French in N.B. sees decline

The Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick is deeply concerned about the decline of French being spoken inside homes across the province.

In her annual report released Monday, Shirley MacLean said data from the 2021 Census confirmed worrying trends for the official linguistic minority, in particular the decline of their demographic presence.

Census results for 2021 released in October 2022 showed the percentage of people in the province who predominately speak French at home has dropped.

Twenty-eight per cent of New Brunswickers spoke mostly French at home in 2016.

That number dropped to 26.4 per cent in 2021.

“These numbers point to a slow erosion of French as a first language in New Brunswick. This should be concerning to all New Brunswickers no matter which linguistic community they are part of,” said MacLean at a news conference in Fredericton. “The vitality of our province’s two official linguistic communities is integral of our collective culture and identity.”

The report also stated 29.5 per cent of people in the province indicated French is their mother tongue compared to 63.7 per cent for English speaking people.

MacLean’s office also received 97 admissible complaints last year.

The report stated 87 of the complaints alleged a lack of service in French and 10 alleged a lack of service in English between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

MacLean said the report demonstrates the importance of official languages and the vulnerability of patients seeking medical services.

The complaints related to seven incidents, at various Horizon and Vitalité health establishments, where a patient was unable to receive forms issued under the Mental Health Act in the official language of their choice.

The office received 109 requests for information, an increase of close to 40 requests from the previous year.

More to come….

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