Speech reveals Higgs’ deepest thoughts on bilingualism

We managed to get our hands on Blaine Higgs’ handwritten brief (and the audio recording of it) presented to the Guérette-Smith Commission on Official Languages in 1985. 

Lord Durham, author of the Report on the Affairs of British North America (1839) which advocated for a unilingual English Canada by assimilating French Canadians, could have written Higgs’ brief. It is worse than one would have expected. 

In what follows, Higgs’ thoughts on unilingualism in New Brunswick are paraphrased, and occasionally a liberal rendering of his words is allowed.

Some people argue that, over the years, any individual can change his or her mind. But unfortunately, in the case of Mr. Higgs, one gets the feeling that he has not changed one iota in his perceptions of bilingualism and linguistic duality, and even less so on the true equality of the two communities.

At the outset of his brief, he praises the United States for having the good fortune “to be united under one flag, one government, and one language.” And he adds, “we will never achieve such a level of loyalty and unity when at the same time we embark on a process supporting two different cultures.”

He even questions the relevance of a bilingual army because he says we would be confused in front of the enemy as to whether orders should be given in English or in French. He also accuses Quebec of wanting to impose its “French power” on Canada, and he blames Canada for investing too much in Quebec. And, he adds “that we would be better off negotiating a separation as an alternative,” an option he personally hopes will not come to pass.

He says: “Now we are a province sacrificed because of bilingualism in Canada by being the only officially bilingual province,” and this status creates problems. He considers that [Premiers] Robichaud and Hatfield ignored the wishes of the English-speaking majority.

He proclaimed at the time — long before the advent of the NB Confederation of Regions Party (CoR) and the English Speaking League — the need for an “inevitable association dedicated exclusively to the preservation of English Canadians,” which could lead to the creation of a political party dedicated to this cause. Well, he is a prophet, this gentleman!

Higgs strongly denounces the subsidies that the government gives to finance Acadian (francophone) lobby groups, and even the “Canadian Parents for French.” He is especially scandalized by the fact that the government gives money to Francophone causes in courses, especially those dealing with French education. He even advocates an English immersion program for Acadians instead of the French immersion program for Anglophones.

HIGGS Blaine – Bilinguisme … by NB Media Co-op

He considers that the motivation for Acadians to assert themselves is more economic than linguistic. They should move to economically stronger regions rather than be confined to poorer regions, according to him. Finally, he mentions that bilingualism is a barrier to investment.

In his recommendations, Higgs proposed that New Brunswick become a unilingual English province. That French be taught like any other subject, with no special status. That cultural identity be limited to the personal and individual level. That unilingual francophones be entitled to an English immersion program. And, finally, that all hiring be based solely on competence, without regard for language.

This was our Premier’s philosophy in the past. We have every reason to believe that he is still the same man today. In 1985, he was not a teenager speaking, he was already a mature man.

We thank Mr. Higgs for having contributed to this column. But, with these ideas, he is unworthy and unfit to be the Premier of an officially bilingual province. He is almost an impostor, both for the province and for his party. Let’s hope he resigns as soon as possible for the well-being of the province and of his party!

Jean-Marie Nadeau is an Acadian activist, journalist and union leader. This column was first published on April 19, 2022 on the website of the Moniteur Acadien, the oldest newspaper (1867) in Acadia. As a patriotic gesture, we encourage you to subscribe to the Moniteur Acadien, both in its paper and electronic versions, to help ensure the survival and growth of the newspaper. To do so, please visit the newspaper’s website, Moniteuracadien.com.