New Brunswick loosens bilingual paramedics rules

Tories agree to a review on whether service must be in both languages

New Brunswick’s minority Tory government is eliminating the requirement that it provide bilingual paramedics in every part of Canada’s only officially bilingual province.

The province’s efforts to address a shortage of bilingual paramedics became a heated issue during the recent provincial election campaign, and critics have said any move to change the requirement could violate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the province’s Official Languages Act to provide equal services in both English and French.

“I consider today’s actions to be in the best interests of New Brunswickers because I am putting their lives and their safety first. To me, there is no other path available,” Health Minister Ted Flemming said Tuesday.

He said the changes would only be made in areas of the province that are primarily unilin- gual. The change is being made despite a judicial review of language requirements for ambulances, slated to begin next month.

A court ruling last year said bilingual paramedic services must be provided in the province, but a labour adjudicator said there may be ways to lessen the language requirements. The previous Liberal government sought the judicial review to provide some guidance.

The Tory government said last month it was looking to halt the review after announcing a new transfer service for ambulances it said reduced the demand for bilingual paramedics.

However on Tuesday, Flemming said the review will be allowed to proceed.

People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin said he’s agreed to support the review, in exchange for the hiring of more full-time paramedics.

Chris Hood, executive director of the Paramedics Association of New Brunswick, said it could mean up to 100 more paramedics being hired in the province. “But at the same time we recognize people’s rights to be served in the language of their choice,” Hood said.