Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Congratulations on your appointment to the Speaker's chair.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on work being done to address the recommendations of the 14th Legislative Assembly with respect to official languages. Members of the assembly have indicated that continuing attention to the support and revitalization of all NWT official languages is important.
The last government placed a priority on the establishment of two new language boards. Members are aware, the Official Languages Act provides for the creation of an official languages board and an aboriginal languages revitalization board.
Regulations have been drafted to create the two language boards. In the coming weeks, I will be consulting with the official language communities of the Northwest Territories for nominations to these boards, with the expectation that members will be appointed by July 1, 2004.
The boards will provide advice on key priorities for fulfilling our obligations under the Official Languages Act. In addition, I will be seeking the advice of the boards on key priorities as they relate to the GNWT response to the review of the Official Languages Act by the 14th Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to update Members on the status of the Canada-NWT Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages in the NWT. The last five-year agreement ended March 31, 2004. We had anticipated that negotiations for a new agreement would commence earlier this year. However, the federal government announced that they were not ready to begin new negotiations until they had completed an evaluation and program review process.
Mr. Speaker, we now expect negotiations to start this fall at the earliest. As we heard into the negotiation process, we will be consulting the language communities for input into key objectives to include in the agreement. In the meantime, the federal government has committed to extending the terms and conditions of the expired agreement for the 2004-05 period.
In addition to these activities, we have started to strengthen communications with the groups representing various language communities and in ensuring that all departments, boards and agencies are aware of their responsibilities under the Government of the Northwest Territories Official Languages Act. For example, I have met with the Federation Franco-TeNOise and the Commission scolaire francophone de division during the last few weeks to make sure they know my door is open and we will work cooperatively to address matters of concern.
Mr. Speaker, it is essential to note, that the protection and revitalization of many of the NWT's official languages will not be successful without the continued commitment from northerners to use their languages in their homes and communities. A broad family-based effort is necessary if we are to maintain the unique languages of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause