Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report 4-12(3) will be moved into Committee of the Whole. Item 10, Reports of Standing and Special Committees. Item 11, Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Legislation has reviewed Bill 9 and wishes to report that Bill 9 is now ready for Committee of the Whole as amended and reprinted. Thank you.

Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 66(5) and have Bill 9, an Act to Amend the Liquor Act, moved into Committee of the Whole today.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Pursuant to Rule 66(3) and on the order of the Assembly Bill 9 is ordered into Committee of the Whole for today. Mr. Todd.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 66(5) and have Bill 10, an Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, moved into Committee of the Whole for today.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Pursuant to Rule 66(3) and on the order of the Assembly Bill 10 is ordered into Committee of the Whole for today. Item 11, Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills. Item 12, Tabling of Documents. Mr. Kakfwi.

Item 12, Tabling of Documents. Item 13, Notices of Motion. Item 14, Notices of Motions for First

Reading of Bills. Item 15, Motions. Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS, Ms. Betty Harnum was appointed Languages Commissioner on February 1, 1992, by the Commissioner on the resolution of the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS, sections 22(4) and 23 of the Official Languages Act require the Languages Commissioner to report to the Legislative Assembly;

AND WHEREAS, the Legislative Assembly would like to be informed of the activities of the Languages Commissioner since her appointment;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Honourable Member for Natilikmiot, that the Languages Commissioner appear as a witness before the Committee of the Whole during the third session.

Motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Gargan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 11th Assembly took a very bold and welcome step when it amended the Official Languages Act in April of 1992. These amendments were brought about as a result of the Special Committee on Official Languages report which made several significant

recommendations regarding the entrenchment of aboriginal languages within the government and the public service framework of the Northwest Territories. One of these recommendations involved the establishment of an office of the Languages Commissioner. The special committee made the following comments about the new official role: part two of the act established that the office of the Languages Commissioner whose task it is to ensure that the spirit and substance of the Act is carried out and to recommend such actions and changes to the act as may be necessary to achieve the goals of equality for all official languages. It was clear, from the onset, that this position was intended to report to the Legislative Assembly under special circumstances. Subsection 22(4) of the Official Languages Act states that, "if, within a reasonable time after a copy of the report is transmitted to the Government Leader and the deputy minister or other administrative head of government institutions, appropriate action has not been taken in the opinion of the Languages Commissioner, the Languages Commissioner may make a report thereof to the Legislative Assembly as the Languages Commissioner considers appropriate." There are also provisions within the act which establish a regular reporting relationship between the Languages Commissioner and the Legislative Assembly.

Section 23 of the Official Languages Act states that, "the Languages Commissioner shall, within a reasonable time after the termination of each year, prepare and submit to the Legislative Assembly a report relating to the conduct of the office of the Languages Commissioner and the discharge of duties under this act, during the preceding year including recommendations, if any, for proposed changes to this Act that the Languages Commissioner considers necessary or desirable in order to give effect to its spirit and intent." Mr. Speaker, this Assembly has not received a formal report from the Languages Commissioner but one is expected before the conclusion of the third session.

In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, an interim report was done by the Languages Commissioner on December 1 after notice was given of this motion. The motion would provide an avenue for bringing the Languages Commissioner before this House to discuss her report and other issues relating to the status of official languages in the Northwest Territories. There is a lot to discuss.

There has been considerable development within the Languages Commissioner's office, and it is important for the Legislative Assembly to understand clearly how that service is emerging. As well, there is a need to ensure that the Languages Commissioner's duties are being discharged evenly across the Northwest Territories. Particularly during this time of fiscal restraint, it is important to ensure that they are being discharged in a cost-effective and efficient manner. This Legislative Assembly has indicated that it wishes to take the question of the government's accountability very seriously. This extends to the officers of this Legislative Assembly and includes the Languages Commissioner. The Languages Commissioner's appearance can be scheduled at the most appropriate time during the third session. Having provided that clarification, I will conclude my remarks at this time. I hope that other Members will, in the interest of accountability, join me in voting in favour of this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Is there a seconder to the motion? Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Culture and language are the most important elements in keeping the tradition alive as most of us are from the native communities. The federal government recognizes the need to preserve and promote our heritage. The Quebec government knows how important it is to keep language and culture alive. The G.N.W.T. recognizes the need to promote and preserve the culture. All native organizations endorse the need to retain language and culture. There are many questions to be answered by the Languages Commissioner. Many of the Members are very anxious to know how far the Languages Commissioner has gone since she was hired by the Assembly. We would like to know the role and responsibility of the Languages Commissioner. Members have many questions that have not been answered up to now. The only time we can find out how far this government has gone in terms of the Languages Commissioner is to have a public forum where the Languages Commissioner will appear before the committee and answer the questions which are outstanding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. Mover of the motion has the opportunity to conclude the debate. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Speaker, there is an interim activity report. Much has been done by the office of the Languages Commissioner. I am interested in finding out the details of how this was accomplished. There were surveys, telephone conversations and 250 complaints. Much has happened in the Commissioner's office since it came into being. We should find a time during this third session to address some of the details. Further, we should find some time to do this travelling as well as keeping up with the work that has been done here. A lot has been accomplished, and we still have the time to travel so I would like to find out a bit more about it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Gargan. Than concludes the debate. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

The Languages Commissioner will be invited into the Committee of Whole during the third session.

Item 16, First Reading of Bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput that Bill 13, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4, 1991-92, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The motion is in order, Mr. Pollard.