Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clause 71 determines the language of instruction and gives authority to district education authorities, in accordance with the regulations, to determine the language of instruction to be used in the education district. So the district education authority will determine what language of instruction will be used in that particular district.
Then it goes on to say that by determining the language of instruction in the education district, this is like a CEC, like a community, that it is an education division, so that they'll have that authority, and then the Minister will give directions to establish standards and guidelines for selection and use of language of instruction, to assure the maintenance of the highest possible standards.
The problem I have with this is that the district education authority may choose a language of instruction, and then it lists three conditions that all have to be met before they determine whether a language will be used at the district education authority.
One of the conditions is that there is a significant demand for the language in the education district. So, after I have finished my concern here, maybe the Minister could explain what significant demand is? Who determines it? Is it the Minister, the superintendent, the principal or the district education authority that determines the condition of significant demand?
Another condition is that there be a sufficient number of teachers who are fluent in the language and able to teach in the language in the education district. So then, another condition is that you have to find enough teachers who are fluent in that language.
The third condition is that there be sufficient and suitable school program materials available in the language.
So there are three conditions before a language of instruction is chosen. That seems to me to put more barriers in front of teaching an aboriginal language. In my communities there is Slavey language in the schools. So the Minister is going to have tell me who determines all these conditions.
What if you have a principal -- and it does happen -- who is against aboriginal languages being provided in the school? Who determines that? The community is not involved in it. Let's say there's a band council, for example. It's not involved in determining if it's their language, but it's their right.
The key to culture is language, and this is one of the things that aboriginal people have been saying for years, the chiefs and councils, that the key to a culture is language and one way of preserving it is to have that right in the school system. I think the right for speaking an aboriginal language in a community is taken away by this clause, especially with the conditions imposed upon it.
If you compare it to this current act, in here, the language of instruction for Slavey could be from K to 3. They must provide that. But now it doesn't do that. So I am concerned about this particular clause in that regard. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.