Mr. Speaker, I have another return to an oral question asked by Mr. Allooloo, on December 7, regarding languages.
Mr. Speaker, first I would like to clarify any confusion surrounding the language agreements this government has with the Government of Canada.
The GNWT has two language agreements. One of these is the Canada/Northwest Territories agreement for French minority language and French second language. This agreement provides funds for French language education and is administered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
The other agreement is the Canada/Northwest Territories cooperation agreement for French and aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories, which provides funding for the maintenance, revitalization and enhancement of aboriginal languages as well as 100 per cent funding for the provision of French language services. This is the agreement which I am responsible for and to which questions have been raised in this House.
Under this agreement, funds can be transferred within a specific fiscal year between approved projects, if the transfer does not increase or decrease the affected project budgets by more than 25 per cent. Federal ministerial approval is required for transfers of over 25 per cent. All these changes must still meet the goals and objectives agreed to by Canada the Northwest Territories.
I would like to inform this House that funding under the Canada/Northwest Territories cooperation agreement for French and aboriginal languages was reduced by ten per cent for both French and aboriginal languages.
At no time did this government negotiate a reduction in this ten per cent cut.
The four per cent cut referred to by my honourable colleague, Mr. Nerysoo, applies to the Canada/Northwest Territories agreement for French minority language and French second language.