N.B. Liberal MP supports bilingual signs bylaw in Dieppe

Dieppe, N.B., should introduce a bilingual sign bylaw, a move that would motivate other cities to adopt similar commercial sign rules, says Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe Liberal MP Brian Murphy.

Dieppe council is studying the possibility of ushering in the bylaw in the province's largest francophone city.

The city launched the review after Martin Leblanc-Rioux, a resident of the southeastern New Brunswick city and law student at the University of Moncton, gathered more than 4,000 names on a petition asking that a bylaw be written to mandate English-French commercial signs.

Murphy, who was mayor of Moncton when the city became officially bilingual, said: "Maybe it [a bilingual sign bylaw] is something that the City of Moncton will think in its wisdom is a very positive thing and the community's businesses will embrace as a very positive thing for greater Moncton and Moncton in general," Murphy said.

Dieppe Mayor Jean LeBlanc was initially reluctant to consider the bylaw, preferring to continue the city's program of visiting local businesses and offering translation services or financial assistance to erect a bilingual sign.

Now the city is studying how similar laws were enacted elsewhere. Once that process is finished, Murphy said, he believes the city will bring forward a proposal for bilingual business signs.

Acadie-Bathurst New Democratic Party MP Yvon Godin is also calling on Dieppe to adopt a bilingual sign bylaw.

The push for the sign law earned the support of 11 groups from across the province in March. Earlier this month, Moncton city council heard from a non-profit organization that asked that Moncton also consider a bilingual sign law.