You're right in saying that everyone should try to be bilingual and that English and French are the two official languages. I imagine it's very hard to convince people to become bilingual. There could be mandatory courses at all levels. That could definitely help.
I'm an anglophone from Quebec. I went to an anglophone school that offered French courses. I also went through French immersion. That's why I speak good French. I didn't really have the necessary ability or confidence to speak French until I finished high school and started to work in French. I wasn't bilingual, even though I had studied French. It's true that it's hard and that there should be more opportunities to converse in French and live in a bilingual environment every day. That would help.
Mr. Chaisson, you said it was hard to obtain services in French from federal agencies, and I find that appalling. Under the act and the action plan, the percentage of francophone staff at the federal agencies in New Brunswick should be proportionate to the size of the francophone population. However, that doesn't appear to be the case.
Have you filed any complaints with the Commissioner of Official Languages. What are you doing to raise this problem, apart from testifying here?