New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada.

The first Official Languages Act (OLA) was adopted in 1969. In 2002, it was revised for the first time to take into account New Brunswick’s constitutional obligations in regard to official languages under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Further revisions to the OLA were made in 2013 and again in 2021.

The Act Recognizing the Equality of the Two Official Linguistic Communities in New Brunswick, or Bill 88, is a law passed by the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1981 that recognizes the equality of the English and French linguistic communities in this province. In 1993, the foundations of Bill 88 were enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms through section 16.1.

The OLA applies to government departments and agencies, the eight cities (including their police services), municipalities with an Anglophone or a Francophone minority representing at least 20% of their population, regional service commissions, and associations established by acts of the legislative assembly to regulate professions.

The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages has the mandate to investigate, present reports and make recommendations in regard to compliance with the OLA and to promote the advancement of both official languages.

The right to use both official languages in the courts of New Brunswick is enshrined in the Constitution.

The Official Languages Act and the Act Recognizing the Equality of the Two Official Linguistic Communities in New Brunswick are administered by the Office of the Premier. The Secretariat of Official Languages, which falls under the responsibility of the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, ensures the application of the OLA within the government. It coordinates the Government of New Brunswick’s Implementation Plan 2024 to 2031 for official languages. Among other things, it provides support to the work teams responsible for the action plans of each government department or agency. Official languages policies (language of work and language of service) are applied by all government organizations.

The Secretariat of Official Languages also coordinates and administers the implementation of the Canada‑New Brunswick Agreement on the Provision of French Language Services. It also coordinates the Canada‑New Brunswick Agreement on French Language Education and Second‑Language Instruction.