Thank you, Mr. Koe. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Koe.

Other Recommendations Agreed To

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. The standing committee agreed with the following recommendations in the Languages Commissioner's report, and agrees with the Languages Commissioner that the government should act upon them.

Since some time has passed since the standing committee's report was read in the House, I will repeat these recommendations of the Languages Commissioner.

Recommendation 18 urges the government to avoid all delays in filling positions responsible for the delivery of official languages programs.

Recommendation 21 suggests setting up toll-free telephone numbers, similar to the one existing for French for use by people wishing to contact the government in any official language.

Recommendation 25 suggests that the government collect and develop materials for adult literacy and fluency training.

Recommendation 28 asks the government to provide some information in Dene syllabics for those elders who learned to read and write Dene languages using syllabic alphabets.

Full Simultaneous Translation In The Legislative Assembly

In recommendation 17, the Languages Commissioner asks that the Assembly "...consider whether or not it is necessary to provide full simultaneous interpretation in the Legislative Assembly at all times and in all official languages..." This recommendation, which the Languages Commissioner admitted to be a controversial one, was based on concerns that providing full interpretation was too much of a strain on existing resources when the Assembly was in session.

Standing committee Members feel very strongly that full simultaneous interpretation is a fundamental part of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. It is required by the Official Languages Act -- sections 9 and 10(3) effectively require full simultaneous interpretation -- and was the subject of a point of order raised in the House on October 26, 1989 when simultaneous translation in Dogrib was not available.

Full simultaneous translation also allows Members to serve as linguistic role models for their constituents. This is especially true since House proceedings started to be broadcast on the TVNC network. Committee Members noted that constituents are listening when their representatives speak in aboriginal languages. When constituents see and hear their elected representatives speaking in their own language in the House, their pride in their language is bound to increase. Providing Members the opportunity to do so by providing full simultaneous interpretation can only strengthen aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories.

Conclusion

The passage of the Official Languages Act, along with the initiatives undertaken by the government to promote official languages is a significant milestone in northern and Canadian history. The office of the Languages Commissioner has a significant and crucial role in ensuring that the goals expressed by these initiatives are realized by the government.

Standing committee Members expect that the office of the Languages Commissioner will magnify its responsibilities and duties as it becomes more established and as the government grows to recognize its own responsibilities under the act. The standing committee is pleased to be part of this growth and expects that the adoption of its recommendations will assist in promoting the use of official languages in the government and throughout the north.