Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Government Operations has submitted its Report on the Review of the Language Commissioner’s 2010-2011 Annual Report. The report, which includes four recommendations, was read into the record by the chair of the committee. With Members’ unanimous consent, the motion was passed that moved the report into Committee of the Whole for discussion today.
There are 11 official languages in the Northwest Territories. The committee appreciates the efforts of the Languages Commissioner, Ms. Sarah Jerome, to receive complaints and inquiries, promote the rights, status and privileges of official languages speakers, and make recommendations for legislative change.
The committee supports the Commissioner’s recommendations for a better understanding of the NWT Official Languages Act within the public service and greater sensitivity to the needs of Aboriginal official language speakers who are affected by the history of silencing and language laws associated with residential schools.
As required under the Official Languages Act, the standing committee will conduct a review of the act in 2013. Members intend to revisit and update previous recommendations for legislative change. Pending this review, the committee wishes to obtain the government’s response to the Languages Commissioner’s legislative recommendations. These recommendations, listed as three and four on page 20 of the Commissioner’s report, include
consideration of the needs of official language speakers living or travelling outside designated areas where their languages are indigenous, placing a positive obligation on the government to protect as well as promote official languages and ensuring that Aboriginal language protection measures are contained in legislation and not just in policy.