FREDERICTON — New Brunswick's official languages commissioner says her office has received dozens of complaints from people who say they could not receive service in French when seeking health-care help on the province's eVisitNB platform.
The commissioner, Shirley MacLean, says in her annual report released last month that the complaints highlight how evolving technology can be problematic if language rights are not taken into consideration.
MacLean says the private company eVisitNB Inc. provides a platform for virtual medical consultations on behalf of the Department of Health, which means that the services are subject to the provisions of the province's Official Languages Act.
Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, the commissioner's office says it received 58 complaints alleging a lack of service in French on eVisitNB.
The commissioner says her office's investigation found there was no active offer of service in French on the app and the onus was on members of the public to select or change their language settings in order get service in French.
She says delays encountered by francophone users and the solutions offered don’t amount to the delivery of services of equal quality in both French and English, as required in the officially bilingual province.
The legislature committee on official languages is scheduled to meet next Thursday to discuss the report.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 6, 2025.
The Canadian Press
