The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. Committee, because of the need to get certain personnel down here, would committee rather deal with the reports first so that we have time to get the law clerk down, or is it the wish of committee to deal with the bills first? Mr. Beaulieu, do you have an opinion?

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have no problem dealing with the reports first. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Does committee agree?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

All right. Committee, we will deal with the reports first. We will take a break at about six o'clock if everyone can sit tight until then. Committee, we have agreed to consider the Report on the Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. I will turn to the chair of the committee for any opening comments. Sorry, one second. I just want to get the number right here. That is Committee Report 21-18(3), for the record. I will turn to Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee Report 21-18(3) represents the Standing Committee on Government Operations Review of the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 Annual Reports of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The committee went over the report with the benefit of having the commissioner with us and reviewed her findings and considered her reports. At this time, the committee is not making any recommendations, but is happy to answer any questions that Members may have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. I will open the floor to general comments on the report. Any general comments? Any questions? Seeing nothing, does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Committee Report 21-18(3)?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We have next agreed to consider the Report on the Report of the Office of the Languages Commissioner, which is Committee Report 22-18(3). I will again turn to the chair of the standing committee for opening comments. Mr. Testart.

Kieron Testart Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just as the last statutory officer report, the committee reviewed both the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Annual Reports of the Office of the Languages Commissioner. It should be noted that the Languages Commissioner has made several recommendations in those reports that can be found on pages 9 through 14 of the standing committee's report.

Although the committee is not moving any recommendations with this, the committee believes that many of these recommendations are worth considering for, potentially, the 19^th Assembly, as they will have to do a full statutory review of the Official Languages Act, and the act itself has not been substantially amended or updated since its coming into force.

The next government will have the opportunity to do that, and many of these changes are long overdue, so we wish our successor committee well in undertaking that review, but again, at this time, there are no recommendations coming from committee. We are happy to answer any questions that Members may have about our report. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. Any general comments or questions from the committee? Seeing none, does committee agree that this concludes our consideration of Committee Report 22-18(3)?

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, committee. We have agreed to next consider Committee Report 20-18(3), Report on the Review of the 2017-2018 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report. I will turn once again to the chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations for opening comments. Mr. Testart.