Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member is correct. There is one legal translator position that is presently vacant, but I can inform the committee that the position has been put out to competition and that competition has closed and there have been applicants for that position. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

From what I understand, this position has been open for about eight months. I just wonder if he knows why this position has been open for so long?

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, the Member is absolutely correct. The competition has been open for that long. The reason for that is that it is very hard today in Canada to attract legal translators. It is a very specialized field and these people are, unfortunately, at a premium. So that, in fact, is one of the reasons why we have not been able to meet the deadline that had been set earlier.

Mr. Gargan.

The standing committee this morning was public and we had a good presentation done by the French federation, a group of francophones that were looking after the interests of the French community. One of the difficulties I find is that we still have an aboriginal program that is run by this government, and also, there really are no aboriginal organizations that are making presentations on behalf of the aboriginal people. This is one area I still feel where the experts are out there, they know what is happening with the language, as opposed to having offices here in Yellowknife. I would hope this government would be looking at changing it. They feel that the French language is important enough that they consult with the French community. I would hope they would do the same thing when it comes to aboriginal languages.

The act itself, if we do not change it soon it will not come into force. I am not really concerned about that but I was interested in whether or not the acts that are now in place have to be enforced in both languages. I am referring specifically to -- under the Department of Transportation we do have the highway patrols. But basically, issues of tickets under the territorial acts, do they have to be issued in both languages or is the English version good enough? Maybe my ticket is not good.

--- Laughter

General comments. Mr. Patterson.

I understand that as of April 1st of this year the Summary Conviction Act will require that traffic tickets be in English and French, but it is not a present requirement today.

Mr. Gargan.

Is this also for the RCMP, not only highway patrols?

Mr. Patterson.

That will apply to all summary conviction offences in the NWT, including the highway traffic offences.

Does the committee agree that we go clause by clause?

Clause 1. Mr. Nerysoo.

Motion To Amend Clause 1, Bill 15, Carried

Mr. Chairman, I move that clause 1 of Bill 15 be amended by striking out December 31, 1992 and substituting September 30, 1992.

Your amendment is in order. To the amendment.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed, if any? The amendment is carried.

--- Carried

Clause 1, as amended. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

The bill as a whole. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Bill 15 is now ready for third reading as amended. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Todd.