New Brunswick: Canada's Bilingual Province

New Brunswick is a Canadian province with a population of around 775,610 people. It is one of Canada's smallest provinces, with a surface area of 72,908 km2. The province is officially bilingual, with around two-thirds of the population speaking English as their first language, and one-third speaking French. New Brunswick has parallel public school systems in both English and French, and residents have the right to receive provincial government services in the official language of their choice.

New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province

New Brunswick: Canada's Only Officially Bilingual Province

History of Bilingualism in New Brunswick

The history of bilingualism in New Brunswick can be traced back to the Official Languages Act of 1969, which set English and French as the province's official languages. This act was significant as it recognised the fundamental right of New Brunswickers to receive services from the provincial government in the official language of their choice. This right was further entrenched in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, which applies specifically to the institutions of the Legislature and the government of New Brunswick.

Support for Bilingualism in New Brunswick

A survey conducted by the province's Commissioner of Official Languages in 2022 found that 81% of New Brunswickers supported the Official Languages Act, with support from both francophone (95%) and anglophone (73%) communities. The survey also revealed that over 90% of respondents believed it was important to have second-language training in schools and that language training for adults should be free.

Challenges and Frustrations

Despite the support for bilingualism, there are challenges and frustrations faced by both linguistic communities in New Brunswick. A report released in 2022 by provincial court Judge Yvette Finn and former deputy education minister John McLaughlin highlighted the need for all New Brunswickers to develop proficiency in both official languages to alleviate these issues. The report made 24 recommendations, including the adoption of a standardised model for measuring language proficiency and the need for strong second-language programming in schools.

Bilingualism in the Workplace

According to Statistics Canada, the proportion of workers in New Brunswick who primarily use French at work has been declining since 2001. In 2021, 20.1% of workers primarily used French, 75.9% primarily used English, and 3.9% used both languages equally. However, it is worth noting that 39% of workers in the province were bilingual, with 81% of them predominantly speaking French at home and 23% predominantly speaking English.

New Brunswick, Canada's only officially bilingual province, has a unique linguistic landscape. The recognition of English and French as official languages and the right to receive services in the language of one's choice are important aspects of the province's commitment to bilingualism. However, there are ongoing efforts to improve bilingualism and address challenges faced by both linguistic communities.

About two-thirds of the population are English speakers

New Brunswick is one of Canada's four Atlantic provinces and is home to about 775,610 people. It is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the country, with about two-thirds of the population speaking English and one-third French. Both languages have equal status and rights, and New Brunswickers have the right to receive provincial government services in the official language of their choice. This means that all institutions of the legislature and government of New Brunswick must recognise both languages.

The recognition of both English and French as official languages is a unique feature of New Brunswick's legal system. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that:

> English and French are the official languages of Canada and have equality of status and equal rights and privileges as to their use in all institutions of the Parliament and government of Canada.

This equality of status extends to the English and French linguistic communities in New Brunswick, which are officially recognised with equal rights and privileges. These include the right to distinct educational and cultural institutions necessary for the preservation and promotion of these communities.

The Official Languages Act of 1969 further solidified bilingualism in New Brunswick, recognising French as an official language alongside English. This Act also gave New Brunswickers the right to obtain provincial government services in the official language of their choice.

The recognition of English and French as official languages in New Brunswick has had a significant impact on various aspects of life in the province. For example, New Brunswick has parallel public school systems in both English and French, serving students from kindergarten through to Grade 12. Additionally, the province's largest city, Saint John, is split almost evenly between English and French as working languages.

The bilingual nature of New Brunswick has also influenced its economy. The availability of bilingual staff has made the province an attractive location for companies looking to establish customer service and technical support call centres. Furthermore, the province's strong sense of community and friendly atmosphere have made it a desirable destination for immigrants, who contribute to its growing economy.

In conclusion, about two-thirds of New Brunswick's population are English speakers, and this linguistic diversity is a defining characteristic of the province, shaping its culture, education system, and economy. The recognition of English and French as official languages has fostered a sense of equality and inclusivity, making New Brunswick a welcoming place for people from diverse backgrounds.

French-speaking communities make up one-third of the population and lie in the northern part of the province

New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province, with French and English enjoying equal status and equal rights. The province's bilingual status is enshrined in both provincial and federal law. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognises the equality of the English and French linguistic communities in New Brunswick, guaranteeing their right to distinct educational and cultural institutions.

French-speaking communities make up approximately one-third of the population of New Brunswick, with the majority of French speakers being of Acadian origin. The Acadians are descendants of French settlers and some Indigenous peoples of Acadia, a former French colony in what is now Nova Scotia. The Acadian French variety of the language is spoken in New Brunswick, with seven regional accents. The French-speaking communities are largely based in the northern part of the province, with the majority of the population being English speakers.

The French-speaking community in New Brunswick has a strong presence, with French being the first official language for around 31.8% of the population as of 2016. The number of people able to conduct a conversation in French has also increased over time, with 33.2% of the population reporting the ability to speak both English and French. This bilingualism is a unique feature of the province, with New Brunswick being home to French and English language services, schools, universities, and media outlets.

The French-speaking community in New Brunswick continues to advocate for full funding of French-language public services and fair representation in public sector employment. The preservation and promotion of French language and culture are important aspects of the province's linguistic duality. The community has specific educational and cultural institutions, such as the Université de Moncton, the province's only French-language university.

New Brunswick has a parallel system of Anglophone and Francophone public schools

New Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the four Atlantic provinces and one of the three Maritime provinces. In 1969, New Brunswick passed the Official Languages Act, which began recognising French as an official language, alongside English. This act also established the right of New Brunswickers to obtain provincial government services in the official language of their choice.

About two-thirds of the population are English-speaking, and one-third is French-speaking. Anglophone New Brunswickers make up roughly two-thirds of the population, while about one-third are Francophone. Recently, there has been growth in the number of people reporting themselves as bilingual, with 34% reporting that they speak both English and French.

• Anglophone North School District (ASD-N)
• Anglophone South School District (ASD-S)
• Anglophone East School District (ASD-E)
• Anglophone West School District (ASD-W)

The Francophone districts are:

• Francophone Nord-Est School District (DSFN-E)
• Francophone Nord-Ouest School District (DSFN-O)
• Francophone Sud School District

Moncton is New Brunswick's second-largest city and is home to a large number of English speakers

Moncton is New Brunswick's second-largest urban area and most populous city. It is a bilingual city, with 58.5% of its residents having English as their mother tongue, and 46% of the city's population being bilingual in both English and French. Moncton is also New Brunswick's largest city, with a population of 79,470 as of the 2021 census. The metropolitan population in 2022 was 171,608, making it the fastest-growing CMA in Canada for the year. Moncton's urban area is the third-largest in Atlantic Canada, after Halifax and St. John's.

Moncton was founded in 1766 with the arrival of Pennsylvania German immigrants from Philadelphia. Initially an agricultural settlement, Moncton was not incorporated until 1855. It was named for Lt. Col. Robert Monckton, the British officer who had captured nearby Fort Beauséjour a century earlier. Moncton's economy has traditionally been based on transportation, distribution, retailing, and commerce, supplemented by strengths in the educational, healthcare, financial, information technology, and insurance sectors. Moncton has garnered national attention due to the strength of its economy, with a local unemployment rate that is consistently less than the national average.

Moncton is steeped in history, with many cultural institutions and museums, such as the Acadian Museum and Le Centre Culturel Aberdeen. The city's largest green space, Centennial Park, includes many attractions and activities, from hiking and skiing trails to an artificial beach and a treetop adventure course. Moncton is also home to Magnetic Hill, a famous attraction on the city's northwest outskirts that includes a golf course, water park, zoo, and an outdoor concert facility.

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