(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February, when we were discussing this issue about the proposed cut of ten per cent, I was very shocked. Ever since I became a Member in 1975 we have always used different languages in the Assembly. The way it is progressing, it is getting better. They will never stop using the different languages. The aboriginal and French languages, are going to lose some funding, it is obvious, so in our future we will have great difficulties. This agreement was toward the aboriginal and French languages. The federal government stated then that legislation must be written into French. That is why the agreement became reality then. Before everything was completed with this agreement in place, we had to have an act in place.

The federal government is not following this act and now they are cutting the funds again. They are destroying this agreement themselves. We do not want to be treated this way by the federal government. We just do not want to be played around with since we were here first, but now the federal government is saying this is how we are going to do this. Once we start using that act, they make cuts. It is very unfortunate for us to go through. We know the language act has to stay the same as this.

If the federal government keeps cutting our funding, the employment will keep going down in the north. We use different languages in the territories. If the federal government keeps cutting our funding for language programs, I am sure we will be facing difficulties in the future. For instance, an aboriginal person needs an interpreter in court. More aboriginal people within the communities are using their aboriginal languages within the work place.

Today we are facing another problem. For instance, if I was to stop using my own language within the house or at the work place, my self-esteem would keep going down. Mr. Speaker, I am in support of the motion for the reasons that the aboriginal people will not keep losing their own languages. More French people are moving north, especially to the Baffin region. Many of them do not speak English. I am sure the French language will also be heard. Whenever the federal government comes to an agreement with the territorial government and says it will carry on with its promises, later on it breaks its promises.

Mr. Speaker, I wanted to make a brief statement. I would like to thank the Member who made the motion. The federal government has to be aware that the language programs within the north is one of the hardest things to deal with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.