Anger, heckling mark Moncton consultation effort on proposed changes to French immersion

Tempers and emotions flared almost from the start Thursday night at a public consultation in Moncton on the plan to change French-language education in New Brunswick.

It was the third consultation put on by the Department of Education to discuss what it calls the "innovative immersion program."

Organizers were unprepared for the large crowd. They'd expected about 135 people, but more than 300 lined up at a downtown hotel to take part.

Hotel staff scrambled to extend the size of the ballroom where the consultation was to happen, delaying the start by almost an hour. 

Staff with the Department of Education had planned to use a world café format for the event.

Participants were seated at tables of eight with the goal of encouraging constructive dialogue on the plan to replace French immersion starting in September and instead have students spend half their days in "exploratory learning" in French. 

This format was soon abandoned.

Education Minister Bill Hogan started the evening by welcoming the attendees, but people immediately heckled him.

"Here's how tonight's going to work," Hogan responded. "We can be respectful and follow the process or we just shut it off right now. You choose."

One participant yelled at Hogan, "You're not the principal here."

The minister was interrupted repeatedly as he continued to explain the purpose of the consultation.

"I'm not going to argue with you," he said. "I'm not going to debate for airtime. If you don't want to listen to me, that's fine."

Despite the interruptions, Hogan told the crowd  he respected their opinions. He explained the goal of the consultation was to hear what people like and don't like about the proposed changes and what changes they would suggest.

"It's a framework, so based on the feedback we get from across the province, will help us develop what the program will actually look like," Hogan said.