Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on the government's plans for addressing the recommendations put forward by the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act in its report, One Land, Many Voices.
First of all, I would like to thank the Members of the committee for their efforts. The committee's report provides many recommendations on ways the Government of the Northwest Territories can help preserve and strengthen languages in the Northwest Territories. Some of these recommendations will be relatively easy to implement during the remaining term of this government. Others are more complex and will require further study.
One of the recommendations we believe we can accomplish now is to amend the Official Languages Act. The committee included a draft bill in its report for this purpose. Many of the proposed changes would clarify terminology and more clearly establish roles and responsibilities relating to the Official Languages Commissioner.
We recognize that the current act is over 10 years old and needs some updating. I would like to advise Members that the Government of the Northwest Territories will introduce a bill to amend the Official Languages Act and that this bill will adopt those recommendations that can be implemented at this time without further study. Minister Ootes will be introducing this bill for first reading later today.
Some other legislative changes may be required to implement some of the committee's recommendations. These include some of the recommendations related to education, which may require changes to the Education Act. The Government of the Northwest Territories believes it is important to address these changes in an orderly fashion and will consider further legislative initiatives as it considers how to implement the committee's recommendations.
Not all of the committee's recommendations will require legislative change. Many of the recommended changes can be accomplished through existing government programs and processes. However, some of the committee's recommendations are relatively complex and may have financial and organizational implications for the government. They may also affect the services and programs of a number of different departments.
Determining how to best address these recommendations will require an interdepartmental approach. It will also be important to address these in a careful and orderly fashion. Taking the time to study these changes will allow us to fully understand their potential impact before we undertake them.
Changes that will require significant reallocation of or new financial resources or changes to programs and services may best be dealt with through the government's business planning process. This will allow the government and Members of the Assembly the opportunity to consider how to best implement and finance changes recommended by the committee in the context of overall government priorities and our financial position.
Mr. Speaker, there is a Minister responsible for each piece of legislation passed by this legislature. Currently, responsibility for the Official Languages Act rests with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Jake Ootes. Minister Ootes will continue to take the lead in responding to the report of the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act and its recommendations.
Mr. Speaker, I believe it is important to preserve and support the growth and use of all the NWT's official languages. During the remaining months of our term, the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to strengthen our commitment and work on ways we can do this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause