New Brunswick Multicultural Council and Nova Scotia Ontario

New Brunswickers: But the largely white province has long sought immigrants as its population shrinks, and Alex LeBlanc, executive director of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council, said he would have rather seen the government name a minister for immigration and cultural affairs."Quebec, Nova Scotia and Ontario have all done that, according to Metro News. It could be a strong signal for New Brunswickers and for the federal government that we take those issues seriously," he said. The appointment of Lisa Harris, an educator, former bakery owner and MLA for Miramichi, was widely seen as a sop to anglophone voters angry over bilingualism requirements. He said the Celtic Affairs portfolio came as a surprise: "It wasn't something that was coming up on our radar, but I don't see any downside to having a minister responsible," he said. Thomas University in Fredericton, called the appointment "laughable.""The only explanation I can think of is that the government has been sensitive to claims that it is too pro-French language, too pro-Acadian and it is doing this in some way to try to correct the balance. Political critics called it a waste of money, but Premier Brian Gallant said 40 per cent of New Brunswickers claim some link or ancestry that Celtic, and the ministry comes with no added cost."It a nice way for us to have a co-ordinated approach to the investments that we make in that realm," Gallant said as he announced the new portfolio during a major cabinet shuffle Monday in Fredericton. "Many festivals are supported by the government, whether it the Irish festival in the Miramichi or whether it Scottish festivals that happen in many communities."Green Leader David Coon said the government is facing pressure on requirements for bilingual employees and the need for separate French and English school buses, and he thinks it is playing politics by adding Celtic Affairs."I think they're trying to send a message that somehow they're promoting at least one part of the anglophone side," he said. "It would have been fair to have in the department, perhaps a culture section for Celtic Affairs with someone with that responsibility, but actually to appoint a minister of Celtic Affairs seems unnecessary."Tom Bateman, who teaches political science at St. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.