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Last month, Justice Hugh McLellan of the Court of Queen's Bench in Saint John quashed the Liberal government's decision to eliminate early French second-language (FSL) programs taught in New Brunswick schools for the upcoming 2008-2009 school year.

The judge cited the process to cut early FSL education programming as "unfair and unreasonable."

On that same day, with McLellan's decision in hand, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock boasted that government would act in accordance with the judge's orders and offer New Brunswickers a "full debate" on this highly controversial issue.

This was music to the ears of the Office of the Official Opposition. In fact, many critics have been very vocal in denouncing the Liberal's plan to scrap early FSL programs, including both Canada's and New Brunswick's commissioners of official languages, the New Brunswick ombudsman (who recommended a one-year moratorium on implementing the changes to allow for a "full debate"), numerous second-language experts and parent groups.

A key turning point had been reached in the battle against the Liberals' hastily-made decision. At last, there would be a proper forum for people to have their voices heard - a fundamental aspect of democracy.

Then the tune quickly changed.

Only a mere six weeks of consultation are being provided for people to express their views. New Brunswickers were also told to expect a decision on how the reforms would be implemented by Aug. 5.

Why the rush? Could it be that the Shawn Graham government has already made its decision and is simply paying lip service to the court's decision by doing the least amount of consultation possible?

Are New Brunswickers really being heard or just patronized?

To begin with, the minister announced he would launch a discussion paper. Anyone interested in being a part of the debate was encouraged to submit his or her ideas and recommendations for him to consider.

To me, a "full debate" requires at least two people having a meaningful discussion with the opportunity to rebut one another's points.

This is a far cry from the judge's orders to provide a full debate on the issue.

Secondly, it was announced that the Department of Education would launch a website to collect the public's opinions. The website, like the discussion paper, would only act as a forum for anyone interested in offering his or her thoughts and ideas to him.

This lackadaisical effort does not provide New Brunswickers with more than a limited window of opportunity to raise their concerns. Furthermore, it does not comply with the judge's instructions to offer a full debate on the issue.

Finally, the minister announced (through a news release on the government's website) that a series of open houses would take place from June 25 to June 28 at several schools in anglophone districts.

Instead of swallowing his pride and appearing in person at any of these open houses, he preferred to allow district representatives to do the dirty work.

Don't worry, though, Mr. Minister, they didn't get their hands too dirty, because only a few hundred people actually showed up.

But what can you expect when you hold an event like this just before the Canada Day weekend? Just ask Roly MacIntyre about the dismal turnout for public hearings being held by the select committee on tax review.

I guess you have to look at the Liberal strategy behind all of this. It makes perfect sense to launch a series of pint-sized discussions and poorly timed open houses smack-dab in the middle of summer, when New Brunswickers are so busy you can move forward with your original agenda unchallenged.

This seems hardly fair or reasonable to me.

Again, Minister Lamrock and Premier Graham, especially, have failed to abide by the judge's orders to provide any form of full debate. Instead, they have made a complete mockery of Justice McLellan's decision.

As New Brunswickers, we are privileged to live in the only province recognized by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as being officially bilingual. For years, New Brunswick has been renowned as a working example of two distinct linguistic groups living in perfect harmony.

New Brunswickers have worked hard to build upon the foundation left behind by former Premiers Louis J. Robichaud, Richard Hatfield and Bernard Lord to foster a bilingual society.

Endorsing this Liberal plan would reverse decades' worth of progress.

As a former minister of education, I understand that change is necessary to improve our public education system. However, eliminating early FSL programs won't combat illiteracy and only takes away choice for parents who want their children to learn French.

Let's listen to the experts. Let's wait a year before making any drastic changes. Let's be fair and reasonable.

But most of all, let's have a full and proper debate on how to stop streaming while maintaining a healthy early French second language structure in our province's schools.

We owe it to our children, the future leaders of New Brunswick.

Madeleine Dube is the MLA for Edmundston-Saint Basile and a former minister of education in the Lord government.