[lg policy] Canada: Bilingualism head critical of half-measures

[Harold Schiffman]

Bilingualism head critical of half-measures

Published Wednesday October 7th, 2009
A1Rob Linke
Telegraph-Journal

OTTAWA - Successive New Brunswick governments have adopted an approach
to official languages that is too timid and reactive, says the
province's official languages commissioner. Michel Carrier says in an
annual report marking the 40th anniversary of the Official Languages
Act that too many government actions "take the form of half-measures
that, naturally enough, yield half-results." The government's
rejection of suggestions to officially designate one of the two health
authorities the French-language body is one example of a wider
problem, says Carrier. He's calling for government to be more
proactive, "to aim higher. Let's go beyond what we've been doing so
far."

Carrier said the half-measures have triggered some cynicism about the
government's attitude toward bilingualism. The executive director of
the Acadian society says the Graham government deserves the criticism
and needs to demonstrate more confidence in the public. "The premier
needs to trust us more - francophones and anglophones alike," said
Bruno Godin of the SAANB. "We've come a long way." Hédard Albert, the
minister for Wellness, Culture and Sport, is also the minister
responsible for the francophonie. He says the Graham government is
making progress and there's more to come.

"The commissioner recognized we are making good progress," Albert said
in an interview. "I know we still have to work so that everybody in
New Brunswick can be served in the official language of their choice."
Still, he said "our government is fully engaged in promoting the
development of linguistic communities." Albert said the new language
of work policy demonstrates the Graham government's commitment, as
does the appointment of a committee of deputy ministers working on a
strategic action plan to enhance language policy.  The committee has
been asked to examine whether the "obligations under the (Official
Languages Act) are not only respected but advanced."

The committee has to report to Graham by the end of next March. "I'm
sure (Carrier's) recommendations will be useful to that committee,"
said Albert. He said he could not comment on the health authority
issue because the government's decision triggered a legal challenge
now before the courts. In March 2008, the Graham government announced
reforms to streamline eight regional health authorities into two, one
serving a predominantly French-speaking clientele and one English. At
the time, Carrier supported the position of the SAANB, which called
for Health Authority A to be designated as francophone.

The Committee for Equality in Health Services in French, a francophone
group that opposes the reforms, said the Liberal government is trying
to extinguish the rights of Acadians.

The group is challenging the constitutionality of the health merger in
the courts. The province's legal defence states that New Brunswick
laws guaranteeing the equality of French and English do not require
duality in the health sector. Carrier referred to that defence in his
report. It did in my mind create some ambiguity and it wasn't helpful
to people on the street," he said. There was also a "climate of doubt"
arising from the final report on post-secondary education reforms,
which did not confirm linguistic duality and distinct institutions in
the Charter of Rights - even though it had been in an advisory
committee's earlier report, said Carrier.

On a series of tough, complicated issues involving language, Graham
did come out and reiterate that the government not backtracking on
language rights, said Carrier.

Carrier said the past 40 years largely represent progress living
respectfully together under the language legislation brought in amid
great controversy - and dire predictions - by then-premier Louis J.
Robichaud.

His Liberal government passed the first Official Languages Act in the
spring of 1969 with the support of the Progressive Conservative
opposition led by Richard Hatfield.

Language "hasn't been without debate or controversy but generally it
has been without violence or all those awful predictions of what was
going to happen," said Carrier.

"But still, we have this timid approach to it.

"And I'm saying that doesn't help.

"A timid approach or half measures confuses the issue."

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/815981


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