FREDERICTON (CNB) - The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Attorney General:

On Wednesday, Dec. 21, the Deputy Attorney General requested that the Notice of Intent to Appeal filed with the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of R vs. Losier be withdrawn.

Upon reflection it was determined that if the Supreme Court agreed to hear the matter, it would have unintended results on the importance afforded to the Official Languages Act.

It has been determined, having examined all the circumstance of this case, that it would not be in the public interest to continue with the appeal and that withdrawing it was the appropriate option.

22-12-11