The Gallant government tackled the hot-button issue of bilingualism this week – something that many previous governments have shied away from.
Premier Brian Gallant delivered speeches touting the benefits of bilingualism and announcements were made to provide free second-language training to unemployed adults and to move French immersion in schools back to Grade One.
Don Arseneault, minister responsible for official languages, says it amounts to leadership and courage.
“The premier took such a leadership role by soley making a speech on bilingualism. For him to go to Saint John and Caraquet this week and for him to talk about that and his own personal feelings about it, it takes a lot of courage,” he notes.
Arseneault adds the provincial government has heard from many naysayers about bilingualism but they have heard from many more people who said it’s about time and they want to hear more about the benefits of two languages.
