This is page numbers 1279 - 1309 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was education.

Topics

Further Return To Question 588-12(7): Responsibility For Reviewing Allocation Of Languages Funding
Question 588-12(7): Responsibility For Reviewing Allocation Of Languages Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the reason is that when we attempted to approach this very important subject, it was not as clear and easy to do mainly because we have 11 different language groups and in order to come up with a broad base of our discussions, it was much more difficult than we had anticipated. So it took us longer to establish some of those guidelines. So, Mr. Speaker, perhaps we were overly optimistic at the beginning in saying we could do this much more quickly.

As well, the Members will recognize that in the interim, the language agreement with the federal government did not bear the amounts of dollars that we thought they would and that would come through in support of this important area of government policy. So there were a number of issues that got in the way and we weren't able to deal as quickly with the issue as we wanted to. So it was a series of unplanned issues that were thrown in the way of us completing those guidelines. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 588-12(7): Responsibility For Reviewing Allocation Of Languages Funding
Question 588-12(7): Responsibility For Reviewing Allocation Of Languages Funding
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Mr. Speaker, all Members are aware that there were significant cuts to money available for languages through the federal/GNWT agreement signed in March. A number of employees were funded through this vote 4 money. Mr. Speaker, can the Premier advise us how many employees have been laid off as a result of the cuts from the agreement? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the cuts to the agreement, the individuals who were laid off term positions, some of which ended and some were vacant. In French, there was 1.5 person years cut. In the aboriginal section, there were 10.5 person years cut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Supplementary To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In making the decision to cut positions, there must have been a process of evaluating the need for each position. Was the decision regarding which positions to cut made after consultation with communities regarding their priorities for language services? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Further Return To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, in terms of the decisions, they were management decisions and they were primarily at headquarters. The intent was to make sure that the community-based education and language programs were secure. So the area was headquarters that the positions were cut in.

Further Return To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Supplementary To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When positions are cut, they receive a severance package. When employees are hired under vote 4 funding, is there some payment out of the vote 4 funding?

Supplementary To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Supplementary To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take that question as notice.

Supplementary To Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Question 589-12(7): Number Of GNWT Lay-offs Due To Language Funding Cuts
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1287

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Premier with regard to legal interpreting. In April, the Minister of Justice announced that two employees from the legal interpreting program were laid off. However, the future

responsibility and status of legal interpreting was not clear. Can the Minister provide an update on what is happening with legal interpreting, including who is responsible and what changes have been made to the operations of the program? Mahsi.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Return To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, the enhancement and maintenance of languages in that category is the role of Education, Culture and Employment. As I indicated before, in that move, emphasis was retained to move to more community-based language programs. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you. Can the Premier explain her answer? What I wanted to know is in the area of legal interpreting, two people were involved in the program but they are not laid off. The Premier stated that this role was moved to Education, Culture and Employment, and the move was to emphasize more community-based language programs. Can the Premier explain to me what she means by "more community-based?"

Supplementary To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Madam Premier.

Supplementary To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, if I may suggest that, because of the responsibility in that certain area, this question can be more appropriately answered by the Minister of Education.

Supplementary To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Further Return To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just quick information before I get into the detail of the question. I would like to advise the honourable Member, these were not interpreters. These were terminologists. In other words, these were the individuals who were involved in developing the language or defining new words to respond to aboriginal languages that didn't have the words that were being used. So they were legal terminologists.

Secondly, Mr. Speaker, our attempt right now is to ensure the language development enhancement responsibility rests with the appropriate language group and language community. For so long, the government has assumed the responsibility for the development of this particular area. After an analysis of the languages agreement, it's our view that the responsibility and the financial resources should be placed in the hands of the language groups, rather than the government assuming the responsibility. That's the direction we intend to take.

Further Return To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Question 590-12(7): Update On Legal Interpreting Program
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1288

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My supplementary question is for the Premier. During the recent trial in Dettah about hunting on the Ingraham Trail, there were complaints about the legal interpreting being provided. Some people felt that the legal arguments were not interpreted so that the Dene people could understand them. In light of the concern raised, has the department taken a second look at the changes to the legal interpreting program? Thank you.