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https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-child-and-youth-1.5810468
Child and Youth Advocate says keeping schools open is vital for students
Norm Bossé delivered his seventh State of the Child report Friday looking at children in the pandemic
· CBC News · Posted: Nov 20, 2020 5:58 PM AT
Norm Bossé released his report on children and youth, and says the province must look closer at how students are managing during the pandemic.
Children in New Brunswick have been among the Canadian students most seriously impacted by the long school shutdown caused by the pandemic, said the province's Child and Youth and Seniors' Advocate.
Norm Bossé delivered his seventh State of the Child report Friday, called, "Protecting Child Rights in Times of Pandemic."
Bossé said keeping schools open is vital to helping vulnerable children during the pandemic.
"That's why we're saying, if all else fails, just keep the schools open as long as we can," he said.
Bossé said during the long shutdown in the spring, many students lost more than just education time. They also lost stability and access to vital services, leaving them vulnerable.
"Schools and teachers are at the forefront of making sure that young children and young adults are well," Bossé said.
Talk to the students
If a student has a problem he said, teachers are usually the first to spot it. But Bossé said there's still not enough data being collected about just how students are being affected.
"We do not have any statistics in New Brunswick yet because we haven't gone and asked and engaged those young people in, 'Okay, what did COVID do for you? How did you do at home? How did you do at school?'"
Bossé is recommending the department of education have students fill out surveys about their experiences throughout the pandemic and shutdown, and the effect both have had on their education and their lives.
It's work he said isn't currently being done, but should be right now, and again when the pandemic is over.
"Once we get those statistics we will be able to form a picture to say, 'What was the worst effect on kids? What did not go right in restarting school? What did they suffer most from -- was it the alienation? Not being able to play in the school ground, to get to know their friends again, not to have sleepovers at their friends houses?''
Bossé said he's "very concerned" about students who did not re-enrol when school started again in the fall and recommends that every student who didn't should be contacted and assessed.
According to the Department of Education 2,316 homeschool requests have been approved for this year.
Six recommendations are outlined in the report including the creation of a youth parliament, and the incorporation of the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child into domestic law, among others.
On January 1, 2020, Charles Murray was appointed as the Integrity Commissioner for the Province for a seven-year term. At the same time, he was appointed as the Acting Ombud for a one-year term and will continue to serve in both capacities until a new Ombud is appointed.
3 new watchdogs appointed
Premier names child and youth advocate, official languages commissioner and ombudsman
CBC News · Posted: Jun 14, 2013 3:24 PM AT
The Alward government has announced the appointment of three new people to watchdog positions in the province, based on a new selection process.
The new child and youth advocate is Saint John lawyer Norm Bossé, who represented victims in the Kingsclear reformatory sex abuse case.
Katherine d'Entremont, a career civil servant, will be the new commissioner of official languages.
And the new ombudsman is Charles Murray, a civil servant and former political assistant to one-time Tory MP Elsie Wayne and to former PC cabinet minister Brad Green.
"I am confident that their experience and education will help them to carry out their respective duties effectively," said Premier David Alward.
He said Murray's appointment is not political."
"The individuals went through a very significant assessment and interviewing process."
The committee in this case included a provincial court judge, a member of the university community, the clerk of the legislature and the clerk of the executive council.
N.B. Premier subject of language lawyer's complaint to Official Languages Office
Kevin White
Thursday, May 30th 2019 - 12:25 pm
The Acadie-Nouvelle reports a language lawyer filed a complaint on
Wednesday after Blaine Higgs cancelled an on-going selection process to
find a new Official Languages Commissioner in favour of a new process.
Attorney Michel Doucet says the Premier doesn't have the power to cancel
the process and accuses Higgs of trying to weaken the independence of
the selection committee and questioning the integrity of the Official
Languages Act.
Higgs had said a new commissioner would be selected as soon as possible, but likely not before July.
He cancelled the process citing a delay caused by last fall's provincial
election and saying there were only a handful of applicants.
But the selection committee says it had interviews scheduled with at least seven candidates for the job.
Some opposition members say they fear Higgs is stalling the process to make a partisan appointment.
(with files from the Acadie-Nouvelle)
https://www.nbseniorsadvocate.ca/about-the-advocate
Norman J. Bossé, Q.C. was appointed Child and Youth Advocate for New Brunswick on June 14, 2013. On July 1st , 2017, his responsibilities were expanded to include seniors and adults under protection as the first NB Seniors’ Advocate.
In 2008, he was appointed as Queen’s Counsel. In 1993-94, Mr. Bossé served as counsel to the victims of abuse during the Miller Inquiry, which dealt with abuse at the Kingsclear Youth Training Center.
He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and Law Society of New Brunswick, where he served as Chairperson of the Complaints Committee from 2005 to 2013. Mr. Bossé has also served as an Honourary Solicitor and President of the New Brunswick Division of the Canadian Cancer Society, and as a member of the National Board of Directors of the Canadian Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute. He was awarded an Honorary Life Membership from the Canadian Cancer Society in 2001. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Bossé taught junior high school in Sussex, New Brunswick. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Juris Doctor) from the University of New Brunswick, and Bachelors of Arts and Education from St. Thomas University. Mr. Bossé is also certified as a mediator by the Lex Mundi College of Mediation and holds a Certificate of Achievement in Advanced Dispute Resolution from the Faculty of Law at the University of Windsor. An avid musician and sports enthusiast, Mr. Bossé and his wife, Moira, reside in Saint John, and have four children and eleven grandchildren.
N.B. Premier subject of language lawyer's complaint to Official Languages Office
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The Acadie-Nouvelle reports a language lawyer filed a complaint on Wednesday after Blaine Higgs cancelled an on-going selection process to find a new Official Languages Commissioner in favour of a new process.
Attorney Michel Doucet says the Premier doesn't have the power to cancel the process and accuses Higgs of trying to weaken the independence of the selection committee and questioning the integrity of the Official Languages Act.
Higgs had said a new commissioner would be selected as soon as possible, but likely not before July.
He cancelled the process citing a delay caused by last fall's provincial election and saying there were only a handful of applicants.
But the selection committee says it had interviews scheduled with at least seven candidates for the job.
Some opposition members say they fear Higgs is stalling the process to make a partisan appointment.
(with files from the Acadie-Nouvelle)
Austin threatens to topple government if Higgs accepts language report
Published Friday, October 4, 2019 9:42PM ADTFREDERICTON -- The New Brunswick official languages annual report was released Friday and the province's political leaders aren't all on-board with its recommendations.
"It's clear to me that we still have a lot of work to do in order to move our province forward in terms of bilingualism," New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs said after the release of the Office Of The Commissioner Of Official Languages' Annual Report.
The report outlines proposals to improve the linguistic divide in the province.
"It is how we have determined in New Brunswick, how we were going to deal, how government was going to deal with the obligations to serve people in both official languages," said Michel Carrier, the acting commissioner for Official Languages NB.
The report recommends government create an official languages secretariat, which would act as a watchdog for linguistic equality.
That's something Green Party leader David Coon says would be a good idea.
"We're a unique province as the only officially bilingual province in Canada, and yet we don't have anybody inside government who's responsible for ensuring that we continue to move forward in implementing the Official Languages Act," Coon said.
People's Alliance of New Brunswick leader Kris Austin reacted quickly to the commissioner's report.
"I think it's another example of language extremism we see in this province as it related to bilingualism," Austin said.
In a party statement, Austin said if Higgs followed the report's recommendations, they "will bring down government."
Austin also says the quantity of complaints received by the office over the past year -- less than 100 -- doesn't justify the existence of the Official Languages Office.
"It costs the taxpayers half a million dollars a year, it's divisive, and it produces very little," said Austin.
He suggested it should be rolled under the provincial ombudsman's office.
Despite Austin's assurance he would do everything in his power to dissolve government should Higgs decide to follow all the report's recommendations, other parties say he wouldn't be able to do it alone. And don't believe it's a legitimate threat to government.
"He's getting fake news out there," said Liberal MLA Gilles Lepage."He's terrifying people in New Brunswick."
Said Coon: "People's Alliance do not have the power to dissolve government. They are three MLAs among 49."
Higgs said he didn't feel threatened by Austin's shot across the bow.
"Whether the People's Alliance decide to support me or not will be their own decision at the time of whatever comes forward in the legislature," Higgs said.
Above all else, Higgs stressed his disappointment in the state of province's bilingualism 50 years after it officially came into effect. And, while he won't be instating an official languages secretariat, he does hope to address the root of the issue of the province's linguistic divide, which he says is education.
"I think it's another example of language extremism we see in this
province as it related to bilingualism," Peoples Alliance of New
Brunswick leader Kris Austin said.
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/executive_council/news/news_release.2019.01.0003.html
News Release
Jean-Francois Pelletier, corporate communications, Executive Council Office, 506-444-4718.
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Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Executive Council Office
Interim integrity commissioner appointed
03 January 2019FREDERICTON (GNB) – Charles Murray has been appointed as the interim integrity commissioner.
His appointment was effective on Jan. 1. Murray is performing the duties in an acting capacity while an independent process selects a replacement for Alexandre Deschênes, who resigned and left the position on Dec. 31. Deschênes was appointed conflict of interest commissioner in December 2016 and became New Brunswick’s first integrity commissioner on Dec. 16, 2016.
Murray was sworn in as Ombud of New Brunswick on July 3, 2013 for a seven-year term. He holds a bachelor of laws from the Dalhousie Law School and has had extensive experience in the public service, the federal government and in law. Murray will continue in his role as ombud as well as serving as acting integrity commissioner.
Leader of the Official Opposition Brian Gallant was consulted on the appointment of Murray.
The position of integrity commissioner was established on Dec. 16, 2016 when the Integrity Commissioner Act was adopted. The Office of the Integrity Commissioner is an independent office of the legislative assembly striving to encourage and sustain a culture of integrity and accountability. The office is responsible for administering the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act, which sets out acceptable standards of conduct for all members of the legislative assembly and of the executive council, and for the Lobbyists’ Registration Act to ensure transparency and accountability in the lobbying of public office holders. The office is also responsible for the administration of the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Personal Health Information Privacy and Access Act.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1CLiW_yItQ
New Brunswick Interim integrity commissioner Charles Murray sits down with Blogger!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H402NB1nbA
Security Staff at New Brunswick Legislature refuse to allow Blogger to see Ombudsman Charles Murray!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CLjiTEmTHM&t=1093s
New Brunswick Ombudsman Charles LeBlanc debate Seniors on Welfare and Drug issue!!!
https://oic-bci.ca/about-us/commissioner-biography/
On January 1, 2020, Charles Murray was appointed as the Integrity Commissioner for the Province for a seven-year term. At the same time, he was appointed as the Acting Ombud for a one-year term and will continue to serve in both capacities until a new Ombud is appointed.
Charles is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, ON, and Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, NS.
He started his career as a private practice lawyer in New Brunswick in the late 1980s. Over the years he has served the provincial and federal governments through various roles. Over the years he served the provincial and federal governments through various roles. He was the Executive Director of the Electoral Boundaries Commission and Policy Manager of Legislation and Professional Regulation for the New Brunswick Department of Health.
He served as Ombud for the Province of New Brunswick form 2013 until 2020.
Charles was raised on the Kingston Peninsula and now lives with his wife Sarah and twin boys Gideon and Grant and daughter Elizabeth in Fredericton. He is a member of the Epsilon Y’s Men Club (Fredericton, NB), the Confraternity of Saint James, the New Brunswick Law Society, and the Canadian Bar Association. He also acts as a Tournament Director in the American Contract Bridge League.
He is a black belt in Kinrosha karate and occasionally walks marathons.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bstK6r_ZoZU
New Brunswick Ombudsman Charles Murray sits down with Blogger!!!!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/language-act-review-1.5783926
Higgs faces crucial test with review of languages act
For francophones who worry about where premier stands on language rights, it's a chance to turn the page
· CBC News · Posted: Nov 02, 2020 5:00 AM AT
Premier Blaine Higgs, seen at an Oct. 9 press conference, thanked
Campbellton region residents on Thursday for their efforts in getting
the region back to the Yellow level. (Submitted by the Province of New Brunswick)
Premier Blaine Higgs will soon launch a review of the Official Languages Act during one of the most linguistically fraught periods in the province's recent history.
The act contains a clause requiring it be reviewed every 10 years, forcing Higgs and his Progressive Conservative government to take on an issue that has caused them no shortage of headaches.
The PCs must announce by the end of the year how the review will unfold.
"We're looking at the requirements under the act and we're putting a plan together," Higgs said recently. "We will be announcing our plans certainly within that time frame."
For francophones who worry about the premier's commitment to minority-language rights, the review of the act is a crucial test.
Alexandre Cedric Doucet, president of the Acadian Society of
New Brunswick, says Higgs's handling of the review will show whether he
can 'represent all New Brunswickers.' (Submitted/Alexandre Cedric Doucet)
"It's a mystery where Blaine Higgs is for the French community and for bilingualism," said Alexandre Cédric Doucet, president of the Acadian Society of New Brunswick. "The next months will be important for us, and for him to show he can represent all New Brunswickers."
Until September's election, Higgs had a minority government propped up by the People's Alliance, which wants changes to the act and how it is applied.
Doucet said now that Higgs has a majority government, the premier's own vision should become clearer.
Political scientist Stéphanie Chouinard, who studies language issues, said the mandatory 10-year review incorporated into the act is "a little bit like a flip of the coin.
"You don't know what government is going to be in power every 10 years and what their outlook on official languages will be."
'A number of tense moments'
Early in the Higgs government's first term, it looked at weakening the requirement for bilingual ambulance paramedics, then backtracked a month later.
More recently it faced complaints that a bilingual elected official wasn't joining the unilingual premier at COVID-19 briefings to communicate with the public in French.
New Brunswick's official languages commissioner said while that wasn't legally required and simultaneous translation was available, a French-speaking elected official would ensure "balanced use" of the two languages at the briefing.
Political scientist Stéphanie Chouinard says the mandatory 10-year review incorporated into the act is 'a little bit like a flip of the coin.' (CBC)
"You're facing a government here that has had to deal with a number of tense moments and files with respect to official languages," Chouinard said.
"If the Higgs government makes good on its promise to govern for all New Brunswickers … then it will want to look at this revision seriously."
The society has been lobbying for the legislature to create a permanent committee on official languages, to both review the act and take on other language issues as they come up in the future.
"It would help to depoliticize the question of official languages in New Brunswick and it would help with the linguistic tensions we have," Doucet said.
It's a mystery where Blaine Higgs is for the French community and for bilingualism.
- Alexandre Cédric Doucet
Higgs hasn't committed to a committee yet nor whether its hearings would be public. "That's certainly what we're evaluating at this time," he said, adding he wants to make sure any process complies at the act.
"Then we'll look at the pros and cons of the process, based on past experiences."
The original Official Languages Act was passed in 1969. It was replaced with a new version by the PC government of Bernard Lord in 2002, following a court ruling on the bilingualism obligations of municipalities. It passed unanimously and with little controversy.
First mandatory review held in secret
A decade later when it was time for the first mandatory review, David Alward's PC government opted to hold legislative hearings in secret, despite relative calm on the language issue at the time.
Attorney-General Marie-Claude Blais said at the time that "past history" showed it was not "an easy subject" for open debate.
She was referring to language hearings in the 1980s that saw anti-French heckling and, in one case, eggs thrown at members of a commission studying bilingualism and duality.
Doucet said that this time around, any hearings must be held in public.
"With the linguistic tensions we have in New Brunswick, we have to have a public discussion of official languages," he said.
"We've got to battle the disinformation on bilingualism. I think it's a beautiful opportunity to show some leadership, and the leadership has to start with transparency."
Chouinard agreed. Closed-door hearings "make people wonder what you have to hide," she said.
The 2012 hearings led to minor amendments to the act, including a clarification that associations that were given powers by the province to regulate certain professions, such as lawyers and doctors, are required to provide bilingual service.
Doucet said the society still wants to hold its own consultations before finalizing what it will ask for during the review.
In four-party negotiations in August to avert an election
call, Alliance MLAs asked the province to relax the requirement that
front-line employees have a 'two-plus' bilingualism classification. All
four parties agreed it 'has to be looked at,' the Alliance’s Michelle
Conroy said. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
In four-party negotiations in August to avert an election call, Alliance MLAs asked for the province to relax the requirement that front-line employees have a "two-plus" bilingualism classification. They wanted it reduced to a two, a lower threshold of fluency.
During the campaign, the Alliance's Michelle Conroy said "All four parties agreed that it has to be looked at" and said once the election was over, "we have something to go on."
Alliance Leader Kris Austin wasn't available to comment on the party's stance now, and Conroy was not made available for an interview.
Doucet said he thinks the Alliance position is based on misinformation, and that would make it "a pretty good subject for the permanent committee" to look at in public hearings, even though the thresholds aren't part of the act.
Green Party Leader David Coon said Austin and Conroy must have misunderstood what other MLAs told them.
He said while members of other parties want to address complaints that the language testing system for civil service jobs is inconsistent and needs to be improved, changes to the job requirement was "the People's Alliance agenda" and nothing more.
Doucet said the society has been told that details of the government's plan for the review could be in the speech from the throne that will open the new session of the legislature on Nov. 17.
I think she's already there, Marc!
The French in New Brunswick want to create an illusion of a French society that is paid for by us all.
No matter what concessions that have been made toward supporting the French language and culture over the decades, they always want more.
It's time to focus on what's good for all of us and what will unite us, not separate us.
You are talking about Campbelltown 50 years ago, in the days of JC "Carlie" Van Horn.
Since then, the English population in that are has dropped like a stone as the French consolidated their isolation from English New Brunswick.
If that is what the French want, so be it. Just don't look to us to fund your efforts.
The Progressive Conservatives of the last 40 years were simply Liberal clones, pandering to every identity group and ignoring the Province as a whole.
We now have finally a government that is fiscally responsible, and strong enough to resist the advocacy groups that have held hostage previous governments.
You aren't listening; and you accuse me of squeezing facts to fit narratives.
And I will freely admit when I am wrong, should that day ever come.
What you use for logic escapes me.
What I stated was accurate and correct and consistent with my point.
The PCs from Richard Hatfield on were nothing more than simpering clones of the Liberals, who would genuflect to any group that represented a block of votes.
Now if you have a point, please make it, instead of playing some game of word salad and crying 'Eureka'.
Forced "Official " Bilingualism is the largest make work project for Francophones ever to be created.... All at the expense of taxpayers as a whole.
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