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

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

---Carried

Tabled Document 286-19(2) will be reported as ready for consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. We will have a five-minute break.

---SHORT RECESS

I call committee back to order. Committee, we have agreed to consider Committee Report 8-19(2), Report on Motion 5-19(2): Referral of Point of Privilege Raised by Member for Monfwi on March 10, 2020. I will go to the chair of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures for any opening comments. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Legislative Assembly makes interpreters available in most official languages when Members are sitting in the Chamber. On March 10, 2020, a Tlicho interpreter was not available due to a last-minute cancellation. The interpreter scheduled but had to cancel for personal reasons. The Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty, rose on a point of privilege. He said the lack of interpretation impeded or prevented him from performing his parliamentary functions as a Member and asked the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings. The Speaker took the matter under advisement and the proceedings continued.

On March 11, 2020, when a Tlicho interpreter was available, the Speaker heard debate on the matter of privilege. Following debate, the Speaker ruled that the matter did raise a question of privilege. He entertained motions on the ruling and Motion 5-19(2) was referred to the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures for consideration.

On October 15, 2020, committee sought and received an extension of the review period for an additional 120 days. The purpose of the extension was to allow committee to engage with residents on the use of official languages in this Legislative Assembly. After several in-camera meetings on the topic, committee held a public hearing on November 17, 2020. Committee received a presentation from M. Batiste Foisy at this hearing. In addition, committee received written submissions from Mr. Jackson Lafferty, the Member for Monfwi; the Dene Nation; the Gwich'in Tribal Council; the Yellowknives Dene First Nation; and Ms. Marie Rose Sundberg. [English translation not available.] Mahsi, Mr. Chair. That's the report from the committee.

Thank you. I will now open the floor to general comments on Committee Report 8-19(2), Report on Motion 5-19(2): Referral of Point of Privilege Raised by Member for Monfwi on March 10, 2020. Do any Members have general comments? Mr. Norn.

Marsi cho, Mr. Chair. I remember saying, when we first got elected about a year and a half ago, you try to figure out what our record, our proceedings, are going to look like way down the road when people look back through our archives and whatnot, what languages are being used. I am hoping down the road that our elders tell us to think ahead several generations. I think this is one of those things, as well. When we speak our language in here, we want to hear that echoed in history, no matter what language we speak in here. It could be French, English, Tlicho, Dene Suline, and so on. I think it is important that we always try to accommodate our listeners out there who don't have English as their first language.

I am hoping that we could move forward with this in a positive manner and really promote our languages. Our languages are powerful medicine. My great-grandmother, Setsune, she used to tell me [English translation not available]. It's like strong medicine. It echoes in history. I am hoping that, like I said before, we get some support here and support our interpreters. Kudos to all of our interpreters here in the booths right now doing this really, really important work. We can't function without them. I am hoping we can give them all the support that we can and give support to those who follow in their footsteps. That is all I have to say for now. I would love to open comments. Marsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Norn. Any further comments? Mr. Lafferty.

Masi, Mr. Chair. [Translation] I will be speaking my language. Today, what we are talking about is that, whenever the Legislative Assembly has a meeting, we have the interpreters available when we are speaking our language. There are 11 official languages here in the Northwest Territories. One of the languages that I am speaking is Tlicho. Whenever we have a meeting, I always speak my language. That is why today, when I sit here, I would like to say thank you to the rules and procedures committee for what we talked about. Even though we sometimes may be a little upset, we show respect to each other.

That is one of the reasons why, at that time, I didn't speak. When the Speaker made the ruling, I could have spoken further, but I knew that, if I had continued to speak at that time, nobody would have understood what I was saying. I wanted to show respect. I know that they were going to postpone it. I knew at that time, but then, Mr. Chair, when we look at this, at how to go forward after this, we always have a word upfront whenever we talk about those kinds of things. Sometimes, there can be some incidents.

I would like to thank all of the interpreters who are here, who are hanging onto their languages. If it weren't for them, there could have been a misinterpretation whenever there are no interpreters available. If the Speaker knows that there are no interpreters available, they should stop the meeting. I wanted to speak at that time, but it is like I was cut off because there were no interpreters.

Our language should be number one. Our language should be there. At that time, it wasn't like that for me. At that time, when I was speaking Tlicho, it was like I was cut off. I was so upset that I walked out of here that time. Mr. Chair, I'm saying: don't let this happen again. With this motion that is here now, we will talk about this motion, but once the chair speaks on it, the motion will be there. We should put something very powerful in place, so whenever, in the future, any interpreters are unavailable, this needs to seriously be taken into consideration, not only for me, but in the future here, when we look around the table, I want each and every one of us to speak our language.

There are 19 official languages that we have here. At times, I am the only one, but my friend here, Steve Norn, speaks his language once in a while. Sometimes, Mr. O'Reilly speaks the French language. Most of the time, every day, whenever we have a meeting, I always try to speak my language. At that time, even though some Members didn't like, I would like to see these committee report recommendations that are put in place for how we are going to go forward.

Mr. Chair, that is all I may have for now. Let's just try to make what we have stronger. Whoever speaks their language, let's encourage them to do so. It will be up to the speaker. The motion that is there now, I will talk to the motion later. That is all I have for now. For the committee report that has been done, I would like to say thank you for how we are going to go forward. Masi. [Translation ends]

Thank you. Are there any further general comments? Member for Frame Lake.