Towards Real Equality of Official Languages: Language of Work Within Federal Institutions of New Brunswick
METHODOLOGY
- This is the third in a series of studies from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages on the language of work in federal bilingual workplaces. The first study was published in March 2004 and the second study in April 2005.
- The current study is based on research carried out in two parts. The first part consists of a questionnaire that was sent to 1,800 public service employees occupying a bilingual position in the province of New Brunswick. In total, 515 completed questionnaires were received, representing a valid response rate of 29%. The second part consists of focus groups that were held in New Brunswick with public service employees occupying a bilingual position, and in Halifax, Nova Scotia with staff offering bilingual personal and central services to New Brunswick public service employees.
FINDINGS
- Discussion group participants note that a change in culture is taking place in some departments. They note that there is a greater tolerance for the use of both official languages, which is obvious in correspondence and in verbal communications, for example.
- There is also a greater demand for language training and learning retention programs.
- 98% of employees are able to communicate in English and 26% are unilingual Anglophones. Francophones claim they have a good command of English, while Anglophones, who occupy most of the managerial positions, claim they are less comfortable communicating in French.
- Francophones have an excellent knowledge of English because they routinely use it as their language of work, especially during meetings. At the same time, some Anglophones are concerned about their own under-use of French, which results in their being less comfortable using French.
- Supervision as well as central and personal services being provided from offices located in Halifax, which is in a unilingual English region, do not respect the language rights of New Brunswick Francophones.
- Public service employees still misunderstand their rights and obligations under the Official Languages Act.
- In some institutions, positive changes were observed, which are attributable to support from senior management.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- The Commissioner has reiterated five of the recommendations she made in the previous studies of language of work and has added six more. The recommendations, which are addressed to the Public Service Human Resources Management Agency, the Canada School of Public Service, the Public Service Commission, and the Treasury Board Secretariat, cover three strategic areas: leadership, language training, and organizational culture conducive to respect for language rights.
