Mr. Chairman, I would ask a question now that we are on the issue of languages. The Language Strategy, which has been in the works for quite some time now and is a critical component to the survival and the enhancement of aboriginal languages. I looked at the documentation provided to me in regard to the Chipewyan Language Strategy. Their own assessment of the state of the language in the South Slave region was, to say the least, somewhat bleak.
In the community where I live, there are maybe twelve to fifteen percent of the people who speak the language. The number is somewhat higher in Fort Resolution and marginally higher again in Lutselk'e. In the South Slave for sure, we have a very significant situation with trying to preserve and enhance a language that is at the stage of being considered endangered.
This Language Strategy was supposed to bring together all the pieces with the Official Languages Act, including the role of the Language Commissioner, all the funding for aboriginal languages and French, what the department does, what the communities do, how we come up with a strategy to make sure the focus is on the communities and the families to ensure that the languages and culture are passed on from birth. I would like to ask the Minister for the status of that particular strategy and when will we see a finished product? Thank you.