New Brunswick wants to review Official Languages Act every five years

A New Brunswick man has been awarded $5,000 after a court ruled his language rights were violated at the Moncton Hospital.

The New Brunswick government wants to review the province’s Official Languages Act every five years instead of the current mandated schedule of every 10 years.

A motion introduced by Susan Holt’s Liberal government on Friday directs the standing committee on official languages to complete a review of the act by Dec. 31, 2026.

“For the first time, we are looking at this important work to be carried out in the legislature, by elected representatives, and in full view of the public,” said a statement from Liberal MLA Benoît Bourque, who chairs the committee. “This is an opportunity to celebrate our democratic institutions and strengthen confidence in how we protect and promote both of our official languages.”

A 2021 review of the Official Languages Act by Justice Yvette Finn and John McLaughlin recommended a new five-year review schedule.

In response, the previous Progressive Conservative government under Blaine Higgs proposed the elimination of the act’s automatic 10-year review. Higgs, at the time, said eliminating the scheduled review would allow for ongoing improvements and avoid “angst” around language issues.

The Holt government also said on Friday it would establish a working group to “improve the capacity of nursing homes to provide equal quality of service in both official languages.” The province said the Department of Social Development would lead the working group with representation from the senior care sector.

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