This is page numbers 701 - 746 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act, Carried
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 717

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also feel the same way as Mr. Krutko. There was an aboriginality clause. It's not there anymore.

Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act, Carried
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 717

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mr. Nitah, you are out of order. I will caution you again. If you wish to speak to the principle of the bill, that is not in the bill. Mr. Nitah.

Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act, Carried
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I feel that this bill does not go far enough to address all the issues. Mr. Speaker, this amendment was brought to us very recently. The government sat on it for awhile. We just saw what happens when the government is not prepared to introduce a government document. Harmonization is a good example. Mr. Speaker, I can't support this because it's assuming that something is going to come down the road and we have to act now to avoid it. The Polson (sic) report is something we are reacting to. We don't know what is in the Polson (sic) report. It might have some great stuff in there that's going to make that bill that much stronger, but if we are going to get a human rights bill to avoid what might happen in the Polson (sic) bill, that's just not a good enough reason for me. I believe that we should wait until June, think it through, see what the entire bill would look like and then introduce it for consideration. I think we are jumping the gun and I can't support the motion at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act, Carried
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 717

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. To the principle of the bill.

Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act, Carried
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 717

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Bill 14: An Act To Amend The Public Service Act, Carried
Item 18: Second Reading Of Bills

Page 718

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 14 has had second reading and accordingly the bill stands referred to a committee. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 4, Bill 9, Bill 11, Committee Reports 3-14(6), 4-14(6), 5-14(6), 6-14(6), 8-14(6), and 9-14(6); Motion 10-14(6); Minister's Statement 28-14(6); Tabled Document 26-14(6), Tabled Document 31-14(6) and Tabled Document 41-14(6), with Mr. Krutko in the chair. By the authority given the Speaker by Motion 4-14(6), the House has dissolved into Committee of the Whole to sit beyond the time of adjournment until the committee is prepared to report, just in case.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I would like to call the Committee of the Whole to order. We have several things to deal with: Bill 4, Bill 9, Bill 11, Committee Reports 3-14(6), 4-14(6), 5-14(6), 6-14(6), 8-14(6), and 9-14(6); Motion 10-14(6); Minister's Statement 28-14(6); Tabled Document 26-14(6), Tabled Document 31-14(6) and Tabled Document 41-14(6). What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that we, first of all, consider Committee Report 9-14(6), followed by Bill 4, Bill 9 and Bill 11 in that order.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Does the committee agree?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

---Agreed

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

With that, we will begin with a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

I'll call the committee back to order. We're dealing with Committee Report 9-14(6): "One Land, Many Voices." I would like to ask the committee chair if he has comments to make.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, as we all know, the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act for mandatory review was established two years ago. The committee did extensive work, research and consultation. As a result, we've published a report called, "One Land, Many Voices."

Madam Chair, the committee is very pleased with the work. The people of the Northwest Territories have received the report and are quite pleased with it. We've developed 65 recommendations as part of a roadmap to revitalize the Official Languages Act of the Northwest Territories, to help government manage its responsibilities under the Official Languages Act. Accountability of the millions of dollars that we spent in this area is very important. The Prime Minister today announced over $750,000 for the French language as its obligation under the Official Languages Act of Canada. This is for the next five years. A few weeks ago, over $71 million was put in the Canadian budget for aboriginal languages. Our committee report is consistent and the timing is great.

To achieve the roadmap we've come up with 65 recommendations. As a committee we have to introduce a motion for every recommendation. Madam Chair, to clarify and strengthen official languages legislation and policy, we recommend the following:

Committee Motion 13-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 1 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the current version of the Official Languages Act be updated to remove repealed sections and correct spelling, terminology and translation errors.

Committee Motion 13-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 1 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 718

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

We have a motion in front of us and the motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 13-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 1 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 718

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 13-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 1 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 718

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

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

---Carried

Mr. Nitah.

Committee Motion 14-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 2 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, colleagues. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that Dene terms be used in the Official Languages Act for North Slavey, South Slavey, Dogrib and Chipewyan, with the advice and consent of the affected language communities.

Committee Motion 14-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 2 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 718

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

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

Committee Motion 14-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 2 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 718

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 14-14(6) To Accept Recommendation No. 2 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 718

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Nitah.

Committee Motion 15-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 3 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 11th, 2003

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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Madam Chair and colleagues. Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that North and South Slavey (as such, or using Dene terms) and Inuvialuktun and Inuinnaqtun be listed as separate languages in Section 4 of the Official Languages Act, and removed from the interpretation section, with the consent of the affected language communities. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Committee Motion 15-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 3 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 719

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. We have another motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Committee Motion 15-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 3 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 719

Some Hon. Members

Question.

Committee Motion 15-14(6): To Accept Recommendation No. 3 Of Committee Report 9-14(6), Scol Final Report, Carried
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 719

The Chair

The Chair Sandy Lee

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

---Carried

Mr. Nitah.