Thank you. Item 10, petitions. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the third annual report of the Languages Commissioner. The first annual report of the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, covering the 1992-93 fiscal year, was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on December 14, 1993, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions. Among the committee's recommendations was to amend the committee's terms of reference to provide that all reports of the Languages Commissioner would be so referred. This was approved by motion in the House on November 9, 1994.

With the new standing committee structure adopted by the 13th Legislative Assembly, responsibility for considering the annual reports of the Languages Commissioner now fails under the terms of reference of the Standing Committee on Government Operations. The Languages Commissioner's third annual report, for the 1994-95 fiscal year, was tabled November 23, 1995. This standing committee considered the report in meetings in Yellowknife on January 17, 1996, at which a public hearing was held with the Premier, the Honourable Don Morin; and, the outgoing Languages Commissioner, Ms. Betty Harnum.

The standing committee wishes to acknowledge the input of the witnesses and thank them for their appearance at the public hearings. We would also like to thank the Languages Commissioner and her staff for their assistance in preparing for this review.

Committee's Response To Recommendations Of The Languages Commissioner

The Languages Commissioner's first recommendation reiterated the need for clear direction to government departments and agencies regarding their responsibilities under the act. In the Languages Commissioner's first annual report, recommendation 8 was that "the GNWT clarify to which institutions the Official Languages Act applies and that they inform these institutions and the public." The government said that the official languages handbook being prepared would address this issue, and the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions recommended, in November 1994, that the handbook be completed and distributed by December 31, 1994.

To date, the handbook has still not been completed, and government departments and agencies still do not have clear direction as to their responsibilities under the act. Hence, the Languages Commissioner has recommended again 'that the Legislative Assembly insist that the Premier table the handbook without delay."

The Standing Committee on Government Operations acknowledges the importance of the Official Languages Act and the importance of providing adequate government services to northerners in their own languages where appropriate. It is imperative that the government determine what services they can deliver in other languages given the resources available, subject to the provisions of the act, and then direct government departments and agencies appropriately. The delay in implementing this direction is unacceptable.

Recommendation 2 in the Languages Commissioner's annual report referred to concern about the proposed arrangement to hire the new Languages Commissioner on a contractual basis. The committee carefully considered this issue and determined that such an arrangement would be appropriate, especially given that most deputy ministers in the government are now hired on contract as well.

The Languages Commissioner's fourth recommendation expresses concern that the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, due to come into force December 31, 1996, may interfere with the Languages Commissioner's authority under the Official Languages Act. Committee Members have noted the concerns of the Languages Commissioner and will be considering the issues raised to ensure that they are properly addressed before the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act comes into force at the end of the year.

In conclusion, as Members of a new Legislative Assembly, the Members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations are looking forward to a close working relationship with the office of the Languages Commissioner. The work done to date has made a significant impact on the status of official languages in the Northwest Territories. The standing committee hopes that the future will bring continued development and strengthening of official languages, and that the office of the Languages Commissioner will look to this task as a key component of the office's role.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations on the review of the third annual report of the Languages Commissioner be received by the Assembly and adopted. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. Your motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

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

---Carried

At this time I would like to recognize some Members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Mr. Bill Graham, who is the chairman of the committee;

---Applause

Foreign Affairs. Welcome to the Assembly. Item 12, reports of committes on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.

Document 63-13(3), Public Service Annual Report for 1994, a little late.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I have two documents to table. They are in support of the statement that I made the other day. I wish to table Tabled Document 64-13(3), Implementation Schedule and Decentralization Cost and Savings, Nunavut Implementation Commission, 1995.

Secondly, I wish to table Tabled Document 65-13(3), Headquarter FTEs by Department and Community, 1996, Nunavut Implementation Commission.

Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Tabled Document 66-13(3), Nunavut Telecommunications Needs, Community Teleservice Centres, A Supplement to the Report of the Nunavut Implementation Commission. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. Motion 13-13(3). Mr. Steen.

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

Question.

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

---Carried

Item 16, motions. Motion 14-13(3). Mr. Roland.

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

Question.

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

---Carried

Item 16, motions. Item 17, first reading of bills. Item 18, second reading of bills. Mr. Ng.