FSL for many years. He made presentations to the FSL Commissioners to this effect last fall and was instrumental in ensuring that the Federal Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, and others appeared before the FSL Review Commissioners as he believed these people had valuable information and insights to share. The Commissioner also spoke directly with the Minister prior to the launching of the department’s FSL Review, following the release of the Review and prior to the announcement in the Legislature last Friday. Mr. Carrier attempted to convince the Minister that the abolition of the early Immersion program was not the right course of action. He pointed out that there are a number of expert recommendations that did not seem to have been given the proper attention during the review process.

While the Commissioner does not take issue with the Minister’s right to bring about needed changes in the education system, and while he recognizes the fact that the Minister has been available to meet with him on this subject, he cannot support the decision to remove the Early Immersion program from the FSL curriculum. “There is no doubt that the system is in need of reform”, adds the Commissioner. “However, like many others who have come forward, I am not convinced that this is the way to go. Indeed, experts in the field have confirmed that there are many options that could have been considered other than slashing the early immersion program.”

As his mandate does not allow him to investigate complaints related to the ongoing FSL controversy, the Commissioner is encouraging New Brunswickers who are unhappy with the government’s decision to contact the Office of the Ombudsman. While policy issues and decisions are generally in the domain of the legislators, the suggestion that the immersion changes are more administrative than legislative and, moreover, that the Commissioners’ work was flawed, brings about questions of due process, an issue that falls squarely within the Ombudsman’s purview. As well, the Ombudsman’s role as Child and Youth Advocate mandates him to examine the impact of the changes on New Brunswick’s children.

“It is now essential that New Brunswickers share their concerns with their government,” Mr. Carrier said. “In addition to letters to the editor, MLA’s and the Minister, they can also contact the Office of the Ombudsman. For my part, I intend to continue exerting whatever influence I have to convince the provincial government of the need to re-think its decision.”

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CONTACT PERSON: Giselle Goguen, Director of Public Affairs and Research, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, (506) 444-4229, 1-888-651-6444 (toll-free), e-mail giselle.goguen@gnb.ca.

December 3, 2007

Prime Minister Announces Bernard Lord Will Lead Cross-Canada Official Languages Consultations

(Source: Government of Canada website)
Moncton, NB (3 December 2007)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of former New Brunswick Premier Bernard Lord as Special Advisor for the Consultations on Linguistic Duality and Official Languages. The appointment fulfills the Government’s commitment to conduct public consultations on the future of minority language policy as part of its strategy to update the Action Plan on Official Languages. In the 2007 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada affirmed its commitment to the principle of linguistic duality and highlighted the importance of promoting the two official languages.

“Mr. Lord is a proven leader, experienced consensus-builder and, through his experiences and his actions, the very model of a bilingual and bicultural Canadian,” said the Prime Minister. “It is hard to imagine anyone better qualified for this assignment.”

Mr. Lord will chair and moderate consultations with representatives of minority language communities and experts in the field to develop the government’s strategy on official languages. The regional consultations will take place in the first two weeks of December in seven cities across Canada. Mr. Lord will report his findings to Josée Verner, the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages, by mid-January.

“We’re making sure that minority language communities here in New Brunswick and across Canada are getting the benefits they deserve,” said the Prime Minister.

November 19, 2007

Commissioner of Official Languages submits his 2006-2007 Annual Report

Fredericton, November 19, 2007 – The Commissioner of Official Languages, Michel Carrier, has submitted his annual report for 2006-2007 to the Legislative Assembly, in accordance with New Brunswick’s Official Languages Act (OLA). The Annual Report is also available on-line.

During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages handled 119 complaints and 26 requests for information. A total of 77 complaints were admissible, with 71 based on a lack of service in French and 6 based on a lack of service in English. Thirty-one complaints were deemed inadmissible because they did not come under the Commissioner’s authority or did not concern an institution within the meaning of the Act. Eleven complaints were referred to other institutions, such as the Ombudsman and the Human Rights Commission. A summary of complaints resolved during the year is included in the Annual Report.

In addition to descriptions of the complaints resolved during the 2006-2007 fiscal year, the report also includes details on more protracted investigations into the language of court decisions, orders and judgments as well as concerns regarding a lack of bilingual service offered by NB Liquor.

The Commissioner’s annual report contains several recommendations:

  • That the Department of Health conduct an in-depth study in order to clarify its obligations under the Official Languages Act with regard to requests for the translation of medical records into the language of choice and to set out a clear policy for addressing circumstances where medical records must be translated.
  • That the Province of New Brunswick continue to lobby the federal government to have the decision to abolish the Court Challenges Program reversed and the program restored.
  • That the province of New Brunswick commit to negotiate more aggressively with the federal Department of Public Works and Government Services in order to obtain free access to the Termium on-line dictionary for all its employees.

That the government of New Brunswick and the RCMP embark, either separately or cooperatively, on an information campaign to inform New Brunswickers of the RCMP’s obligations pursuant to the Official Languages Act.

The Commissioner’s report also contains a special section on health care delivery, including an overview of health-related files with which he was involved in 2006-2007. While providing New Brunswickers with equal access to health care in their language of choice has been a challenge for some regional health authorities, Mr. Carrier believes that progress is being made. The problem is often that while those in a leadership position seem to understand the legal requirement to serve patients in both official languages, that message is often not being understood and accepted by all staff.

“Quality health care amounts to more than treating a patient’s physical or mental ailments. It also includes an emotional element that addresses the vulnerability everyone feels when they are sick, injured or otherwise in need of medical assistance. When a patient is able to ask questions and get answers in his or her own language, the uneasiness or anxiousness they feel is alleviated somewhat because they don’t have to bear the added weight imposed by the struggle to communicate.”

In his 2004-2005 Annual Report, the Commissioner had made a series of recommendations with regard to a master plan that the Province should develop and adopt in order to best assume its responsibilities under the OLA. A government-wide master plan involving civil service at all levels and providing them with clear guidelines, accurate information, bilingual work tools and positive support would not only provide them with a predictable context in which to operate but would also help the province fulfill its legal obligation to provide New Brunswickers with equal access to services of equal value. As of the end of the 2006-2007 fiscal years, the Commissioner has yet to receive any official response regarding his repeated calls for a master plan.

The Commissioner has also made repeated calls on the province to update its Official Languages Policy, specifically the section that deals with language of work. While he has been assured informally that a draft has finally been completed, the fact that it has taken many years to achieve even this does little to demonstrate the province’s enthusiasm for bilingualism or even willingness to take its legal duties seriously.

The Commissioner believes these two issues are indicative of hesitancy or, worse, lethargy within the government’s higher levels with regard to its official languages obligations. “The province needs to understand that the OLA must be enforced in order to be effective,” said the Commissioner. “It is up to the Premier and the senior staff of all provincial institutions to be proactive within the framework of the OLA. It is only through committed action and meaningful policies that the provincial government can truly deliver on the guarantee of equal access to services of equal value.”

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For more information or to obtain an interview with the Commissioner, please contact Giselle Goguen, Director of Public Affairs and Research, by telephone at 506-444-4229 or 1-888-651-6444 or via e-mail at giselle.goguen@gnb.ca.

November 9, 2007

Push in on for bilingual Vancouver Olympics

Source: Globe and Mail

VICTORIA — Just months after praising organizers of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games for its commitment to bilingualism, Canada's Commissioner of Official Languages is launching a probe to ensure the 2010 Games doesn't shortchange francophone culture.

From sports commentary to cultural showcases, from Internet sites to athletes' chauffeurs, commissioner Graham Fraser wants to guarantee that the Games are fully bilingual.

His office posted a contract yesterday to study the preparations to "ensure that Canada upholds its image as a bilingual country."

In the request for bids, the commission said the profile of the French language has not been exceptional in past Olympic games.

"French has been relegated to a protocol language at the Olympics, and English has supplanted it as the language of work and communication," the tender states. "Canada should set an example by organizing and staging a bilingual Olympics."

While organizers say they are making every effort to make the Games fully bilingual, the standing Senate committee on official languages complained earlier this year that it got a poor reception on the issue in B.C.

Two provincial ministers responsible for the Games, Colin Hansen, minister responsible for the Olympics, and John van Dongen, Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations, refused to appear before the committee, it said. "The committee is of the opinion that their evidence would have made it possible to present a more rounded picture of the situation," it noted in its report last February.

Mr. Hansen said yesterday he had "not a clue" that the Senate committee had ever asked him to testify.

However, he said he supports the concept of a bilingual Games that reflect all of Canada, "but it must reflect Canada with a West Coast perspective."

And in B.C., that means there are other priorities, such as reflecting aboriginal culture and the province's significant Asian population.

However Francine Bolduc, VANOC's program director for official languages, said organizers are working hard to live up to their bilingual commitments.

"Anything [from VANOC] that will reach the general public will be fully bilingual," she said, although that doesn't always mean equal billing.

"We are going to try to make it equal, but there are some space challenges in all of this. …We want to make sure people can understand in the language of their choice what this is all about."

That includes everything from billboards to commentary offered for official shows and competitions.

The commission's study will look at the involvement of the francophone community in the Games, especially in the high-profile cultural events.

It will also examine "communication vectors" to disseminate French-language information about the Olympics, including "general documents, spectators' guides, daily newspapers, Internet sites, signage, reception, texts accompanying services … cultural activities programs and documentation."

Robin Cantin, a spokesman for the language commission, said the concern stems from the 1988 Calgary Olympics, where event announcements were not always available in both official languages.

"Right now, everything seems to be okay, but it's still early in the game," he said.

"The organization has taken some very encouraging steps. Now we want to make sure they do the right things as the organization becomes more complex and, quite frankly, more frantic."

The commission's report is due next fall.

September 24, 2007

Government announces official languages amendment to New Brunswick’s RCMP agreement

(Source: Province of New Brunswick, CNB)

New Brunswick's agreement with the RCMP will be amended to include the province's Official Languages Act. Public Safety Minister and Solicitor General John Foran, and Minister responsible for La Francophonie, Hédard Albert, made the announcement at the New Brunswick Acadian Society's annual general meeting on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Miramichi.

Federal public safety officials have agreed to meet with their New Brunswick partners in October to discuss amendments to the RCMP agreement that are unique to New Brunswick. The meeting will continue the province's commitment to official languages in policing services.

"We are committed to respecting the language rights of all New Brunswickers," Foran said. "I am pleased that we are moving forward with contract changes that will reflect that responsibility of bilingual delivery. While I have the personal assurance of the commanding officer of J Division that the RCMP will continue to ensure service in both official languages, I am also pleased to be working toward a contract amendment that will guarantee a long-term commitment to that promise."

This unique arrangement in New Brunswick was supported by other provinces that have individual RCMP contracts.

"I am extremely proud to share this very positive news with you this evening," Albert said. "The province and the RCMP worked in a spirit of collaboration, not confrontation. We agreed that the best way to define the RCMP's obligations in the area of official languages in New Brunswick would be to make direct reference to the province's Official Languages Act in the agreement. This decision speaks volumes about the RCMP's commitment to providing services in both official languages."

September 21, 2007

Voisine at home with diverse crowds

(Source: Regina Leader-Post)

New Brunswick-raised Roch Voisine looks forward to playing in Regina promising the audience a rare concert.

"Usually, when I go to English Canada, it's 22 English songs and one French. This time, it's one French set and one English set. Hopefully, we'll draw a little more of the French population who don't often hear me sing French," says the bilingual singer and songwriter from his home in Montreal. "It's also an opportunity for the English audience to hear more of my French music."

For 20 years, Voisine has written, recorded and performed in English Canada, French Canada and Europe, in both official languages.

But, he didn't aspire to be a singer. He studied physiotherapy at the University of Ottawa and played football with the Gee-Gees.

"I was writing songs then, but it was more personal, like things you write in a journal. I'd sing them in the staircase in residence," Voisine explains. "My first audience was people who'd bring their books into the staircase. I sang and they studied."

A couple demos later, a choice loomed. When the physiotherapy director told him that he could return if music didn't work out, Voisine went for it.

His first gig was singing for 50,000 at La Ronde in Montreal on Canada Day 1986. He acted in a French television show and then released his first album Hélène in 1989. It was a hit in Quebec and France.

Fans in French-speaking, European countries have been good to Voisine.

"I didn't start singing in French, but this market opened. They are big fans of (North) American culture, so it was something different for someone to actually put the American culture into French songs," he says.

His career flourished in the 1990s. Still one of his personal favourites, "I'll Always Be There," was a collaboration with Canadian producer David Foster. He performed the song for the Queen at Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. More tours and albums followed including Kissing Rain, which was written and produced in Los Angeles, several French albums and even a Christmas record.

Voisine writes his material in English. Since word-for-word translation is impossible, some songs don't cross over.

"It would be a big mistake to try and translate the feelings and the words," he explains. "You don't sing French the way you sing English. The accents are in different spots in the same phrase … It would be simpler to come up with one record, sing one single and do one tour, but it also makes it interesting."

Basically, he has three careers — one in English Canada, one in French Canada and another in Europe.

"I come up with a French album and the hit single is one song. In Quebec, it is something else … There's very little of my Quebec material that plays in English Canada and very little of my English material that plays in France," he says.

His latest project is a greatest hits album, first the French and then the English, to cater to the unique tastes of people in all three of his audiences.

"In general, people in Canada are a little more American. Usually they come to a concert and they sit down and listen. In Europe, you feel like they came to sing with you and to participate."

That's part of the reason Voisine enjoys touring from one area to another. But, no matter which language or country he is in, he says his goal is to adapt the music while maintaining his own style.

March 21, 2007

Commissioner of Official Languages submits his 2005-2006 Annual Report

Fredericton, March 21, 2007 – The Commissioner of Official Languages, Michel Carrier, has submitted his annual report for 2005-2006 to the Legislative Assembly, in accordance with New Brunswick’s Official Languages Act (OLA). The Annual Report is also available on-line.

During the 2005-2006 fiscal year, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages handled 118 complaints and 17 requests for information. A total of 58 complaints were admissible, 42 of which reported a lack of government services in French and 16 a lack of services in English. Fifty complaints were deemed inadmissible because they did not come under the Commissioner’s authority or did not concern an institution within the meaning of the Act. Ten complaints were referred to other institutions, such as the Ombudsman and the Human Rights Commission. A summary of complaints resolved during the year is included in the Annual Report.

The Annual Report contains several recommendations:

  1. That the provincial government undertake steps with the federal government to have added to the Provincial Police Service Agreement a specific clause clearly stating that the RCMP, while acting as a provincial or municipal police force, is subject to the OLA.
  2. That the Province undertake to consult municipalities in order to identify their needs in terms of language skills training and that it come to an agreement with them on the best ways of meeting these needs. In turn, the municipalities wishing to access a language training program be required to submit a plan showing how they propose to offer bilingual services so as to comply with the OLA.
  3. That the Province undertake the necessary steps to clarify the obligations of New Brunswick professional associations and that there be discussions to determine these obligations. As well, that the professional associations, which deal with the public on a regular basis, be required to provide their services in both official languages.

OLA Master Plan: No Response

In his 2004-2005 Annual Report, the Commissioner had made a series of recommendations with regard to a master plan that the Province should develop and adopt in order to best assume its responsibilities under the OLA. Despite early assurances that the Committee of Deputy Ministers on Official Languages had been instructed to study the Report and identify the steps government should take in response to it and although it has been in their hands for more than a year, the Commissioner has yet to receive an official response. “I am at a loss to explain the low priority that seems to have been given to an important issue,” said Mr. Carrier.

French Second Language Education: Time For A Re-Think

In his Report, the Commissioner also discusses his ongoing study of French second-language education in New Brunswick. Early in his mandate, which began in 2003, the Commissioner heard from people concerned about what appeared to be a lack of progress and the absence of new initiatives aimed at improving French second language education, even after the adoption of the Province’s Quality Learning Agenda which promised that by 2013, 70 % of all high school graduates, English and French, will be able to function effectively when speaking their second official language.

Already being aware of several FSL-related studies and research projects, the Commissioner sought to hear from the people in the field and report on that input. As a result, he met with 50 people who are directly or peripherally involved in FSL programs in New Brunswick. Of these, only one person believes the 70% goal can be reached. Many factors have been attributed to the problems in the delivery of FSL programs. These include:

  • Uneven implementation of Policy 309 which states that all New Brunswick students will have the opportunity to acquire proficiency in French;
  • An insufficient number of FSL personnel, both in terms of supervisors at the district level and teachers in the schools;
  • Core French, an FSL program where French is the subject being studied, is antiquated and in dire need of changes;
  • Uneven promotion of FSL province-wide.

“It is clear that the FSL community is vibrant and that both within the education system and outside there are people who have identified problems and who can take part in finding solutions,” said the Commissioner. “There is sufficient knowledge, imagination and good will to bring about those solutions. What is essential, however, is that the provincial government and the Department of Education move firmly and convincingly on some of the problems and challenges that currently exist.”

The Commissioner’s report provides a list of suggestions from the stakeholders with whom he consulted and recommends that the government study them closely and act on them.

Language Of Work: Still No Progress

The Commissioner also notes that the provincial government seems to have made no progress in implementing promised amendments to the language of work component of its Official Languages Policy, the instrument that guides civil servants in the implementation of the OLA. He therefore reiterated his position that the language of work element be reviewed so that civil servants are able to work in their first official language and pursue their careers in that language. As well, bilingual Anglophone civil servants should be encouraged to use French in their workplace and be given opportunities to sharpen their language skills.

The Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick is an officer of the Legislature. He investigates complaints and makes recommendations with respect to compliance with the province’s Official Languages Act. The Commissioner is mandated to receive and investigate complaints regarding government institutions as they are defined under the OLA.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact Giselle Goguen at (506) 444‑4229 or giselle.goguen@gnb.ca.

January 26, 2007

Our Rights, Our Freedoms – Our Heritage: Language Rights in New Brunswick

January 27, 2007

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the fifth in a series of nine feature articles prepared for Heritage Week, Feb. 12 – 19, 2007. Entitled ‘Spotlight on our Heritage’, this series is a reflection upon the people, places, and collections of New Brunswick’s past. This article has been prepared by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, a proud partner in Heritage Week 2007. For more information on Heritage Week activities throughout the province, please visit the Heritage Week 2007 website.

Our Rights, Our Freedoms – Our Heritage: Language Rights in New Brunswick

In recognition of language rights as an integral part of “Our Rights, Our Freedoms – Our Heritage”, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick is proud to take part in Heritage Week 2007.

(Multimedia)

New Brunswick’s status as an officially bilingual province, the Official Languages Act, and the initiatives and undertakings aimed at fostering the development of linguistic communities and bilingualism, are underpinned by the desire to respect and promote fundamental rights, including those relating to language and culture.

The language rights New Brunswick currently enjoys are not the product of chance, but rather stem from a heritage bequeathed to us over the past few centuries. Our founding peoples lived through numerous conflicts associated with the settlement of Canada. They survived the deportation and bore witness to different treaties that altered the course of their lives and thus our history. In 1867, the British North America Act also played a major role in the destiny of the peoples of this province by making New Brunswick a part of Canada. Many years later, Canada’s Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms brought about absolute respect for our citizens.

In recent years, New Brunswick has taken giant steps in the area of language rights, by adopting legislation to protect the rights of its two linguistic communities. Hard work and determination on the part of one people, coupled with the co-operation and goodwill of the other, paved the way for the emergence of diverse communities that are rich in language, culture and traditions, and that contribute to the vitality of this province.

We must always acknowledge the difficulties and obstacles faced by minority francophone communities. The choice and the right to receive services in one’s language is often not an easy matter. The francophone community cannot rest on its achievements. It must work incessantly to further its language rights. Each effort to preserve and promote the French language brings the francophone community closer to its goal.

In New Brunswick, the freedom to speak and to be understood in one’s mother tongue is more and more commonplace, and the right to receive services in the language of one’s choice is firmly entrenched. These freedoms are in turn shaping and enriching the heritage of New Brunswick’s society of tomorrow.

An ability to communicate is crucial to harmony between linguistic communities. Knowledge of both official languages facilitates dialogue, as well as the sharing of ideas, and helps bring communities closer together. Knowledge of a second language is a key that opens wide the doors to another linguistic community coexisting with ours. Its richness, its history, culture, literature, and music, previously unknown to us, is just waiting to be discovered.

People have always been the drivers of the evolution of their society. By using their language rights and their freedom to speak the language of their choice in day-to-day life, New Brunswickers are contributing actively to the evolution of the only officially bilingual province in Canada.

In this era of globalization, New Brunswick is aware of its favoured position when it comes to bilingualism. The open-mindedness shown by our communities is a great boon to our economic and cultural exchanges. New Brunswick is seen, even by countries where neither English nor French is spoken, as a place that welcomes linguistic diversity, thus enabling it to establish partnerships and do business with other provinces and countries.

The goodwill shown by the majority within New Brunswick means that, ultimately, everyone will be able to live their lives to the fullest in French or English. All linguistic communities will feel at home while deriving satisfaction from seeing their language and culture being valued.

For more information about language rights in New Brunswick, visit the website of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Alison Aiton, communications, Wellness, Culture and Sport, 506-457-6445; Patricia Parent, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, 506-444-4229 or 1-888-651-6444.

October 17, 2006

Graham Fraser appointed sixth Commissioner of Official Languages

Today, Canada welcomed Mr. Graham Fraser, the new Commissioner of Official Languages.

Journalist, author, professor and lecturer, Mr. Fraser has had, for almost 40 years, a remarkable career which has straddled the language divide. According to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, “Graham Fraser will bring to the position a deep understanding of and sensitivity to Canada’s linguistic duality, a profound knowledge of Canada’s language policy and its impact on minority language communities, as well as the independence of mind of a journalist.”

If you would like more information on the above, we suggest you visit the website of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages at www.ocol-clo.gc.ca.

Furthermore, the Commissioner looks forward to meeting with Mr. Fraser in the very near future in the hopes of building upon the collaboration established with his predecessor, Dyane Adam. He is convinced that Mr. Fraser and he will successfully maintain this cooperation which will benefit the development of official languages in New Brunswick and elsewhere in Canada.