N.B. bilingualism debate flares as parties’ battle for power unfolds
SAINT JOHN, N.B. — A resolution from an Acadian seaside town council has fired a warning shot across the bow of the New Brunswick Tories, as the municipal councillors try to rally wider francophone support condemning any minority government propped up by the People’s Alliance party.
The resolution on the bilingualism issue from Cap Pele councillor, Hector Doiron, was addressed to both the Progressive Conservatives, with 22 seats, and the Liberals, with 21, as they continued Wednesday to struggle over which party will form a minority government following the tight Sept. 24 election.
However, the People’s Alliance, with three seats, has only confirmed an informal, verbal commitment to support the Tories for a year and a half — putting leader Blaine Higgs in the crosshairs of francophone concerns.
The right-leaning alliance has called for an end to linguistic duality in some government services, such as school busing, and has urged the abolishment of the office of the official languages commissioner.