FREDERICTON – Today, Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mittons’s bill, An Act to Amend the Education Act was passed through to third reading by the Legislature’s Standing Committee on Economic Policy. The bill would enshrine the teaching of Indigenous languages in New Brunswick’s public education curriculum.

“Indigenous languages have been systematically attacked for generations in the residential school system and subsequently ignored in public schools, so it’s time to begin dismantling the systemic racism that is responsible for this loss of language,” said Mitton. “I would like to thank all members of the committee for ensuring this bill moved forward.”

 The committee also adopted an amendment proposed by the Education Minister to update the language of this section of the Education Act, to include all Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Peskotomuhkati children.

“I’d also like to thank the Education Minister for taking this opportunity to put forward an amendment to update the language of the Education Act,” said Mitton. “This shows what we can achieve when we work together as legislators.”