40^th anniversary of the Official Languages of New Brunswick Act

Front, from left: Opposition Leader David Alward, Wendell Meldrum, Jacqueline Robichaud, Premier Shawn Graham, Robert Higgins and Robert Pichette. Back, from left: Bernard Poirier, great advocate for official languages and Michel Carrier, New Brunswick’s Commissioner of Official Languages.

On April 17, 2009, the Government of New Brunswick celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Official Languages Act of New Brunswick.  To mark the occasion, Premier Shawn Graham filed a resolution reaffirming the government’s commitment to the principles and objectives of the Act.  Among the special guests were Mrs. Jacqueline Robichaud, widow of former premier Louis J. Robichaud; Robert Higgins and Wendell Meldrum, members of the Legislature in 1969 when the Act was passed; and Robert Pichette, Premier Robichaud’s executive assistant.  On the anniversary date, the Premier announced the formation of a committee whose mandate would be to develop a strategy to implement the Official Languages Act.  The strategy will identify the measures needed to enable all departments to meet their obligations under the Act and recommend positive action to promote the development of the official linguistic communities as set out in An Act recognizing the equality of the Two Official Linguistic Communities in New Brunswick.