Premier
Blaine Higgs says he looks forward to getting recommendations from his
education minister on what to do next regarding a new 50-50 model for
French-second-language education. (Mike Heenan/CBC)
Premier
Blaine Higgs says a new 50-50 model for French-second-language
education "never was a sure thing" and he looks forward to getting
recommendations from his education minister on what to do next.
Higgs
made his comments after two weeks of angry public meetings that saw
dozens of New Brunswickers slam his plan to replace French immersion.
"It
never was a sure thing," he said of the new model announced in
December. "If it was, there wouldn't much point in having consultations.
It was a proposal to say 'is there another way that we can achieve
better success?'"
The model was described as a "framework" when it
was unveiled in December. It would see all anglophone kindergarten and
elementary students spend half their day learning English and half
learning French.
Education Minister Bill Hogan said last week that 'nothing at this point is written in stone.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
That's more French than what non-immersion students get now but much less than the existing, optional immersion program.
Higgs
also said last fall immersion had to be replaced this coming September,
not by the original planned date of fall 2024 — a key point that
prompted his previous education minister, Dominic Cardy, to leave the
position last fall.
But in recent weeks, Education Minister Bill
Hogan and his deputy minister for anglophone schools, John McLaughlin,
have said they're open to alternatives.
Hogan
said last week that "nothing at this point is written in stone," and
McLaughlin told a committee of MLAs the 50-50 model was a proposal but
there was no decision yet "about whether to proceed with this model or
something different."
Higgs echoed those comments Wednesday.
It
was his first chance to respond to the three public meetings in
Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton, which had a total of more than 900
people attending and no one speaking in favour of the change.
Chris
Collins, executive director of Canadian Parents for French in New
Brunswick, said the group 'is very encouraged by the fact there appears
to be a softening of the ground' by the premier. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
"I
haven't had a final proposal or a suggestion of next steps," the
premier said, adding he'll be meeting with Hogan, McLaughlin, the
Progressive Conservative cabinet and caucus to discuss what was said at
the public meetings.
"Then we'll decide, based on the
recommendations, what we learned and the recommendations that came out
of the department as a result of that."
Progressive Conservative MLA Andrea Anderson-Mason urged the government to "pump the brakes" on
Jan. 20 because of the impact of reduced teaching time in English on a
new literacy curriculum and on students with learning challenges.
Hogan
said last week there would still be time to reopen registration for
French immersion this fall if the government opted for that.
Canadian
Parents for French's New Brunswick executive director, Chris Collins,
said the group "is very encouraged by the fact there appears to be a
softening of the ground" by the premier.
"We're encouraged that there seems to be some change in the posturing," he said.
Jacques
Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick
since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for
the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New
Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television
Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty
International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New
Brunswick politics and history.
Something fishy about this premier....very argumental individual
David Amos
Reply to kathy white
I knew that to be fact long before he became the leader of his party
kathy white
Reply to David Amos
He's not exactly a team player ...he really shouldn't be in this position
David Amos
Reply to kathy white
I disagree
Methinks everybody knows whose team Higgy has always been on N'esy Pas?
kathy white Reply to David Amos
Oh okay I just got a different perspective of him....but news can inflate things also
Stephan Sommers
Why can’t it be that if you want French you go to a
French school and English an English school? There are already
transportation for both that go to the same neighborhoods. Serious
question.
Howard O'Toole
Reply to Stephan Sommers
A valid question. The answer lies in the preservation of
the Acadian culture and community. You have to have a Francophone
parent or in the case of immigrants, speak primarily French in your
household.
Stephan Sommers
Reply to Stephan Sommers
Interesting
Don Corey
Reply toHoward O'Toole
Maybe it's time to change the requirements, and allow
all interested Anglophone students the opportunity to get schooled in
the French system (wherever such opportunities exist). It certainly
should have no negative impact on "Acadian culture".
Actually, it should be a "positive" for all.
David Amos
Reply toDon Corey
Bingo
Sarah Brown
Higgs is a very poor premier for this province. he cannot commit to anything without changing his mind.
Bob Smith
Reply to Sarah Brown
That applies to the folks preceding him as
well..Liberals and Conservatives both have made controversial
announcements in the past only to backtrack. It's the norm in NB.
David Amos
Reply to Bob Smith
C'est Vrai
Jim Gootjes
Reply to Sarah Brown
Just gas lighting the public. I mean think
about it - forcing French on all English kids and taking away French
from those interested in really learning it. It’s almost a this hour
has 22 minutes satire skit. On top of that, you don’t involve or get
buy in from those who are involved in actually implementing it and just
demand it happen by a specific date. On top of that, English teachers
have to somehow become capable of teaching in French in an extremely
short time frame? No rational person would consider this a feasible
program.
David Amos
Reply to Jim Gootjes
C'est Vrai
Samuel Champlain
Another great quality of this gov't, they will listen to the voters and make changes as needed.
Douglas James
Reply to Samuel Champlain
Yes, and the moon is made of cheese.
CanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
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Rosco holt
Reply toCanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
Why all the resources to english language education?
The province give all of of resources to millionaires & billionaires and your type defends it.
David Amos
Reply toRosco holt
Why to you answer him but ignore my support of your statements?
Douglas James
So basically another diversion by the Higgs government
from the health care crisis which had been making all the headlines
until...suddenly...'let's say we're going to do away with French
immersion so the public will get off this healthcare kick'. They knew
all along there was no way they could implement such a thing on such
short notice and the government will likely change back to the Liberals
before it can do so. Just a shell game for naive citizens, not to
mention a waste of time and money.
Jim Gootjes
Reply toDouglas James
Agree. Just trying to reset the narrative. He’ll meet
with JT soon and take the money for healthcare and pretend conservatives
are investing in healthcare lol
CanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
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Douglas James
Reply toJim Gootjes
That's right.
Gary MacKay
"never was a sure thing" to be reelected either...
CanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
Content Deactivated
Reply to Gary MacKay
Minister to Premier, Dump this or we'll be looking at another form of McKenna trouncing at the poles.
Dan Lee
Reply toCanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
your panties are showing........
Suzanne Bernier
Reply toCanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
Sounds like Francophobia.
Charles GALL
Reply to Gary MacKay
Don t think that will ever happen again. not after clowns like graham and gaylant
Charles GALL
Reply to Dan Lee
hitting a nerve are they daniel
Michael Cain
Reply to Dan Lee
diapers you mean
CanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
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Michael Cain
Reply toCanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
Bed time for you.
David Amos
Reply toMichael Cain
I concur
CanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
Content Deactivated
Johnny English
Reply toCanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
It is not forced you have the option of staying in English only.
K. Ride
Reply toCanadaIsABritishCountry LikeItOrLeaveIt
All of your comments come off as hatred of French.
David Amos
Reply to K. Ride
Welcome to the circus
Josef Blow
Reply toDavid Amos
The record is skipping again …..
David Amos
Reply to Josef Blow
Methinks the same rules hold for you N'esy Pas?
"To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations,
first and last names will appear with each submission to
CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities . Pseudonyms will no longer be
permitted."
Bud Gardiner
Reply toDavid Amos
Is this the circus with Ringmaster Jiggs &
The Inane Clown Posse where nothing (even though there are no magicians
in the show) is actually what it appears to be?
Josef Blow
Reply to Josef Blow
I suggest you continue on by explaining what you mean ...
David Amos
Reply to Bud Gardiner
Yup
CanadaIsAStructurallyBritishCountry ThatsAFact
Most Francophones in NB are wonderful people as
are the anglophones, but the people who push immersion into children
for their own personal reasons are truly truly evil.
Gilles Vienneau
Reply to CanadaIsAStructurallyBritishCountry ThatsAFact
A name please?
David Amos
Reply toGilles Vienneau
Good Luck with that
CanadaIsAStructurallyBritishCountry ThatsAFact
Best thing you can do is to teach your children
to be proud of their language and identity. It will make them stronger
to the Marxist indoctrination that goes on in the public school system.
David Amos
Content Deactivated
Reply to CanadaIsAStructurallyBritishCountry ThatsAFact
Methinks the same rules hold for you N'esy Pas?
"To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations,
first and last names will appear with each submission to
CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities . Pseudonyms will no longer be
permitted."
Susan Amos
I don't blame the people who support French immersion
the way it is.. French immersion students are the clever well behaved
students. But in the real world we have discipline problems, and special
needs kids that
all detract from being able
to deliver proper instuction. French immersion is
private school teaching at public expense. Fix it Mr. Higgs. I bet the
vast number of NBers are with you.
David Amos
Reply to Susan Amos
Dream on
Robert Losier
Content Deactivated
Reply to Susan Amos
Mathieu Laperriere
Reply toRobert Losier
Seems like "the many" were too scared to show up and speak up.
Robert Losier
Reply to Mathieu Laperriere
They already voted and they voted in a
Majority. Now all that needs to be done is for the Premier to listen to
those that spoke with their vote.
Robert Losier
For those that have never occupied a corner office take a look at the headline.
N.B. premier says proposed new 50-50 French program not 'a sure thing'
Notice it doesn't read: 'not a sure thing'
David Amos
Reply to Robert Losier
FYI My Father had a corner office in the Centennial
Building before Higgy and I went to High School I used to do my homework
there sometimes
Douglas James
Reply to Robert Losier
Me thinks someone was never a journalist himself.
David Amos
Reply to Douglas James
Methinks everybody knows you were N'esy Pas?
Robert Losier
Reply to Douglas James
Now look what you started. Methinks forever.
David Amos
Reply to Robert Losier
Methinks a fine old Bard did that hundreds of years ago
However I do take credit for spelling a certain Chiac expression in a
fashion that upsets a lot of snobby Anglos who partook of the wrong
French Immersion N'esy Pas?
Jim Lake
Reply to Robert Losier
It says ‘not a sure thing’ today - which is far
different from what he said last fall - then it was ‘this is a
framework, it may get tweaked, but we’re moving ahead with the change’ …
today, the premier sees that the majority of New Brunswickers have
finally had it with his dictatorial style of governing.
Robert Losier
Reply to Jim Lake
So I take it that you think The Premier is going to be a one hit term with Majority.
Jim Lake
Reply to Robert Losier
Darn tootin’ … sooner he’s outta the premier’s office, the better New Brunswick will be.
Robert Losier
Reply to Jim Lake
I thought it was an elected-to-Majority-power
Premier tasked with speaking for New Brunswick. Now I learn it is you
... an unelected sort.
Jim Lake
Reply to Robert Losier
Just so silly ………………
Robert Losier
Reply to Jim Lake
Try to not to speak for New Brunswick.
Robert Losier
I recall this being said many years ago:
"Actually, bilingualism is a boom for this province."
Mathieu Laperriere
Reply to Robert Losier
It sure is. Do you know how many federal call centers there are in this province?
Robert Losier
Reply to Mathieu Laperriere
I haven't any idea how many there might be now.
Robert Losier
Reply to Mathieu Laperriere
How many?
Mathieu Laperriere
Reply to Robert Losier
Beaucoup!
Robert Losier
Reply to Mathieu Laperriere
I'll give you credit for that - not knowing I
mean. Premier McKenna tried his hardest to run with that line. I don't
know why. It wasn't as if anyone could have beat him way back when.
Art McCarthy
Reply to Robert Losier
I know TD now occupy a large chunk of what was Champlain Place. And there are others.
David Amos
Reply to Art McCarthy
TD and I go back to 1981 Franky Boy and I go back even farther
lins bolan
Reply to Robert Losier
it is a waste of money ,not a boom.
the money spent on bilingualism should be spent on health care,seniors needs, normal education,etc.,etc.
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Robert Losier
Why do you want to stamp out French? That's
geno_idal talk pal. Once a language is gone its hard to come back. Why
are you such an anglo-supremacist? Were you forced into French school
as a kid Robèrt?
Robert Losier
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Facts are facts. Opinion is opinion. Empirical
evidence demonstrates that the French language has been on the decline
for decades. And here you are with nothing other than you aiming for the
messenger. I have absolutely nothing to do with the French language
dying.
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Robert Losier
Gross reasoning.
Robert Losier
Reply to Wilbur Ross
Facts are facts. If you can't accept the facts I suggest you look inward.
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Robert Losier
That ... makes no sense.
Robert Losier
Reply to Wilbur Ross
There is this thing I have available to me (I
would think it available to you too) where I can search. Fact is French
is a dying language.
Wilbur Ross
Reply to Robert Losier
Anglo-supremacist ...
Robert Losier
Reply to Wilbur Ross
You and your name calling.
Robert Losier
How can a parent guardian care taker of a French student
be expected to take on social media usage in English and come up with a
plan to put a stop to social media English usage? If you can't do it
(and no one can) the writing is on the wall. Andon that wall it is
written: The never ending social media onslaught of English usage is
irreversible. If anyone, someone has a plan to stop their French
child(ren) from utilizing social media English usage - I suggest that
they post that plan to here.
Should be interesting to see just who it might be, who it may be the first to takeaway that hand held device.
Gilles Vienneau
Reply to Robert Losier
Ti coune
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to Robert Losier
There was a time when you would not have been hired in
New Brunswick with a 🇳 🇦 🇲 🇪like that. You would have had to change
your 🇳 🇦 🇲 🇪 for something more 🇪 🇳 🇬 🇱 🇮 🇸 🇭 , like 🇱 🇴
🇸 🇪 🇷❗❗❗
Robert Losier
Reply to Marguerite Deschamps
Some of us Irish never got to keep our names. And over
the years I worked with many people with all sorts of names.
David Amos
Reply to Marguerite Deschamps
Well put
Jim Lake
Reply to Robert Losier
Social media use & language has nothing to do with French immersion education - time to let it go.
Robert Losier
Reply to Jim Lake
First duality must go and after that well you should know - French is a dying language.
Jim Lake
Reply to Robert Losier
Unbelievably ridiculous.
Robert Losier
Reply to Jim Lake
I know but for some reason their is still those
that think they can salvage a soon-to-be dead language. Oh well it
takes all sorts.
Education Minister Bill Hogan said last week that 'nothing at this point is written in stone.' (Ed Hunter/CBC)
Chris
Collins, executive director of Canadian Parents for French in New
Brunswick, said the group 'is very encouraged by the fact there appears
to be a softening of the ground' by the premier. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
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