Amendments to Nova Scotia’s French-language Services Act were introduced by Acadian Affairs and Francophonie Minister Colton LeBlanc on Sept. 10 and feature several moves aimed at better supporting the province’s Acadian and francophone communities.
According to a news release, the proposed amendments would:
- Acknowledge the contributions French-speaking Nova Scotians make to the province’s “diversity and vibrancy.”
- Stress the important role the French language plays in developing the Acadian and francophone communities.
- Require that the Act be reviewed every 10 years.
- Change the “definition” of the minister responsible for the Act from minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage to minister of Acadian affairs and Francophonie.
- Include “specific language around the Minister’s role in advising the government on the use of the French language.”
- Add the minister’s advisory committee to the Act.
“We are listening to our Acadian and francophone partners on how best to support and grow these communities and deliver public services in French,” said LeBlanc in a statement. “We will continue working with our partners to better align programs and services to meet the evolving priorities of the community.”
The release goes on to state that the province will work to update the “French-language services regulations” in consultation with “Acadian and francophone partners.”
The French-language Services Act was introduced in 2004.
According to the 2021 Census, French speakers accounted for 2.9 per cent of Nova Scotia’s population. Those who identified as bilingual accounted for 10.3 per cent.
Currently, around 35,000 Nova Scotians speak French as their first language, according to the release.
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