Languages commissioner's term extended

The term of the official languages commissioner for New Brunswick has been extended for a few months until a successor can be found.

Michel Carrier's term was set to expire at the end of March, but he has agreed to stay on the job until the summer, Premier David Alward announced on Friday.

Carrier's replacement will be named under anew appointment processfor legislative officers, he said.

The process, to be introduced during the upcoming session of the legislative assembly, will involve an independent selection committee of bureaucrats, lawyer and academics being struck.

The committee will review applications from people interested in watchdog positions, including the official languages commissioner, ombudsman, auditor general, child and youth advocate and conflict of interest commissioner.

It will then make recommendations to the premier, who will make the final decision in consultation with the leader of the Opposition.

Up until now, the provincial government has picked people to serve in the legislative officer positions in consultation with the opposition and approval of the legislature.

Former ombudsman and child and youth advocate, Bernard Richard, had recommended in a 2011 report thatthe recruitment and selection of independent officers be put in the hands of the legislative assembly, not the government.

Carrier is the province's first official languages commissioner. He was appointed in February2003 and reappointed for another five-year term in April 2008.