Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Directions for Change: Encouraging Dialogue

Mr. Speaker, based on our research and public consultations, we have prepared the following strategic directions for change in order to stimulate further dialogue as we move toward preparing our final report. Some of these directions may not prove to be suitable. Others may require revision and refinement. Some people may want to consider other directions. We have numbered these directions for change so that they can be readily identified throughout our next round of discussions.

1. The preamble of the Official Languages Act could be expanded to include some of the guiding principles the committee has followed. In particular, the preamble could acknowledge:
2. a) the role and responsibility of language communities in the preservation and development of their respective languages;
3. b) the value of language diversity for all citizens;
4. c) the shared responsibility of language communities and governments for language enhancement;
5. d) the need for effective and sustainable program and service delivery systems; and
6. e) the need for a variety of language revitalization approaches.
2. The Official Languages Act might be revised to address the following issues:
3. a) Scope of Application: The act has limited application outside of the Legislative Assembly, GNWT departments, and designated boards and agencies of the GNWT. Although it would be difficult to apply the act to all NWT businesses and organizations, it may be feasible to have the act apply to persons and organizations providing public services on behalf of the GNWT and to a wider range of agencies fulfilling obligations under GNWT legislation, such as municipalities.
4. b) Accountability: At the present time, it is not clear what individual, agency, or body is responsible for, and therefore accountable for, implementing the act. It may be time to designate within the act itself a lead agency for the implementation of the act, reporting directly to the Legislative Assembly. Suggestions to date have included a Territorial Languages Board, the Financial Management Board (as is the case with the Official Languages Act of Canada), a designated Minister for Official Languages, or an expanded Office of the Languages Commissioner. Other suggestions may be put forward during the next few months.
5. c) Role of the Languages Commissioner: We have received a number of different recommendations regarding the role, responsibilities, and authority of the Office of the Languages Commissioner. Previous recommendations have included disbanding the office, combining the complaints/investigative functions of the office with another office (such as the Information and Privacy Commissioner), increasing the investigative authority of the office, and/or expanding the role of the office to include language promotion and enhancement activities.

Given the complexity of this matter, the special committee is currently having an independent study of the office done. This study is scheduled for completion in July 2002 and will guide further deliberations.

1. d) Dene Terms: The act uses English terms for some of the Dene official languages. The act could be amended to utilize the proper Dene names for the current official languages, where applicable.
2. e) Official Languages Designations: with the creation of the NWT and Nunavut and the constitutional recognition of Metis rights, the act might be reviewed with respect to the Inuktitut and Michif languages.
3. Implementation of the act could be strengthened by developing official languages regulations, as well as by enhancing existing policies and guidelines. For example, regulations or policies could provide clearer definitions of "significant demand", "the nature of the office", and "active offer". These definitions would have to articulate a level of service delivery that is appropriate to the needs of the language communities and is sustainable.

The designated areas established in the Official Languages Guidelines Manual must be reviewed and revised to reflect the creation of two territories and any jurisdictional matters arising from recent and pending aboriginal governance agreements.

4. Aboriginal language rights might be strengthened through changes to the Official Languages Act and its associated regulations and policies or through amendments to the Education Act. The Education Act could be made more prescriptive with respect to the aboriginal languages, by requiring education authorities to provide aboriginal language immersion programming within designated areas or by establishing language education rights for aboriginal people similar to those currently held by Francophones. Stronger linkages between the education system and language communities might also be established.

Broadening aboriginal language education rights has both cost and programming implications that would have to be addressed. We are currently carrying out a study on how legislation and policy can best support the teaching and learning of languages in the school system.

5. Education authorities may need to take a more structured and systematic approach to aboriginal language instruction by developing language curricula and resources, enhancing the training and certification of language instructors, utilizing immersion programming, and properly evaluating language proficiency. Schools would still utilize culture-based approaches to instruction, but the measurable outcomes would be directly linked to fluency and literacy.
6. Investments in aboriginal and French language programming and services could be increased and current investments consolidated. Funding should be long term and consistent, allowing organizations to plan and develop the capacity necessary to support language development. The GNWT, federal government, and other agencies need to work together to identify ways to ensure consistent, multi-year funding for language services and language enhancement initiatives. Special funding for threatened languages might be considered.
7. The administrative structures for the delivery of French and aboriginal language programs and services by government departments could be clarified and strengthened to improve overall efficiency and accountability. Official language service centres in designated areas that would provide professional interpreter/translator services to the public, courts, and government departments should be considered.

An internal study on the delivery systems and accountability processes within the GNWT is currently being carried out. Our final report will contain specific comments and recommendations regarding this matter.

8. Formal linkages between the GNWT and language communities could be established, taking into account the principle that language communities are responsible for their languages while ensuring that the GNWT meets all of its own legal and fiscal obligations under legislation and funding agreements. These linkages would allow for coordinated planning and decision-making and more effective use of existing resources. Linkages might be created through the establishment of regional and/or territorial-level language management boards or through other intergovernmental means.
9. The functional use of the official languages at all levels of society could be enhanced by:

• • increasing interpreter/translator services (which would also increase the opportunity for professional employment in this field and the need for more I/T training and certification);
• • implementing mandatory staff training and enhancing the bilingual bonuses program, in order to improve direct service delivery by existing staff;
• • expanding terminology development initiatives;
• • enhancing aboriginal language media; and
• • convincing industry, non-governmental agencies, federal departments, and other agencies (through language promotion) that providing official languages services in designated language areas should be considered a basic cost of doing business in the North, rather than a special cost.

Mr. Speaker, I will now ask my colleague, Mr. Steven Nitah, Member for Tu Nedhe and chair of the special committee, to conclude our report.