Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I just want to bring to the attention of individuals and Members that within the expenditure for languages, although we refer to the agreement on aboriginal languages between the federal government and the Northwest Territories government, the Government of the Northwest Territories also provides significant other dollars for language enhancement, such as in the Department of Education where language is taught in the schools. And certainly in a lot of other areas where there is a significant requirement. So there are other dollars that the Government of the Northwest Territories makes available for those expenditures.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment, in cooperation with the departments of the Executive, Justice, Health and Social Services, and the public colleges, are looking at and conducting a review of the interpreter translation training programs delivered or used by these departments. They do say that:

"The purpose of their review is to assess the delivery structure of the existing training programs and to recommend any changes that will maximize the utilization of human and financial resources. An interim report containing the findings of the review will be submitted to the interdepartmental steering committee by the end of February..." which is there, "...and the final report containing recommendations will be submitted by March 15th."

So, Mr. Speaker, in trying to lend services to the various levels of government and due to our requirement to meet people's needs, we are trying to do everything possible. Not only with the dollars that are available through the aboriginal language agreement with the federal government, but also through resources available through the budget of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary to the same Minister. I would like to ask the Premier, is there a guideline or regulation that exists to determine exactly what is a significant demand? What is reasonable? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I believe that we have been very flexible on what significant demand has been. Where it makes sense, we try to offer the services and the support. So, I guess it is determined on the basis of how important it is and what we can do to accommodate the request. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Premier about subsection 14(2) of the Official Languages Act which provides that regional, area, or community offices of government institutions shall provide services in official languages other than English or French, where there is "a significant demand or due to the nature of the office, it is reasonable that communications with and services from that office be available in the appropriate official language." I would like to ask the Premier, what guidelines or regulations exist to determine what is a significant demand, or what is reasonable according to this part of the act? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I believe that I have already answered that question. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Patterson.

Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Mr. Speaker, the Premier's answers were quite unsatisfactory, that is why I am asking this question. The Premier earlier told Mr. Allooloo, well we could have put together ad hoc guidelines, but we wanted to do a proper job. Then she told Mr. Ningark that they wanted to have flexibility. About a year ago, she told this House that the work on these guidelines was almost complete. So, I would like to ask the Premier, which one is it? Are they going to be flexible? Are they going to finish the work? Mr. Speaker, what is the status of these guidelines she committed to completing over a year ago? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

I guess I will have to be repetitious. Over a year ago, we had committed to do these guidelines and policies. We were working very hard to get them completed, and the languages unit had put a lot of effort into getting those guidelines and policies completed. As we were moving along and getting these policies and guidelines in place, we were attempting to enhance or take into consideration the agreement between the federal government and the territorial government and aboriginal languages.

Subsequently, during the negotiations of the new agreement, we became aware that there would be some problems that would exist because of cutbacks or there would not be the amounts that we had become accustomed to. As a result, we took out the guidelines to see if the direction we were going made the best of the possible resources we would have. As well, we are well aware that some of the initiatives taken by aboriginal organizations and workshops show that some expenditures were requested to have a more community-based type of delivery. That affected the guidelines. When the federal government began moving closer to the agreement, they were inclined to be more flexible. Therefore, the guidelines would take that approach, which would meet two objectives. One, what people have said they would like to see, more community involvement and more community-based language development. Now we can incorporate that and see where it can best fit in. We are trying to work that into the guidelines, Mr. Speaker.

I guess it is all of the three. The only problem is, we can't move as quickly as we had anticipated in the beginning to get those guidelines in place. We're trying our very best to do that. I said we should have them done earlier but we didn't. Other things came into play, like a new agreement and what people had recommended from the various workshops. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Patterson.