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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.

Fredericton, October 11, 2006 –New Brunswick’s Official Languages Commissioner has added his voice to those expressing surprise and great disappointment at the announcement of the abolition of the federal Court Challenges Program.

“As Commissioner, I have a mandate to protect and promote the rights and freedoms of New Brunswick’s Anglophone and Francophone communities. Use of the courts over the past few decades in the area of language rights, in New Brunswick and throughout the country, has represented a tool for the protection and promotion of language rights that has been favourable to the development of minority official-language communities. The Court Challenges Program has made it possible for numerous cases to be brought before the courts. Without that program, we would not have benefited from decisions that unquestionably contributed to our advancement at a remarkable pace and with remarkable vigour.”

The Commissioner said he was especially concerned about the statement by the Treasury Board president that it does not make sense for the government to financially support legal proceedings to challenge the laws of the land.

The Commissioner went on to say that, “Federal and provincial legislation and the actions of our governments cannot go against the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  The law is clear. Citizens who feel that a particular measure violates the wording of the Charter or the principles that inspire it are entitled to ask the courts to step in. It is absolutely normal and essential in a democracy that we offer easy, unhindered access to our courts. Elected officials know very well that use of the courts very often involves high costs and that, as a result, few persons or groups have sufficient financial resources to initiate legal proceedings, especially when such proceedings raise issues of constitutional law.”

The Commissioner plans to contact Premier Shawn Graham in order to urge him to intercede with Prime Minister Harper in an effort to have this alarming decision reversed and the program restored.

“We have to make sure we preserve our achievements and continue our progress. Abolition of the Court Challenges Program is a step back and will certainly have a negative impact on the advancement of language rights in Canada.”

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

Fredericton, June 7, 2006 – The Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, Michel Carrier, has issued a clarification of the current state of language rights in New Brunswick with regard to policing services, including those provided by the RCMP when acting as a provincial or municipal police force.

According to the Commissioner, judging from the reporting on the recent Federal Court of Appeal decision in the matter involving the RCMP, one might think that this police force is not subject to New Brunswick’s Official Languages Act. Certain articles about the decision imply that “only Anglophones have the right to be served in their language throughout New Brunswick. Francophones have this right only where numbers warrant.” The Commissioner believes this statement is erroneous and should be corrected.

The Official Languages Act states clearly that members of the public have the right, when communicating with a peace officer, to receive service in the official language of their choice and must be informed of that right. This right is in no way modified or diminished by the recent Federal Court of Appeal decision. “For the purposes of this release, there’s no need to comment on that decision or to debate the legal issues it raises,” the Commissioner said. “We simply wish to ensure that there is no misunderstanding with respect to the rights conferred by the Act.”

When acting on behalf of the province under the Provincial Police Services Agreement, an RCMP officer is a peace officer subject to the obligations set out in the Official Languages Act. As such, the officer, when communicating with members of the public, must inform them of their right to receive service in the official language of their choice and must then respect that choice. If the officer is unable to provide service in the official language chosen, he or she shall take whatever measures are necessary, within a reasonable time, to ensure compliance with the choice made.

“Concerned about the position that the federal Department of Justice seemed to be taking in this matter involving the RCMP, we contacted the provincial government and the commanding officer of the RCMP’s “J” Division last year,” Carrier said. “From our discussions with them, we learned that, after the adoption of the new 2002 Official Languages Act, the province had contacted the RCMP to inform it of its official languages obligations and that the RCMP had responded by assuring the government it was fully committed to meeting the requirements of the Act. We received the same message during our meeting with the commanding officer of “J” Division. In fact, “J” Division’s 2004-2005 annual report confirms to the general public that the RCMP is committed to complying with New Brunswick’s Official Languages Act and that the provision of bilingual services in all regions of New Brunswick is essential to ensuring effective policing services.”

“Although we don’t want to sow doubt about the goodwill expressed by the parties concerned, we believe that a clear, specific clause to that effect must be added to the Provincial Police Services Agreement. We already suggested this in a letter to the Premier in 2005, and we are going to revisit this issue and reiterate to the government that it must initiate discussions to ensure that such a clause is added to the agreement. Judging from the commitment expressed by the RCMP, one would think that there should be little debate, and the whole matter ought to be concluded fairly quickly.”

“We would like to repeat that the RCMP, acting under the agreement with the province, must comply with the obligations imposed by the Act on peace officers. Under subsections 31(1), 31(2), and 31(3) of the Act, you have the right to receive service from the RCMP in the language of your choice, no matter where you are in New Brunswick. You should therefore take advantage of that right.”

If, while communicating with a peace officer, members of the public feel their right to be served in the official language of their choice is not being respected, they may report this to the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick. Complaints can be filed by calling 1-888-651-6444 or by consulting the Internet site www.officiallanguages.nb.ca.

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

Fredericton, January 31, 2006 – The Commissioner of Official Languages, Michel Carrier, has submitted his annual report for 2004-2005 to the Legislative Assembly, in accordance with the province’s Official Languages Act (OLA).

While recognizing that, in adopting the OLA, New Brunswick has made a giant step forward in terms of confirming and clarifying linguistic rights, the Commissioner suggests that government must also have a clear strategy with regard to all its services and programs in order for provincial institutions to meet their obligations under the Act.

To this end, the Commissioner devotes a significant portion of his annual report to the need for government to engage in comprehensive planning in the area of official languages. He stresses the need to adopt a master plan containing a series of administrative measures for the delivery of government programs in accordance with the OLA.

“New Brunswick has a solid legal foundation to ensure the respect of the rights and obligations found in the Charter in the area of Official Languages,” he said. “Through the OLA, the Province reaffirmed its commitment to ensure that government communications, services and programs are offered in both official languages. It must now create concrete and practical measures so that we may achieve true equality in the delivery of those services as soon as possible.”

The Commissioner’s report also contains ten recommendations dealing with such issues as language training and language of work for civil servants, assistance for municipalities subject to the OLA, and the establishment of a language management board that would advise government with regard to toponymy, for example.

The report also outlines a number of complaints handled by the Office of the Commissioner during the period in question.

The Office of the Commissioner handled 150 complaints and 26 requests for information during the 2004-2005 reporting period. Some 81 complaints were admissible, 72 of which (88.9%) reported a lack of services in French and 9 (11.1%), a lack of services in English. Fifty-two complaints (29.5%) 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. Seventeen (9.7%) complaints were referred to other institutions for consideration.

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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.

Fredericton, N.B. – October 26, 2005: The Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, Michel Carrier, Q.C., has issued his final report regarding the province?s electoral process. As prescribed by New Brunswick?s Official Languages Act, the Commissioner has submitted his report to Premier Bernard Lord and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Annise Hollies, with copies sent to the complainants.

The Commissioner has the mandate to investigate, report on, and make recommendations with regard to compliance with the Official Languages Act. He is also responsible for promoting the advancement of both official languages in the province.

The Commissioner launched his investigation during the summer of 2003 after having received a number of complaints from New Brunswickers regarding access to services in the language of choice during the June, 2003, provincial elections. The Commissioner issued a preliminary report in December, 2003, wherein he identified several areas of non-compliance with the Official Languages Act, notably the active offer of service in both official languages, equality of access to services, the selection criteria for election officers, the selection of election officers where there is a lack of competent staff in the language concerned, communications with the offices of returning officers, the lists of potential election officers, and the obligation to publish in both official languages.

The preliminary report contained 13 recommendations. At the time, the Commissioner stated that he expected a response to his recommendations within the following three months. This period was extended following a request from the Chief Electoral Officer. The Office of the Commissioner received the Chief Electoral Officer?s reaction to the preliminary report following the May 2004 triennial elections (municipal, school, health authority elections).

Despite the fact that the Chief Electoral Officer eventually told the Commissioner that she had not reviewed his report until after the May 2004 triennial elections, it did appear to the Commissioner and his staff that the Chief Electoral Officer wanted to comply and this provided the incentive needed to continue interacting with the institution.

"At times, we must admit that there was some frustration with the pace of the process and also with what we perceived to be a lack of understanding on the part of the institution regarding the extent of its obligations under the Act," said Mr. Carrier. "However, we feel that this file has provided us, early in the life of this office, with an opportunity to better appreciate the role of an ombudsman and the need to make full use of the tools provided."

The ultimate goal of an ombudsman is not to simply file a report, but to work with the institution in order to find acceptable, viable solutions. Indeed, after many months of working with the institution, the Commissioner began to perceive changes in the manner in which the institution saw its role and responsibilities in the implementation of programs and measures to comply with the obligations in the OLA. "As well, recent developments allow us to believe that the climate or attitude of the institution?s personnel is changing. What appeared to us to be clearly a defeatist mindset in the face of a daunting task seems to be giving way to a more positive and optimistic approach," said Mr. Carrier.

The Commissioner?s final report details his office?s dealings with the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer following his December, 2003, preliminary report and the progress that has been made. He also offers two more recommendations aimed at encouraging the institution to build the strategic framework necessary to provide all New Brunswickers with equal access to the electoral apparatus in the language of their choice.

"There is still work to be done and the institution has an imposing job if it wishes to comply with all the requirements in a timely fashion," said Mr. Carrier. "Nevertheless, this investigation and the exchanges between our office and the institution have resulted in a firm commitment from the institution to bring about the changes to comply with the Act."

The Commissioner believes that if the institution lives up to its commitments and acts on his recommendations, it will be successful in providing New Brunswickers with the voting system they are entitled to under the law.

The next election will tell the tale.

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For more information or to request an interview with Michel Carrier, please contact Giselle Goguen at (506) 444-4758 or giselle.goguen@gnb.ca.

Votre honneur, Ladies and Gentlemen :

Like drama, personal journeys are defined by time and space. My own journey began on the shores of Pictou Harbour, in the very anglophone hamlet of Loch Broom. I would never have thought to call my village "Lac Brume," poetic as that might have been.

Time brought me to another shore, the edge of the Cumberland Basin and the space north of the Missaquash – ou Mésagouèche – known as the Tantramar Marshes where, in the words of an anonymous student poet who wrote in the Mount Allison Argosy in 1935, "Arsenault, Boudreau, Legere, LeBlanc, / Built the dykes and made them strong."

Ma ville chevauche de nombreuses routes migratoires – celles des milliers d'oiseaux qui passent chaque année, la Transcanadienne, le chemin de fer, les avions qui sillonnent notre ciel sans arrêt, les ondes de Radio-Canada International qui parle au monde, et les tracés de tant de départs – et de dispersions.

Beaucoup sont partis. Quelques-uns sont restés. And some returned, to find their roots, and their voice. Like the actor-student who discovered, when she showed her grandfather the script for Charivari, Sounds of the Tantramar, that her family's name had been changed to White from LeBlanc.

"J'écoute le silence qui suit le sifflement du train," a character confides in the same play. One voice can celebrate silence, but it takes many to make a Tintamarre. I can only accept this award on behalf of all those who have, with me, celebrated our many journeys in word, gesture, song and dialogue, over so many years.

Le Nouveau-Brunswick est un espace aux contours doux qui privilégie le dialogue et le rapprochement. Our solitudes are, in fact, neighbourhoods, so close and yet si près les uns des autres, où les versants de Dorchester donnent sur ceux de Pré d'en Haut, où Shemogue et Cap Pelé s'embrassent et fondent, comme nos langues et nos vies, l'un dans l'autre.

Notre dialogue est riche. Our dialogue celebrates respect and inclusivity. Notre dialogue est un devoir, pas seulement un droit. Defined by its most courageous defenders, tels Louis Robichaud, Richard Hatfield et Dialogue Nouveau-Brunswick, il esquisse le bien-être des citoyennes et citoyens de demain.

Thank you. Merci à toutes et à tous.

Alex Fancy
Remise du Prix dialogue du lieutenant-gouverneur / Presentation of the Lieutenant-Governor's Dialogue Award
Fredericton, 15/06/05

Dialogue New Brunswick, in partnership with the Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick, presented the Lieutenant-Governor's Dialogue Award today during a ceremony at Old Government House. The Northrop Frye International Literary Festival, Alex Fancy and Bernard Imbeault received this prestigious award respectively in the community organizations/public institutions, individuals and businesses categories.

All three recipients were recognized for their outstanding efforts to promote understanding and respect between our province's two official linguistic communities. The Northrop Frye International Literary Festival promotes Canada's bilingual literary heritage by bringing together French and English authors from around the regions, across the country, and throughout the world. Through provincial tours with the Tintamarre theatre troup, Alex Fancy validates bilingualism and promotes inclusivity and fluency in French by use of gesture and drama. Bernard Imbeault is a business leader who, through his actions, demonstrates the character traits sought: understanding, innate respect and appreciation of the people of New Brunswick's Anglophone and Francophone communities.

Created by Dialogue New Brunswick in 2003, the Lieutenant-Governor's Dialogue Award recognizes those role models who champion the principles of harmony and respect between the province's Anglophone and Francophone communities. "The seeds of tolerance and understanding sown by this year's recipients will bear more fruit, as New Brunswick continues to move ahead in a world where technology and globalization force us to work more closely with people of other cultures, languages and backgrounds." said Herménégilde Chiasson, Lieutenant-Governor of New Brusnwick.

The recipients were selected by an independent, five-member jury. The name of each recipient was added to the plaque which is on permanent display with the Award at Old Government House. Each recipient received a signed certificate as amemento.

"The annual award ceremony is a unique event where the efforts of those who build bridges of understanding can be publicly recognized and celebrated," said Odette Snow, Francophone Co-chair of Dialogue New Brunswick.

Mr. Michel Carrier, Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, added that the Dialogue Award highlights the linguistic harmony which exists in New Brunswick. "We recognize not only those who choose to serve others in both official languages but also those who promote understanding and mutual appreciation between Anglophones and Francophones."

Dialogue New Brunswick is a not-for-profit organization that promotes understanding, respect and appreciation between English-speaking and French-speaking New Brunswickers. Dialogue New Brunswick sponsors programs such as "My Friend – Mon ami(e)" – a pen-pal program which twins Anglophone and Francophone classes at the same grade level, and One-day linguistic and cultural visits allowing pen-pals to explore New Brunswick's history and culture.

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What follows is the text of a speech given by journalist and author Amy Cameron during a recent conference for French for the Future in Toronto:

When French isn't your mother tongue, it doesn't come that easy. When you're right in the middle of exams and essays, and your French teacher asks you to participate in forced conversations with your Anglophone friends, French is frustrating. You ask yourself: Why am I learning this language? I live in Toronto. My parents are Anglophone. No one at Starbucks speaks French!

French can be difficult. I took French courses for five years at my high school, Jarvis Collegiate. But I swear to you, there is a point. I'm so happy I didn't drop my courses. French has changed my life – and that's no exaggeration.

I was 17 when I heard about a Canadian lycée in France. The school, not surprisingly called the "Lycée canadien en France," was in the south, near Nice, in the small town of Beaulieu.

France was a place I was very familiar with. On the beach, you could sunbathe almost nude. You could drink alcohol starting at age 16. French men, the Eiffel Tower, love, romantic walks on the Champs Élysées. It was settled, I was going to France!

I was fairly certain my parents would think my idea of going to France was a terrible one, but for a reason I'll never understand, they happily agreed to send me. And so, at age 18, I found myself on a plane heading for France.

The students at the Lycée canadien en France were placed with French families so we could practise our French at any time. We had to eat at least one meal with our new French families, but with our friends, in the bars, on the beach, and at school, we spoke English. That didn't make any difference, I thought, because I was convinced I was already bilingual.

I could place an order at McDonald's like a fluently bilingual person: "Un hamburger, un Coca Cola et des frites, s'il vous plaît." I could read the names of Montreal's streets and stores – rue Sainte-Catherine and Château du Sexe.

No problem. Amy Cameron was bilingual.

Amy Cameron WAS NOT bilingual.

In France, I lived in the small village of Villefranche. The first week I was there, I decided it was time to buy a baguette, because baguettes are French, and I was in France. In France, you buy baguettes at "boulangeries" – I knew all about boulangeries, because I was perfectly bilingual. What I didn't know was that, not only do you go to boulangeries to buy baguettes, but that's where the French go to gossip.

So there I was, Amy Cameron, at the boulangerie, having a long, impassioned conversation with the boulanger, or baker. I explained to him that Canadian bread is not as good as French bread – the flavour isn't as delicate, as natural, or as delicious. At the end of my five- or -ten-minute monologue, the boulanger begged me to stop. He hadn't understood me at all. He thought I was crazy.

The only thing the boulanger had understood was the word "préservatifs."
Here's why: When I couldn't think of the right word in French, I'd say the word in English, but with a French accent. I had some success with the English words "automobile," "telephone," and "television." But it didn't work as well with the word "préservatifs." I said "préservatifs" several times while I was talking to the boulanger. Fortunately, someone who really was bilingual heard me and interrupted me, explaining that "préservatif" in French means "condom." I had just explained to the boulanger that Canadian bread contained way too many condoms.

At school, we all had similar stories to tell – one guy in my class had asked the lady of the house where he was staying to pass him the "nichons" – nipples – instead of the "cornichons" – pickles. She slapped him in the face, and that was the last time they ate together.

My boyfriend, whom I got to know in France 13 years ago, told a waiter in a restaurant that he was no longer hungry because he was "plein" – in France, that means pregnant.
But after a few months, I started to express myself better. I decided to stay in France for the whole year – and then a second year. I moved to Paris. I worked in a restaurant and decided to study fashion. All my friends were French, and I refused to speak English.
I've been told that the two main signs you're bilingual are if you dream in French and count in French. By the end of my two-year stay, I was dreaming and counting in French.
Being able to speak and use French in Canada is like having a superhero power. It's a magic key, a passport to everywhere. Doors open, you discover new cultures, and when you come back to Canada with those new experiences, it's as if you were returning to a whole new country.

When the time came to choose a university, Montreal was my first choice – and I spent four years at Concordia in the plastic arts program, studying fine arts. I had to find a part-time job so I could pay for my school supplies – paint, brushes, and of course, beer. I was hired at a hardware store. It didn't matter that I knew nothing about hammers or saws or nails; I was hired because I could speak French.

In 1995, while I was still a student in Quebec, there was a referendum. Suddenly our united country, Canada, was at risk of splitting in two. I had Québécois friends. I loved Quebec. I was finally bilingual!

The debate over a distinct society was going on everywhere at the time. Yes, Quebec is a unique society, but it's my Quebec and my country, too. And so I marched through the streets of Montreal with Francophones, Anglophones, Canadians to save my country.

I got my B.A. in fine arts and decided to move to New Brunswick. It wasn't expensive to live there. I could do my painting, and besides, it was far away from my parents, who lived in Toronto.

I found a job as a waitress, but with my modest salary, I didn't have enough money to live comfortably.

My sister suggested that I try writing – why not?

A few days later, I found myself face to face with the editor in chief of the provincial newspaper. The interview was pathetic. I had no examples of my writing, and I had totally forgotten to bring my résumé.

The editor, like the boulanger, thought I was completely crazy, but when he learned that I spoke French, everything changed. New Brunswick is the only province in Canada that is officially bilingual, and the newspaper needed a journalist to work in the Moncton office, a city with a population that is half Anglophone and half Francophone.

I had never published a single word, but the editor still hired me.

New Brunswick French is a bit different: the Francophones in that province are not Québécois, but Acadians.

The French spoken in Acadia is an old French, older than the French spoken in Quebec. At the same time, Acadians use lots of anglicisms. So when I took a word I didn't know in French and replaced it with an English word (but using a French accent, of course), people accepted it without question.

For example, I have an Acadian friend who is a lawyer and completely bilingual – her father is Francophone and her mother is Anglophone. For work, my friend has to travel in the Acadian Peninsula region. One day, she needed gas, and when the time came to pay, she added "Peux-tu aussi topper up le windshield wash?"

French has always helped my career. In 1999, I won an Amnesty International award for the stories I wrote during the Francophone Summit in Moncton. When I worked for Maclean's, every week someone would ask me for help with a translation or an interview in French. I was one of three people in the office who were bilingual. One of three – working for Canada's so-called national newsmagazine.

A month ago, I sold the book I wrote, Playing With Matches: Misadventures in Dating, in France and in Quebec.

My experiences in French have even had an effect on my personal relationships. I met my boyfriend in France when I was 18. Ten years later, at our school reunion here in Toronto, we met again, and we've been together for three years now. My best friends are the people I met in Quebec, at the lycée in France, and in New Brunswick. When I go on trips, I use my French. Even if I make mistakes, people respect me more for making the effort.

French continues to be a passport to everywhere; I would never have had the opportunity to be here with you all today if I weren't bilingual.

If you're interested?and even if you're not really interested, try to continue to speak, practise, and learn French. I realize that when you're right in the middle of an exam or in the process of conjugating the verb "avoir" in the subjunctive, it's a pain.

But when you're in Quebec or in France, or you meet the members of the band Daft Punk, or you're in Montreal dancing on a table, you'll be glad you kept at it.

My accent's a bit rusty, and my grammar isn't perfect, but I love this language. I love that it's possible to confuse "nichons" and "cornichons." I love the image of a baguette full of condoms. And I love the fact that I'll never make those kinds of mistakes again for the rest of my life.

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Fredericton, November 15, 2004 – The first Commissioner of Official Languages, Michel Carrier, has submitted his first annual report, for 2003-2004, to the Legislative Assembly, in accordance with the new Official Languages Act (OLA).

In the annual report, which covers the first year of operation of his office, the Commissioner discusses the evolution of official languages in New Brunswick, his mandate and role, the setting up of his office, the establishment of a procedure for filing and handling complaints, and the complaints received.

Although the Commissioner’s first annual report is rather general in scope, it nonetheless devotes space to making the provincial government aware of deficiencies with regard to the active offer of services in both official languages. “Active offer” refers to the obligation that a provincial government institution has under section 28.1 of the OLA to “ensure that appropriate measures are taken to make it known to members of the public that its services are available in the official language of their choice.”

The Commissioner notes that, despite the progress that has been made in the province in the area of official languages, much remains to be done: “There is still work to be done: an active offer of services in both official languages is not automatic in all government institutions, including health care institutions; members of the public do not automatically have access to services in the language of their choice in all hospitals in the province, particularly in the regions with an Anglophone majority; and Francophones hired for public service positions in the province still cannot take it for granted that they will be able to work in their language.”

The Figures

The Commissioner opened 204 files during his office’s first year of operation, including 74 admissible complaints, 69 inadmissible complaints, 29 complaints referred to other appropriate institutions, and 32 requests for information. The admissible complaints fall into the categories of in-person services and communications with the public. He notes that the absolute number of complaints received by an institution does not necessarily indicate the relative importance of those complaints. He cites the 11 complaints received concerning the provincial election. “Although the number of complaints is minimal in absolute terms, this doesn’t necessarily mean that everything went off without a hitch in the last provincial election,” he said. “It is reasonable to conclude that, since complainants reported that no active offer was made at some polling stations at certain times of day, then all the other people who went to that polling station on that day did not have access to the services required under the OLA.”

Mr. Carrier sees himself as a sort of gatekeeper on the public’s behalf regarding compliance with the OLA and says that he alone cannot play the role of agent of change with respect to the promotion of English and French in the province. He expresses his conviction that all citizens must do their part to advance the equality of both official languages but stresses the fact that the Legislative Assembly and the government are primarily responsible for that advancement.

More specifically, the Official Languages Act “confirms our collective values of equality and equal opportunity for all. It is intended to change our individual and collective attitudes and behaviours such that the principles of equality of status and equal rights and privileges become a reality. That is the challenge presented by the Act.”

Role of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick

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 Official Languages Act. The Commissioner communicates the results of the investigation and any recommendations, including any opinion and the reasons for the recommendations, to the Premier, the deputy minister or other administrative head of the institution concerned and the complainant. The Commissioner can investigate pursuant to a complaint he receives or on his own initiative.

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, please contact Giselle Goguen, Director of Public Affairs and Strategic Planning, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, at (506) 444-4229 or 1-888-651-6444.

Fredericton, N.B. -June 21, 2004: Last Wednesday, at Old Government House, Dialogue New Brunswick awarded its Lieutenant-Governor Prix Dialogue Award. This prestigious award is given annually to persons or organizations that have distinguished themselves for their involvement in the advancement of bilingualism in New Brunswick.

As Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, Mr. Michel Carrier wishes to congratulate Honourable Louis J. Robichaud, former Premier of New Brunswick and Mrs. Lyne Raymond, Vice-President of the 2003 Bathurst-Campbellton Canada Winter Games Host Society. He also wishes to pay tribute to the late Honourable Richard Hatfield, former Premier of New Brunswick, who was awarded the recognition posthumously.

The former Premier of New Brunswick, Louis J. Robichaud, in his acknowledgment remarks, told the group how proud he was of the progress accomplished since 1960, including the progress during the years Richard Hatfield was in power. He believes New Brunswick is an example for the rest of the country in the area of bilingualism.

Mr. Carrier reiterates the comments of Louis J. Robichaud in applauding the progress New Brunswick has achieved in the area of official languages, particularly in bringing together the two official language communities of the Province. For the Commissioner, that progress can be attributed to the vision and determination demonstrated by Louis J. Robichaud and Richard Hatfield. “These two politicians were able to translate their convictions regarding equality and respect into concrete actions that have definitely resulted in the social changes in New Brunswick in the area of official bilingualism and recognition of equality between the English and French linguistic communities. Thanks to their leadership, New Brunswick is effectively an example for the rest of the country.”

For the Commissioner of Official Languages, the task accomplished by Louis J. Robichaud and Richard Hatfield and by their respective political parties has created an environment of inclusion and of respect that favours an easy and necessary cooperation between the province’s two official linguistic communities. One has but to consider the enormous success of the 2003 Bathurst-Campbellton Canada Winter Games Host Society in bringing to that region bilingual winter games. “I can but recognize and acknowledge, with much admiration and gratitude, the enormous task of coordination, of planning and of motivation that made it possible to organize the 2003 Canada Winter Games where 70% of the events were held in both official languages of the province and of the country. I wish to congratulate Mrs. Lyne Raymond, Vice-President of the Society for making us feel proud during these games.”

Mr. Carrier recognizes the excellent work accomplished by Dialogue New Brunswick in promoting bilingualism and bridging the gap between anglophone and francophone citizens of the province. According to him, this unifying organization greatly contributes to quality of life in New Brunswick with its continued and visionary efforts.

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For more information, please contact Ronald LeBreton, Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Planning, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, (506) 444-4229 or 1-888-651-6444.

Congratulations to Mathieu Larocque, of “la Polyvalente Marie-Esther” in Shippagan and to Marie-Christine Arpin, of “l’École Marie-Gaétane” in Kedgwick, grade 12 students who have each been awarded a bursary in the amount of $1,000 from the Université de Moncton during the 15th annual Provincial French Pride Week. Both Mathieu and Marie-Christine were awarded this bursary after winning first place amongst the participants to the literary contest. In order to be considered, the essays submitted had to express a thought or opinion and be centered around the theme of « En français je suis né, née, en français je vivrai » (I was born in French, and I’ll live in French).

We wish them both great success in their university studies.

Click on the links below to read the winning essays (French only).

Mathieu Larocque

Marie-Christine Arpin

Fredericton, N.B. – April 1, 2004: This Spring day of 2004 marks the first anniversary of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick and of the designation of Michel Carrier as the first Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick. “A considerable part of my time during this first year of operation was taken to set up the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, to establish complaints procedures and to establish a network of cooperation with other organizations and individuals in the area of official languages. Our staff and I also devoted substantial time to the dissemination of information on the Official Languages Act and the role of the Commissioner of Official Languages.

At this time, the Commissioner can only provide a partial appraisal of the work accomplished by his Office to date. A more complete evaluation will be presented in his annual report to the Legislature which should be ready early next fall. However, he is quite proud of the work accomplished in such a short period of time. “I cannot but take note of the positive attitudes demonstrated by the public and governmental institutions regarding the necessity for bilingualism in New Brunswick. Indeed, I am very encouraged by the fact that governmental institutions and individuals in leadership capacities recognize that there is still place for improvement in many areas of service delivery and I sense that there is a genuine willingness on their part to do what is necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Official Languages Act.

Surveys continue to affirm the public’s support for bilingualism in the Province and in fact, our own assessment following our meetings and discussions with many New Brunswickers confirm that the public accepts the principle that all citizens of the province must enjoy equal access to services of equal quality in the official language of their choice. That being said, there is still much to be done to ensure that the principles of equality enshrined in the Official Languages Act lead to a genuine equality in the area of official languages. I see my role as Commissioner of Official Languages as one of contributing positively to social changes which reflect these principles of equality.”

For Michel Carrier, this positive attitude towards bilingualism augurs well for the Province and for the establishment of conditions and mechanisms that will help New Brunswick compete in the global economy while respecting principles of equality. The Commissioner also appreciates the commitment of some members of the business community to the necessity for businesses to become bilingual. They recognized more and more that bilingualism is a considerable economic advantage in an ever-competing business environment.

“The province of New Brunswick can be proud of its accomplishments in the establishment of official languages. We constitute an example for the rest of the country, a model to emulate with regard to respect for the linguistic rights of the English and French linguistic communities. I consider that our challenge at the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages is to contribute positively in building a society that is open to both its official languages, open to members of the diverse cultures who speak one or both of these languages and open to the world as a whole. We must continue building on our successes in that area.”

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For more information, please contact Ronald LeBreton, Director, Public Affairs and Strategic Planning, Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick, (506) 444-4229 or 1-888-651-6444.