Question Period Transcript — 12 December 2013 (60th Parliament, 2nd Session)

2013-12-12, 60th Parliament 2nd Session

New Brunswick — Debates (Hansard)

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 1 December 13, 2022 CONTENTS OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT Mr. McKee Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. McKee Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. McKee Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. McKee Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. McKee Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. Bourque Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. Bourque Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. Bourque Hon. Mr. Higgs Ms. Thériault Hon. Mr. Higgs Hon. Mr. Higgs Ms. Thériault

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 2 Hon. Mr. Higgs Ms. Thériault Hon. Mr. Higgs OFFICIAL LANGUAGES Mr. K. Arseneau Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. K. Arseneau Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. McKee Hon. Mr. Higgs Mr. McKee Hon. Mr. Higgs

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 3 [Translation] OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT Mr. McKee (Moncton Centre, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Mr. Speaker, the words “disappointing” and “frustrating” summarize the Premier’s response to the Report of the 2021 Review of the Official Languages Act of New Brunswick. He made us wait almost a year, and he did not even respond to the content or the recommendations. Rather, he gave the responsibility to a secretariat that he is going to create.

He failed to respond to the 33 recommendations in the Finn-McLaughlin report. That shows a complete lack of respect toward the Francophone and Acadian communities in the province. It shows a lack of respect toward the commissioners mandated to conduct the review, the Commissioner of Official Languages, and all New Brunswickers, Mr. Speaker. In fact, this government could not care less about official languages, and I cannot understand how Francophones in the Conservative Party can continue to stand by this Premier’s side.

How can the Premier justify doing nothing in his response to the review of the Official Languages Act? [Original] Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I find it very difficult when someone says that I do not care about official languages. No one has put more effort into our being able to learn both official languages, so I wonder what the member opposite, the Leader of the Opposition, is really trying to say about this, because I am trying to create an officially bilingual province that actually functions as such.

That is why education is so, so fundamentally important. Mr. Speaker, the formation of the secretariat, working within the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, will be to have a body that will look at the real issues that have faced every worker, every employee, to deliver service across this province in both official languages. So it is not about talking, and it is not about headlines. It is about people working together to understand the issues that are facing unilingual individuals and bilingual individuals in any part of this province.

This is about having a resolution, not a headline, on issues that we actually address in each department and have consistency from one department to the next. Mr. Speaker, we are working together. Thank you. [Translation] Mr. McKee (Moncton Centre, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): The Premier continues to talk about education and young people learning French to become bilingual, but that has nothing to do with the Official Languages Act. In fact, this government will do nothing, which is a step backward. That is what the experts and stakeholders are telling us.

They say that the response the government has given us is actually a step backward with respect to the Official Languages Act. There were a lot of

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 4 recommendations; in fact, there were 33 recommendations to improve this Act in New Brunswick. That is what we are asking for. As the official opposition, we had supported all the recommendations. Acadian civil society, SANB and all Francophone stakeholders have been there to support the government in its review. They reached out to try to help the government, but it just put all the recommendations aside. Did the Premier consult with Francophones in the province? [Original] Hon. Mr.

Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, again, and I reiterate, it is interesting to hear that the teaching of both official languages in this province has nothing to do with ours being a bilingual province. It has nothing to do with it. The fact that less than 70% of our Anglophone kids speak both official languages when they graduate has nothing to do with ours being a bilingual province. Well, I beg to disagree.

I believe that we will always be talking about issues that are related to language unless we find ways to communicate with each other in both official languages. And, Mr. Speaker, it has not been easy for me as a unilingual New Brunswicker. I faced it firsthand, the criticism—direct criticism—from many of these interested groups that the Leader of the Opposition talks about. It is not easy for me, but I can only imagine how it is for people every day in their communities.

What we are doing is putting together a group that actually works for solutions, not for headlines, a group that will find a solution in education and find social experiences so that we will not be talking about being a bilingual province but will indeed be a bilingual province. [Translation] Mr. McKee (Moncton Centre, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Mr. Speaker, if the Premier wants to create a secretariat that will promote bilingualism in New Brunswick, he can do that.

However, with respect to the Official Languages Act, it was recommended that the Commissioner of Official Languages position be reviewed to make it more effective, that nursing homes be subject to the Official Languages Act, that language requirements for civil servants be clarified, and that the Act be reviewed every 5 years instead of every 10 years. These recommendations were made to improve the Official Languages Act. However, the only thing this Premier wants to talk about is education. He talks as though he is a victim because he is not bilingual. That has nothing to do with what we have been asking.

We are asking this government to give us a good response to the recommendations

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 5 from the review. He should not pass the buck for four or five months by giving this responsibility to a secretariat. He is trying to shift the responsibility away from… [Original] Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time. Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe that the Leader of the Opposition says that it has nothing to do with it.

He says that it has nothing to with it—nothing to do with the fact that, after 50 years, 70% of our kids do not graduate bilingual and nothing to do with the fact that we have issues that we have to address across the province. It has nothing to do with it, Mr. Speaker. Well, I think that there is an entire province to be concerned about. How can we build together? How can we find ways to communicate effectively and deliver our services in both official languages so that we are all able to do it? Not only 30% but everybody should be able to do it, and that is the goal.

Many times, on a lot of issues, I have talked about getting to the root cause of why we continue to have endless debates—endless, unending discussions with no resolution. The reason is that we do not talk about the real issue. We do not discuss and deal with the real issue, and the real issue is how we can deliver service, how we can represent all New Brunswickers, and how we can teach people to speak both official languages in the only officially bilingual province in this country, Mr. Speaker. Mr. McKee (Moncton Centre, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Mr.

Speaker, we want to know what this Premier is going to do to strengthen New Brunswick’s Official Languages Act. Stop talking about education and bilingualism, which has nothing to do with the legislation that is up for review. What is up for review is strengthening the law, as I have said, and examining the role of the Commissioner of Official Languages to strengthen the position. Look at implementing official languages in nursing homes that are at arm’s length from government, that must respect official languages, but for which there is uncertainty. Clarify linguistic obligations for the public service.

Those are recommendations that were made. There were 33 recommendations made, but this government is ignoring them. It is not doing anything. It is punting the ball down the road and saying: A secretariat will take care of it. We will wash our hands of any decision. He is scared to make a decision that will go against his base. Is he ready to stand up for New Brunswickers and make a review… Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Time.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 6 Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, we have responded by putting the secretariat in place. I am concerned that the Leader of the Opposition continues to ignore 70% of the kids who are graduating from our schools. I do not know how the Liberal opposition can ignore 70% of the English kids who, at this time, graduate without speaking both official languages.

I am also surprised that the Leader of the Opposition cannot recognize and realize the issues that we are facing everywhere in New Brunswick—within health care, within nursing homes, and within any aspect of trying to fulfill jobs, whether it be… In any aspect of what we are trying to do, we are lacking people. We have unique challenges right now, and we will meet our obligations. And we are not turning back anything, Mr. Speaker, as for the fearmongering that went on over and over and over again before this was released. Yes, I apologize for it taking longer than it should have.

It did take longer to respond than it should have taken—I agree. We should have been back in June. I was trying to understand more about what the education system is going to actually be. But, Mr. Speaker, we have a plan going forward. Mr. McKee (Moncton Centre, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Mr. Speaker, the Premier has to stop talking about education when it comes to the review of the Official Languages Act. It is fair to talk about education in the Education Department and what government wants to do to improve French second language training. That is a different story.

Government is missing the boat there as well. When it comes to the Official Languages Act, talking about education and bilingualism is not improving it. The subject-matter experts on the issue and the stakeholders are all saying that what we heard yesterday from this Premier is nothing more than the status quo, and the status quo is a step backward. It is a step backward, and it is not acceptable. When we review this every 10 years, we must make improvements. There are recommendations that I highlighted today that must be addressed. I want to know whether the Premier agrees that the status quo is not an option.

Can he outline the actions his government will take to move beyond the status quo and improve the Official Languages Act? Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Well, Mr. Speaker, I think that when I introduced the whole principle of the secretariat yesterday, we talked about a number of factors that the secretariat would consider in the new role, in working within government. It is to review, monitor, and evaluate the implementation plan required by the Act.

It is to regularly review the Act and regulations and make recommendations for amendments if required. It is to provide advice to government on official languages of work. The idea is that there will be a central location where departments can come to get advice, whether it be on training, on activities, or on service. This will actually be a way to functionally deliver on what the Act requires. I think that when you go back to the original… I know that I was told, from the point in time when it was originally put in place, that the requirement was that it should be reviewed

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 7 periodically. It should be reviewed after 10 years to understand whether there was anything to be added. Mr. Speaker, it was reviewed at the end of those 10 years, and it has been reviewed again now, at this time. But the purpose is to find a way to make it work for all. Mr. Bourque (Kent South, L): Mr. Speaker, the Premier is embodying one of the words of the year in the English language, which is “gaslighting”. Gaslighting is when you say that something does not exist when, in fact, it does.

This has nothing to do with education. It has everything to do with services in both languages in New Brunswick, period. [Translation] Yesterday, the Premier announced the creation of an Official Languages Secretariat. Before claiming victory, of course, it is important to know more about this Official Languages Secretariat, including its structure, to whom it reports, and the number of positions, as well as its role and responsibilities. The Prime Minister has been thinking about this for over a year now, so he surely has a good idea of what it should look like. So, Mr.

Premier, please give us some details about this new Official Languages Secretariat. Thank you. [Original] Hon. Mr.

Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Had the member opposite listened to the release yesterday and had he also read the release, it would have… I will go on to say this: • provide advice to the government on official languages topics; • take a solution-based and innovative approach in meeting the needs of the two linguistic communities; • ensure high-quality services are delivered in both official languages within government departments, agencies, the health-care sector and Crown corporations, by helping develop and maintain linguistic profiles and an efficient approach to language evaluations; • work with the Department of Environment and Local Government to assess the impact of local government reform on the act and regulations; • administer and update the Language of Service Policy and Guidelines and the Language of Work Policy and Guidelines as needed;

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 8 • undertake public outreach campaigns to promote respect, knowledge and communication between the two linguistic communities and the economic benefits of bilingualism in the province; Mr. Speaker, in other words, make sure that everybody understands that New Brunswick’s being the only officially bilingual province can actually be a benefit to all, but that it can be that benefit to all when all are able to speak both official languages. Mr.

Bourque (Kent South, L): One thing that we notice with that answer is that he gave a lot of the roles and responsibilities but was very timid on the details when it comes to the budget and the number of positions. We would like to know this, because you can have the greatest things to do, but if you do not have any means to go ahead with them, you cannot do anything or you cannot really go far. I want to know whether this new secretariat will have an appropriate budget at its disposal. Right now, the current budget for the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs is $8 million, with five employees.

I am hoping that after one year, the Premier will have a better idea in terms of the budget. We want to talk about dollars and cents, about meat and potatoes. The Premier loves to talk about this. He has the opportunity to do so. What will be given in terms of resources to this new secretariat? Also, we want to make sure that the secretariat has the means to do what they say it is going to do. Thank you. Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr.

Speaker, the idea of the secretariat, to the member opposite’s point about the members who are in the IGA today, is that, currently, there are other members in other departments. At the end of the day, we will have about nine employees in this group in the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs. The budget will be developed in the budget session that is coming up for this year, because the secretariat starts in April 2023. With all of these and by incorporating this into legislation as well as into the requirement to meet these needs, the budget will be appropriately developed at that time for the 2022-23 year.

Mr. Speaker, this is an opportunity for us to get consistency across the government, not to have each department doing its own thing but to have consistency across the government because of a common view. This central source will be of great benefit when there are questions by the department leaders and when there are questions by individuals about how we implement this, how we provide this service, what is required here, and what level of service, education, or language capability is required. Thank you. [Translation] Mr. Bourque (Kent South, L): Mr.

Speaker, the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick has a budget of approximately $735 000 for the current fiscal year. She is mandated to promote official languages in the province. In his response to the first question, the Premier clearly said that that will be the role of the secretariat.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 9 Now, what will happen with the budget for the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages? For a long time, the Commissioner of Official Languages has been saying that she wants an increase to be able to fully do her job. There is the whole issue of complaints and the need to do the commissioner’s work that goes far beyond promotion. So, the Commissioner of Official Languages is asking for this increase.

Can the Premier assure the Commissioner of Official Languages and her office that the budget will continue to be sufficient to do the job well, that it will not be reduced, and that it will remain as is? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. [Original] Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I think that as we create the secretariat with the goal of being able to provide consistency and to promote and market being an officially bilingual province, there is a role there that will be taken over by the secretariat.

Any changes that would be forthcoming regarding the Official Languages Commissioner would be through a review of the legislative office because this office falls under the Legislature along with the other legislative officers, so maybe a review of all of them might be appropriate. But that is a different story. We are not asking for that here, but we are saying that promotion is going to be a major function in the secretariat.

I think that the commissioner actually commented about that today or yesterday, saying that it is a good thing to see this happening in the government and that this, indeed, would be helpful in terms of promotion and in terms of understanding within the government what the individual departments face all the time. At the end of the day, this can have a whole lot of benefit in helping to bridge some gaps that currently exist. [Translation] Ms. Thériault (Caraquet, L): Mr. Speaker, the storytelling is going to stop now. The Premier had no choice about proceeding with the review of the Official Languages Act.

He commissioned a report from Commissioners Finn and McLaughlin, and his government received 33 recommendations. In the end, it took him a year to come up with a secretariat that is not really what we need, because it does not report to the Premier. Also, during a press conference yesterday, instead of showing real leadership, the Premier started to play the role of a victim who is not perfectly bilingual. [Original] Mr. Speaker, this is not about him. This is not about him. This is not about learning a second language. It is about the Official Languages Act.

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 10 [Translation] So, can the Premier tell us whether he understands his responsibilities with regard to the Official Languages Act? Thank you. [Original] Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I can appreciate what the member opposite is saying about the challenges that are faced in a minority community. I can understand because I have heard so many of the details surrounding this, and I am not taking away from any of that.

But we have to try to figure out whether we are going to be a bilingual province. We are working hard to make that a reality. Are we going to find ways to work together to promote our province collectively, or are we going to be two solitudes? What is our goal here? How can we be great when we are apart? We can be greater together. How do we recognize both linguistic groups equally so that you can go anywhere in the province… I have told this story many times, but it rang true with my daughter who is fluently bilingual.

All my daughters took French immersion, but my oldest is the most fluent, having spent time in France. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Order. Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, this is what she said: Dad, I never learned anything about our province in my French immersion. I knew nothing about the culture. Academics were all that I did. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): I will call time, thank you. [Translation] Ms. Thériault (Caraquet, L): Mr.

Speaker, in all his statements and all his actions, the Premier continues to display his personal bias and disdain for minority groups and marginalized people. Whether it be with regard to the Official Languages Act, relations with Indigenous peoples, the rights of LGBTQ communities, pay equity, or newcomers, the Premier shows no real willingness to try to understand their points of view and establish real relationships. He is incapable of moving beyond himself—beyond himself. So, we have had enough. Could the Premier try to put himself in the shoes of the people who must fight for recognition of their rights?

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 11 [Original] Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I take great exception to much of what was just said by the member opposite. I take great exception because I do have an affinity to look at everyone in our province equally. I do have that focus, to look at everyone equally.

When someone questions why I question this of one group or another, it is all to say: Why cannot all people have the same benefits, no matter where they live in our great province? Why cannot we—all our kids and all our people—experience the same potential, no matter where we live in New Brunswick? Yes, Mr. Speaker, I will challenge the status quo, and I have done so since I started this foray, because I am prepared to sit down with anyone—in real terms and with real people who have real concerns about their kids and their kids’ future—no matter where they live. And I want to be part of that success.

That is why we talk about the tough issues, and that is why we look for solutions. And we want help in doing that. [Translation] Ms. Thériault (Caraquet, L): Mr. Speaker, this is hogwash; it is not true. It is not true that the Premier is taking action to unite people. What the Premier is saying about going to different parts of the province to defend minorities is not true. It is not true. We have had enough. The Official Languages Act is reviewed every 10 years. The government has received recommendations. It received 33 recommendations, but none of that has been taken into account.

The government has come up with a secretariat that is not what we need. We, Francophones, need someone to advocate for the Official Languages Act and move it forward. Right now, the status quo is unacceptable. It is unacceptable and it is a step backwards. This review is a joke. It took a year to finally come to nothing. Is the member for Moncton East satisfied with this review? When he goes to bed at night, can he say that he is satisfied with this review? That is my question for the member for Moncton East. [Original] Hon. Mr.

Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I know that there has been a lot of concern here throughout this whole thing. There has been a lot of concern: Oh, you are going to take away this. You are not going to recognize that. You are going to remove this. Mr. Speaker, no one has lost anything—not one single thing. And that should be important. We are trying to bridge the gaps that exist. We worked hard in terms of bringing in more

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 12 immigrants. We raised the bar. It is not at 33%, but it is up from where it was. It is at 28%. We worked hard to bring in new immigrants who speak both languages, but who speak the French language. We continue to look at that and to provide greater service levels throughout our province. In every department, in every area, we continue to work with people who are having challenges in doing so. We have challenges right today that we are trying to keep up with.

We talk about the fact that we cannot get people—cannot get drivers, cannot get nurses, and cannot get employees in nursing homes. Mr. Speaker, we are having great difficulty finding people to work. Together, let’s find ways to make it happen. (Interjections.) Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): Member, do not point your finger. Thank you very much. And do not keep calling time. [Translation] OFFICIAL LANGUAGES Mr. K. Arseneau (Kent North, G): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier has lived a life of privilege. He received an English education with English books.

He gets health care services in English, and all meetings of the Legislative Assembly are conducted in English. Police services are in English, municipal services in Quispamsis are in English, and so is communication with government departments. He listens to the news in English, where he hears his ministers speak on the radio in the morning and on television in the evening. The current Premier was Minister of Finance and has been able to become Premier of the province. He has had a long career in the language of his choice, which was English.

Can the Premier please explain to us exactly how his language rights were infringed upon in this life of privilege? While I am at it, since I have a few seconds left, I would like to know if he thinks that a unilingual Francophone would be able to become Premier in 2022. [Original] Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I understand exactly what the member of the Green Party is saying in relation to the fact that, yes, I have worked my entire career in English.

I have traveled the world in doing that, and I know that I was privileged in that sense. Mr. Speaker, what I started to say in relation to my daughter, when I ran out of time, is this. This is what she said to me as we traveled on the campaign bus all through the province. She said: Dad, I had no idea how vibrant, how lively, and how exciting the French culture is and what a strategic, critical part of our province it is. I said: Well, Lindsey, is that not sad,

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 13 that after spending six years in French immersion, you would not know what our culture is here in New Brunswick and you would not know anything but math, science, and every other academic skill that you tried to learn in the French language—but you do not know what makes our province great? [Translation] Mr. K. Arseneau (Kent North, G): That has not been the case for a third of people in the province. In fact, a third of them are not getting services in French.

When they go to the hospital, they are still served in English during emergencies. My mother used English textbooks in school. That is not the reality for a third of the people, while the Premier would rather work for his daughter who wants to better understand who we are, as if we were folktales in a living museum of poor Francophones still kicking around in this province. When the Premier says that he wants to talk about it with everyone, he just does it with Conservatives. He has an aversion to the Legislative Assembly. There has been executive interference in what we do here in the Legislative Assembly.

So, to hear from witnesses and experts and have a public discussion on the issue, will the Premier allow his caucus to vote freely on creating a standing committee on official languages here in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick? [Original] Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I think the point that I was trying to make is that there is so much more to learn about our province and that all our kids should be learning it. That was my point.

My point was that we have greater knowledge, we have greater understanding, we have greater capability, we have greater ability to make things happen for each other, and we have a province that can be better and bigger than any other province in the country because of being bilingual. Mr. Speaker, when I talk about how we get better, this is what I am focused on: how we can get better, how we can be better, and how we can have that service more readily available as time goes on, because more people will be able to do so fluently.

We have challenges right today— challenges today—that are affecting every service we in the government deliver. Everywhere the government delivers, it is facing these challenges. That is the reality. It is hard to have these discussions in here when, out there, the reality is that we need to do better at delivering service in both languages. We need to do better in delivering service period, Mr. Speaker. Mr. McKee (Moncton Centre, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Mr.

Speaker, the Premier has mused about abolishing the position of the Commissioner of Official Languages, and now, we know that he wants to take some of the duties away from that person and give

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 14 them to a secretariat. Again, he fails to recognize that this is an independent body. One of the recommendations was to strengthen the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, not to diminish its role and put constraints on its independent office. We have seen in health care and in education the getting rid of people who do not agree with the Premier’s position. He wants them to get out of the way. Now, he is looking to strip the Commissioner of Official Languages of some of her duties.

Why is the Premier so keen on centralizing power in his office? Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, there we go again. Even after I did a report yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition still contends that I am making changes to the position of the Commissioner of Official Languages. There is nothing in the report that says that, and there is nothing that I have said which says that.

The point in this whole issue around the secretariat is that we want a body inside the government that actually is doing that promotion and that meeting with the individual departments and that understanding of how we can get better. That is the goal, Mr. Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition can continue to talk about something that does not exist. He can continue to say: Oh, well, I think there is an issue. The members opposite can continue with the rumours and fearmongering. But Mr. Speaker, it is there, it is out there. We have a plan to put in a system to actually look at real issues.

We are looking at and putting in a system to actually deal with real issues for all of New Brunswick. After all, Mr. Speaker, there is an Official Languages Act, and we need to follow the rules of that Act. Mr. McKee (Moncton Centre, Leader of the Official Opposition, L): Now, he is admitting that they need to follow the rules of the Act. Well, the rules of the Act state that you must do a review every 10 years, but he has failed to do that.

He sat on his hands for a year, and now, we are going to have to wait four or five more months for the secretariat—under what?— under the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, where he will have direct influence on what the secretariat proposes. He is trying to deflect responsibility, but we know this is all about centralizing power under one office, under one person. This has been done in health care. This is being done in education. Mr. Speaker, is the Premier ready to realize that the centralization of power is not a good idea and is not working for New Brunswickers?

We know that in the province, there is extreme dissatisfaction for this Premier. We have seen the numbers. I want to know this: Is the Premier ready to stand up for New Brunswickers, for Francophones, and for Acadians, to give us a proper response to the review on official languages, and to tell us what he is prepared to do? Hon. Mr. Higgs (Quispamsis, Premier, Minister responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs, PC): Mr. Speaker, I think the actions, certainly, and the results that we are seeing throughout every sector of this province are unlike ever before.

We have invested in communities throughout the entire province. We have strengthened communities

Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Oral Questions Original by Hansard Office Translation by Debates Translation 15 throughout the entire province through municipal reform. Throughout the entire province, there is no one who can speak in real terms of what has been lost or what has not been supported with this government. The opposition can say things such as, oh, we think, we should, we may be, and we ought, or maybe the opposition can look around and see how well communities are doing throughout this province, which we will continue to do. We have challenges in nursing homes.

We do have challenges in mental health, addictions, and homelessness. Mr. Speaker, we have some big issues to work on, and it would be nice to work together as a team because we all share in the responsibility. But it is not likely that we will get much support from the other side of the House. Mr. Speaker (Hon. Mr. Oliver): The time for question period has expired.

Document details

Collection	New Brunswick — Debates (Hansard)
Citation	2013-12-12, 60th Parliament 2nd Session
Type	hansard
Volume / chapter	content house business 60 2 qp transcripts 2121213.ang
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	4f9c33c893f151ae57c7f6363fb5f05a9970dc97

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