NB Liquor fails to meet bilingual obligations at agency stores: commissioner

New Brunswick's official languages commissioner has ruled that the province's Crown liquor corporation is failing to meet its legal obligations regarding bilingualism. The ruling specifically targets the corporation's agency stores, finding them non-compliant with the Official Languages Act.

The commissioner's investigation concluded that these stores are not adequately providing services in both of the province's official languages, English and French. This failure represents a breach of the legal framework designed to ensure equal access to government services for all New Brunswickers, regardless of their linguistic background.

The ruling is expected to compel the NB Liquor corporation to take corrective actions. The corporation must now implement measures to ensure its agency stores uphold their bilingual duties, thereby respecting the linguistic rights of the province's residents. This decision underscores the ongoing importance of linguistic duality in New Brunswick's public services.