This is page numbers 1525 - 1578 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 language.

Topics

Committee Motion 116-12(7): To Amend Clause 117 Of Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1574

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 116-12(7): To Amend Clause 117 Of Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you. So we go to the preamble in the bill. Mr. Minister.

Committee Motion 117-12(7): To Amend Preamble Of Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

June 22nd, 1995

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the preamble to Bill 25 be amended by adding "and" after "achievement" in proposed paragraph 4. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 117-12(7): To Amend Preamble Of Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Your motion is being distributed and it is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 117-12(7): To Amend Preamble Of Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 117-12(7): To Amend Preamble Of Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

The Chair Brian Lewis

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Are there any further amendments to the preamble, Mr. Nerysoo?

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the preamble to Bill 25 be amended by

(a)striking out "sections 15, 23 and 25" and by substituting "sections 15 and 23" in proposed paragraph 7; and

(b)striking out "section 35" and by substituting "sections 25 and 35" in proposed paragraph 8.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

The Chair Brian Lewis

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Do the Members agree that the preamble carries? Mr. Koe.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

Fred Koe Inuvik

I just want to make a few comments that with the changes to the preamble and all the amendments to the act, a lot of the concerns that my colleagues, especially Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Mr. Antoine and myself had raised, and other comments regarding aboriginal rights and languages, et cetera, we are satisfied with the new proposed bill. I would like to thank the Minister, his staff, our legal counsel and everyone else who assisted in working out the amendments over the last few days. It was quite a task and I think everyone is fairly satisfied with the results. Thank you to everyone.

---Applause

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

The Chair Brian Lewis

Once again, does the committee agree that the preamble should carry? Mr. Antoine.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to say that we have put a lot of work into the Education Act over the last few days. We worked on it for quite a bit here. In the last few days when we were actually going clause by clause and it wasn't strong enough regarding treaty rights and aboriginal issues, we were able to strengthen that and I would like to thank the Members of this House for that. I think it will go a long way in satisfying people with treaty concerns, and who have been raising this issue for many years. Finally, it is in here and, hopefully, it does something better.

I wanted to get bigger and better clauses in here, but we were able to compromise. I still would like to see those amendments in there, especially for languages. Unfortunately, we were unable to put in that it is mandatory to teach the aboriginal languages. Now it is the choice of the communities, and perhaps that's a good thing. But I was thinking that the flexibility that is there, while it may be good, could be bad too. A mandatory clause to teach aboriginal languages, in the long run...We're a majority here, but in the future, aboriginal people may become a minority. It's the choice of the communities now, but we're going to sit with this thing for the next ten years or more.

If it had been mandatory that we have to teach aboriginal languages, it would have gone a long way to save the languages. It was the survival of the languages that I was concerned about. I was thinking for the future but, unfortunately, didn't get it. I would have liked to have seen it in there, but it's not. That's the way it goes. We were outvoted. We'll see, in time, how this is going to have an effect on our languages.

Overall, there was give and take and compromises. I would like to thank all the Members for the supporting the clauses that we were able to put in here. Thank you. Mahsi.

---Applause

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Antoine, for your words. Mr. Nerysoo.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1575

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you. If you could give me just a couple of minutes, I know this process has not always been one that has been exciting and my colleagues probably want to get out of here, but I just want to say a couple of things.

I recognize and appreciate the amount of work that has been done. My colleague indicated that we have done a lot of hard work over the past couple of weeks, but that was only concerning some of the issues. This matter has been dealt with since approximately 1998. Other Ministers have tried to get this issue resolved, and I want to give recognition to people like Gail Joyce, Janet Grinsted, Carol Whitehouse, people from Justice, the staff from Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Colbourne, Mr. Gerein, and I think I have to thank again the staff of the Assembly and, of course the Standing Committee on Legislation for the work they did.

---Applause

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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An Hon. Member

(Microphone turned off)

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

No, actually, I did mention him too.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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An Hon. Member

(Microphone turned off)

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1576

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Well, I didn't want to toot his horn too loudly so that he would want a raise or something.

There were also a lot of people in the public who paid a great deal of attention to this. Let's not forget that the boards have been working on this matter for almost five years now. I think they have done a lot of work. Nothing is perfect in this world, they say, but I think what you have to be proud of is that, as Members, you were able to complete, in your term, work that has been going on for four years. You've done it in about three years, and I think you should be proud of that.

And I thank my Cabinet colleagues for their support, and I know the staff also thank you. Thank you, very much.

---Applause

We also have a musical presentation to make to you in the grand hall later.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1576

Some Hon. Members

Ohh.

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1576

The Chair Brian Lewis

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. The preamble has already been carried, so we thank you for your words. Does the committee agree that we have now agreed to the bill as a whole?

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1576

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1576

The Chair Brian Lewis

Does the committee agree that Bill 25 is ready for third reading, as amended?

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1576

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Committee Motion 118-12(7): To Amend Preamble To Bill 25, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1576

The Chair Brian Lewis

Bill 25 is now ready for third reading, as amended.

---Applause

Does the committee agree that we've also completed Committee Report 11-12(7)?