Thank you, Mr. Patterson. To the motion. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. To the motion, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) I fully support this motion we are currently discussing. I grew up as an aboriginal person and my first language was my language. Whenever I use my language I feel comfortable with it and I am proud of it.

When I first started school I felt uncomfortable speaking in English so at times I used to used my own language. Whenever you look around here everyone is using their own language I feel happy about that. It seems as if we are the only ones ahead of everything using our own language.

With the support of funding from the federal government we continue to hang onto our language. Now they are saying they are going to cutback by ten per cent. I think if that happens it will be very difficult to continue promoting our language. I am fully against this. It seems because of the cutback, the federal government does not think what we are trying to do is all right. Without even telling us, they are putting this cutback on us. Even though the federal and territorial governments had already agreed to this three year agreement, now it seems they do not respect this agreement and they turn around and change it without even notifying us. This is why I am standing today in support of this motion. I wish for all of you to vote yes to this motion.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. To the motion, Mr. Lewis.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Possibly this afternoon in the matter of Mr. Patterson, I can show example that I am capable of using the two official languages, albeit that the use may be slightly weakened we need a little encouragement.

Mr. Speaker, I have not prepared a text for today because we are discussing a political subject, a question of emotion. A subject which on the other hand is a subject of a sacred trust.

The cuts taken announced by the Conservative government, the cut of the contributions to the provinces for official languages is the result of a fiscal and political decision. As far as I am concerned, it is a slap in the face, it is a treacherous act. The cut of ten per cent, Mr. Speaker, a machine can do that. It is not the result of an intelligent decision or a human decision. We have, nonetheless, had in Ottawa capable and intelligent politicians. It is unbelievable that in an election year, a Conservative government would cut this kind of program, official languages support. Why did this government decide to reject this sacred trust and agreement in this particular year? It was part of Brian Mulroney's platform in 1984 and in the following election. Maybe, Mr. Speaker, we have arrived at a very poor end of this century. Possibly this Conservative government has decided that linguistic subjects or questions are not sufficiently important. As far as I am concerned, it is a very serious mistake. (Translation ends)

Mr. Speaker, I feel strongly that in our jurisdiction, as our leader has pointed out and as Mr. Patterson our former leader has pointed out, language has a very distinctive place in our culture. We have a very distinctive northern culture. In many senses we are like a laboratory which is often looked at by the rest of the country for those people who think about such things as an example of how complex issues such as this can be resolved.

We deal not with two languages, but with eight. People who I bump into in different places across this land are absolutely amazed that we can actually do business using that many languages, whereas in the rest of the country there is a huge fight about two. I think it is a betrayal that this government at this time has suddenly decided you can just make an across the board cut on something, which to us in the Northwest Territories is a matter of a sacred trust which was undertaken because of the kind of example we set to the rest of the country. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

To the motion. Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. To the motion. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I want to commend Mr. Koe for bringing forth this motion, which I feel is critical for the people of the Northwest Territories, particularly for the people who speak an aboriginal language. Many of the people in our communities depend on the services provided by the Department of Culture and Communications to address aboriginal languages in the north. Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that the federal government indicated to officials they were going to be given a reduction in services or funding on the aboriginal languages and that we could lose about $1 million in contribution funding.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that there seems to be a growing trend of the federal government to do this and we accept this type of behaviour. It has been done with our housing, health, the forestry agreement and I do not know what other off-loading type of financial commitment they once made to the people of the north and are now cutting back. This government has to take some drastic steps in regard to making the government in Ottawa aware of the critical need for some of the services they are cutting back. I would even suggest this government consider having Cabinet Ministers and Members of the House who speak aboriginal languages fluently sit down in a meeting room with the Minister and start speaking one so they realize how critical it is to understand the

aboriginal languages that we have and the services that we need so we can understand what the people of the north want.

---Applause

I believe, until we take drastic steps or drastic measures with the federal government, they will not take into consideration or even attempt to understand how we need these critical services and how we need the funding to provide these services to the people of the north.

I believe this motion is to be commended. I wish the government well in trying to convince the federal government that we cannot take a ten per cent reduction for services. The territorial government or Legislative Assembly will not allow this type of action toward us. I wish the government well in trying to obtain this funding. Once again, I thank Mr. Koe and Mr. Arvaluk and commend them for bringing forth this motion. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. To the motion. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is interesting to note that probably all the Government Leaders who have been involved with this business, with the exception of Mr. Sibbeston who is no longer a Member, today there are six Members present who were actually present at the original debate that occurred, including yourself, Mr. Speaker, when we met first in Fort Smith in 1984 and then reconvened the session to deal with the matter of the languages agreement in Yellowknife at Sissons school.

The motion which has been put forward today has, once again, joined all Members at this House on an issue of significant concern to the people of the Northwest Territories. We have not had, for many days or weeks now, an issue that could allow us all to join forces to express our own personal feelings and our views about an issue of such significance to the people of the Northwest Territories. I think this motion has, once again, brought together Members of this House to rise to the support of all people in the Northwest Territories, particularly to the support of aboriginal people, in protecting and supporting the preservation of their languages.

I read, with interest, the remarks and comments that were made as far back as 1984, when we got into this particular issue. I was glad Mr. Patterson raised the meeting with Mr. Munroe, because many people do not realize that is when it began. I was called to Vancouver to speak about an important issue that Mr. Munroe, who was Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs at the time, thought was insignificant in his mind, but was very significant in the minds of the people of the Northwest Territories and the aboriginal people particularly since there was a suggestion to amend the NWT Act to protect French and English as the official languages of the Northwest Territories. He was surprised that the people of the Northwest Territories would not accept that particular argument once he came to the Northwest Territories to meet with the Executive Council at that time, or once he met with the Assembly Members.

It was quite clear in our meetings, by the expressions of Mr. Curley, Mr. Patterson and Mr. Sibbeston that they would not accept the arguments which had been proposed by the Government of Canada, that our aboriginal languages were as much a factor and as important as French and English in terms of the manner in which we provided services and dealt with each other in our aboriginal communities. I think it was quite clear, at that time, the importance of the aboriginal languages and the need to protect the aboriginal languages in any agreement reached with the Government of Canada. That was quite clear in our debate. It was quite clear in the expressions which were made by Members of this House.

This particular agreement came not as a result of some political deal, it was far more important than that. It was an attempt on the part of past Legislatures, past Members of this House, to articulate very clearly the need for aboriginal languages to receive the same kind of attention that both French and English would be receiving. It was our attempt to convince the Government of Canada that they had an interest. They had a moral responsibility to help us improve, enhance and develop our own aboriginal languages, particularly the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. There was a need for him to come on side to support the efforts of aboriginal people because it was his duty in the House of Commons to protect the interests of aboriginal people.

It is unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, as the Government Leader, Ms. Cournoyea has indicated, that at a time in the year when we are supposed to protect the interests of aboriginal peoples throughout the world, we find a government that is not prepared to protect the interests of aboriginal peoples for whom they have the legal and constitutional responsibility for. They are walking away from aboriginal people. They are walking away from an agreement which has seen great strides taken in the protection of aboriginal languages.

This Assembly is a model that many people look to in Canada when they debate the matter of languages. People in Sault St. Marie are arguing about whether they should put signs on their highways in French or give out tickets that are written in French. Here we are, Mr. Speaker, as you look around our gallery and in this House, we have the ability to present to the country an offering of eight languages of which six are aboriginal. I think this country should be proud of that. Instead, they back away from an agreement that shows they do not take a great interest or take a great responsibility in helping us to protect our aboriginal languages. I think that is an insult and is totally irresponsible.

The motion which has been put forward is one that, in my view, is timely and I think it has brought Members of this House together on an issue that we feel deeply emotional about. It is an emotional issue because it strikes the heart of our own people. For that I want to thank Mr. Koe and Mr. Arvaluk. I think Members of this Assembly support the Government Leader, I certainly will, in getting the Government of Canada to live up to its obligation which they signed in 1984. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. Mr. Koe, you have the opportunity to conclude debate.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank all the Members for expressing their opinions and their support in the various languages which they spoke in. I hope this message from this Assembly to the federal government is loud, clear and unanimous. Mahsi. Qujannamiik. Merci.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I would request a recorded vote.

A recorded vote has been requested. All those in favour, please rise.

Recorded Vote

Mr. Koe, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Whitford, Mr. Lewis, Ms. Mike, Mr. Pollard, Ms. Cournoyea, Mr. Kakfwi, Mr. Morin, Mr. Todd, Mr. Nerysoo, Mr. Pudluk, Mr. Patterson, Mr. Arvaluk, Mr. Pudlat, Mr. Dent, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Mr. Zoe.

All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise. Eighteen Members voting in favour, no Members voting opposed and no Members abstaining. The motion is carried unanimously.

---Carried

---Applause

Thank you. We will take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

I call the House back to order. We are on item 16, first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Pollard, your motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 20 has had first reading. Item 16, first reading of bills. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Your motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 18 has had first reading. Item 16, first reading of bills. Mr. Nerysoo.