Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Because the mover has categorized those in favour of the vote and those against, I think it's important to speak to it. The way
the motion is drafted, it is not something that is clear or thought out. I must say that I would have been much more comfortable if it had come from the work of a committee. I don't know where this comes from, but it does not reflect...The Education Act, in the first instance, is intended to give as much control, flexibility and choice to parents and communities as possible.
It is true, I would say, for the majority of aboriginal children, at least in the western Arctic, that their first language is now English, and not an aboriginal language. The way this motion is drafted doesn't reflect that and I think it's important to know that if some of us choose to vote against this, it's not because we're against aboriginal languages. That's a bit simplistic and dismissive of our requirement to give careful thought to the drafting of legislation. I'm going to be voting against it, but it's not because I'm against the use of aboriginal languages or that I'm trying to be derogatory towards aboriginal languages at all.
I think this is too rigid and I don't think it's worded the way it is intended by the mover. I think it takes away the choice we're trying to achieve for parents and communities in the Education Act. Thank you.