Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Antoine on the 22nd of this month. Mr. Antoine asked the question as to what the policy is with respect to using aboriginal languages in the courts. I would like to assure Mr. Antoine that it is the practice of the courts in the Northwest Territories to allow an aboriginal person, whether an accused or a witness, to use an aboriginal language during court proceedings. The department has directed considerable efforts in the training of aboriginal language legal interpreters. Interpreters have been provided to permit an accused person to be effectively present at his trial, to understand the proceedings and to make full answer in defence. In those cases where it appears this opportunity has not been provided, an accused has the right of appeal to a higher court. In this particular case, the accused exercised his rights in this regard and was successful in gaining a new preliminary inquiry.
It's not proper to comment any further on the case, other than to say that the case demonstrates that the court process works: the language rights of the people within the Northwest Territories are guarded by the courts. To add more than this would put us at risk of interfering with the independence of the courts. Thank you.