FIRST REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE, PRIVILEGES AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS First Session Sixty-first Legislative Assembly of the Province of New Brunswick December 10, 2024 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE Ms. Wilcott, Chair Mr. Arseneault, Vice Chair Mr. M. LeBlanc Mr. Bourque Mr. J. LeBlanc Mr. Robichaud Mr. Doucet Mr. Austin Ms. S. Wilson Ms. M. Johnson Mr.

Coon December 10, 2024 To The Honourable The Legislative Assembly of The Province of New Brunswick Madam Speaker: Your Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers begs leave to submit their First Report of the First Session of the 61st Legislature. Pursuant to Standing Rule 92, all Standing Rules and practices of the House, together with any matter referred by the Speaker, stand permanently referred to the Committee. Your Committee’s Report contains recommendations for amendments to the Standing Rules to create a new Standing Committee on Official Languages.

And your Committee begs leave to make a further report. Kate Wilcott, MLA Chair 3 Further to its permanent order of reference, your Committee held a meeting on November 26 and December 3, 2024, to consider creating a standing committee on official languages.

Your Committee reviewed the Standing Orders governing the House of Commons Standing Committee on Official Languages, and considered the “Report of the 2021 Review of the Official Languages Act of New Brunswick, Organization, Communication and Commitment”, which recommended the establishment of a committee, specifically: “1.1 That this committee be specifically charged with monitoring the progress of the application of the Act, the regulations and instructions made under it, with considering the reports of the Premier, the Commissioner of Official Languages and the Department of Official Languages, and with making recommendations as appropriate.” Following deliberations, your Committee recommends the establishment of a Standing Committee on Official Languages. 4 Amendments to the Standing Rules Your Committee therefore recommends for adoption the following amendments to the Standing Rules: 1 Standing Rule 89 is repealed and the following is substituted: 89 The Standing Committees shall be appointed on motion at the commencement of each House and shall be: (

a) the Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Stewardship; (

b) the Standing Committee on Economic Policy; (

c) the Standing Committee on Estimates and Fiscal Policy; (

d) the Standing Committee on Law Amendments; (

e) the Legislative Administration Committee; (

f) the Standing Committee on Official Languages; (

g) the Standing Committee on Private Bills; (

h) the Standing Committee on Procedure, Privileges and Legislative Officers; (

i) the Standing Committee on Public Accounts; (

j) the Standing Committee on Social Policy. 2 The Standing Rules are amended by adding before Standing Rule 91 the following: 90.1 The mandate of the Standing Committee on Official Languages shall include, among other matters, the review of and report on official languages policies and programs, including reports of the Commissioner of Official Languages and of the Secretariat of Official Languages, which shall be deemed permanently referred to the Committee.