STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER

August 6, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario

The following is a statement by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien acknowledging the official bilingualism of Moncton, New Brunswick:

AIt is with great pleasure that I congratulate the citizens of the city of Moncton, New Brunswick who, from today, will be living in the first officially bilingual city in Canada. Moncton=s adoption of a declaration recognizing its bilingual nature as well as the equality of English and French is, in fact, a first in the history of our country.

Canada=s bilingual nature is a part of our national wealth and contributes greatly to defining us as Canadians. The federal government passed the Official Languages Act more than 30 years ago and has been serving Canadians in the official language of their choice ever since. Similarly, the 1982 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms reaffirmed the equal status of both languages by guaranteeing equal rights and privileges with regard to their use in all federal institutions. I am delighted that the people of Moncton will now be able to exercise the same rights at the municipal level.

I would like to congratulate the Mayor of Moncton, Mr. Brian Murphy, and all the city councillors who, by adopting this declaration, have made Moncton a real model for the rest of the country.@