New Brunswick premier calls for ‘tolerance’ amid bilingualism tensions
SAINT JOHN, N.B. — New Brunswick’s premier is making a passionate plea for tolerance on bilingualism, as he seeks to debunk long-standing “myths” of its costs amid a perceived increase in linguistic tensions.
It is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, and Premier Brian Gallant says it takes work, co-operation, and frank discussions to make it work.
“I have seen too many times, people unfortunately not being as tolerant as we would like. It has had a direct impact on my family and people that I love. I think this lack of tolerance and pragmatism explains some, if not a lot of the tension. But there are also a lot of misunderstandings, myths and exaggerations that need to be debunked,” Gallant said Monday in a speech to the Saint John Board of Trade.
He said while there has been some uproar over the need for separate school buses for French and English students in New Brunswick, it should be noted that the per student cost is actually three per cent less than in neighbouring Nova Scotia.