Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 31, An Act to Amend the Official Languages Act, No. 3, be read for the second time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill implements the recommendations in the final report of the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act. More particularly, this bill amends the Official Languages Act to ensure that:
- • Inuinnaqtun, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey and South Slavey are fully identified as official languages;
- • provide for the appointment, resignation, suspension and removal of the Languages Commissioner and for the appointment of an acting Languages Commissioner or a special Languages Commissioner in specified circumstances;
- • specify the responsibilities of the Minister responsible for official languages;
- • establish an official languages board and an aboriginal languages revitalization board and provide for their membership and duties;
- • introduce new regulation-making authorities;
- • standardize references to certain terms;
- • renumber provisions for convenient reference.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.