Yes, the way I understand it, the way that the legislation is written, it says the Languages Commissioner should conduct investigations. Now, for the reasons I explained that there are only two people in our office and we could not possibly do all the investigations, I agreed to the original protocol. In some cases that works well so I don't have a problem with it. It is in the cases where it doesn't work, and I can't go any farther, that I have a problem with it because then I can't resolve it. Hopefully this legislature can provide some direction on what authority they mean for the Languages Commissioner. When they said conduct investigations, what did they mean? I don't think it should be simply up to GNWT, to the Executive, to decide what those powers should be. I think it should be up to the whole Legislature to decide what those powers should be. So I was not indicating that I am heading towards court to try to sort that out. It has been done in other jurisdictions where they have had disputes about it, but I hope I won't have to go that route.
Ms. Harnum on Tabled Document 11-12(5): First Annual Report Of The Languages Commissioner Of The NWT For The Year 1992-93
In the Legislative Assembly on February 16th, 1994. See this statement in context.
Tabled Document 11-12(5): First Annual Report Of The Languages Commissioner Of The NWT For The Year 1992-93
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 15th, 1994
Page 176
Harnum
See context to find out what was said next.