Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I am pleased this morning to present the report from the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions on the First Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner.
Introduction
The First Annual Report of the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on December 14, 1993. After considerable discussion in the House, a motion was carried on March 21, 1994 to refer the report to the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. The standing committee was also directed to, "make recommendations on a mechanism to establish reporting relationships and accountability of the Languages Commission to the Legislative Assembly."
This standing committee considered this matter in meetings in Yellowknife from April 25 to 29, 1994. On April 27 and 28, 1994, public hearings were held with the Premier, the Honourable Nellie Cournoyea; the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Honourable Jeannie Marie-Jewell; and, the Languages Commissioner, Ms. Betty Harnum.
The standing committee wishes to acknowledge the input of the witnesses and thank them for their appearance at the public hearings. We would also like to thank the Languages Commissioner and her staff for their assistance in preparing this review.
Reporting Relationship Of The Languages Commissioner
The Languages Commissioner is to be an independent entity. Although the resources for the office are provided from government appropriations, the Languages Commissioner is to act independently of government itself.
This independence is reflected in the fact that the Languages Commissioner is to report to the Legislative Assembly, and not to a government Minister. To date, the Languages Commissioner has made appearances before the committee of the whole. However, this does not appear to have been an appropriate forum for the effective review of the Languages Commissioner's reports.
Recommendation 1 in the annual report suggests that a new committee be struck to be responsible for official languages issues. Members of the standing committee disagree. The Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions is quite able to take on the task of reviewing the Languages Commissioner's annual reports.
Recommendation 1
The committee recommends that the terms of reference of the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions be amended as follows, by adding the following paragraph:
"The annual reports and any other reports of the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories will be referred to the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions after tabling in the Legislative Assembly. Notwithstanding this formal process, the Speaker is authorized to provide these documents to the standing committee in advance of tabling, to expedite the review by the committee. For further certainty, this review in advance of tabling, may include public hearings and all other authorized activities of the standing committee."
The standing committee also notes recommendation 24 of the Standing Committee on Finance's Report on the Review of the 1994-95 Main Estimates:
"The committee recommends that the Legislative Assembly establish an overall reporting relationship for the Languages Commissioner such that overall reporting is to the Assembly and financial reporting is through the Standing Committee on Finance. The committee further recommends that, in future, the Languages Commissioner should appear before the Standing Committee on Finance to defend her budget."
We agree that the Languages Commissioner should report to, and appear before, the Standing Committee on Finance for budget-related matters.
Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to turn the next section of the report over to my colleague, Mr. Ningark.