NB Education Minister Forms New Commision to Study Francophone Education

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On June 30, 2008, I reported on the ongoing struggle of French language instruction – as a second language – In New Brunswick (NB), Canada.

At the time, Minister Lamrock discussed a number of concerns with local residents: alternative strategies of intensive semesters in neighbouring Quebec, better training for educators, possibly postponing the planned cancellation of early French Immersion. Planned town-hall discussions in various regions of the province have and will continue to be held throughout the summer months to discuss specific concerns of effected families and communities.

On July 4, Lamrock appointed Gino LeBlanc to head the Commission on Francophone Schools, whose purpose is to formulate improvements for primary French language instruction in NB. While these two issues are related, the respective causes for concern and rationale for separate study are very different. In essence, the language is the same, the culture is not, the distinction is striking.

It may not be known, even amongst Canadians, that New Brunswick has a unique distinction in the four founding provinces of this country as the only officially bilingual province. The Canadian Constitution Act (1982), Section 16 states (in part):

Official languages of New Brunswick

16 (2) English and French are the official languages of New Brunswick and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick.

English and French linguistic communities in New Brunswick

16.1. (1) The English linguistic community and the French linguistic community in New Brunswick have equality of status and equal rights and privileges, including the right to distinct educational institutions and such distinct cultural institutions as are necessary for the preservation and promotion of those communities.

Section 5 of the New Brunswick Education Act goes further, to say:

5(1) A person entitled to free school privileges under section 8 is entitled

(a) if the person has sufficient linguistic proficiency in only one of the official languages of New Brunswick, to receive those privileges in a school district, school and class organized in that official language,

(d) notwithstanding paragraph (a), if the person’s parent has rights under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to receive those privileges in a school district, school and class organized in the French language.

Section 23 of the CCA-1982 guarantees instruction in either official language even in areas where that language is in the minority.

Not only must Lamrock balance the needs of parents interested in having their children learn both national official languages, but he is constitutionally required to address the needs of Francophones living in primarily Anglophone communities and vice versa. Hence, his formation of the new commission.

"In order for the Province of New Brunswick to achieve self-sufficiency, it must be able to depend on quality francophone schools," Lamrock said. "I am thrilled to announce that Gino LeBlanc is currently preparing the commission's action plan with a view to launching the extensive public consultation that will begin this fall. The commission's objective will be to find strategies to ensure quality education for all francophone students, and equip francophone schools in New Brunswick to address the challenges of an educational, cultural, and linguistic mission in a minority environment." (official press release)

Lamrock, and LeBlanc intend to hold a separate round of public meetings, beginning in Fall 2008. As Commissioner, LeBlanc will work closely with a number of interested parties in the province: inc., Fédération des conseils d'éducation du Nouveau-Brunswick (French Advisory Council of NB), Association acadienne des artistes professionnelles du Nouveau-Brunswick (Acadian Association of Professional Artists of NB), and the Faculty of Education, Université de Moncton. Given that public consultation will not take place until well into the 2008 - 2009 school year, one can safely assume that any planned changes will not take effect until at least Fall of 2009.

It is unclear, at this time, why Lamrock announced changes to secondary French language instruction so suddenly in March of this year, while allowing for a much longer consultation process for his recent announcement. One wonders if mistakes learned-from prompted greater care, or whether Lamrock does not notice the perception of unfairly prioritizing language instruction according to his constituency.