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.