This is page numbers 2569 - 2602 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion carried.

---Carried

Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Legislative Assembly increase efforts to provide interpretation into regionally appropriate official languages when standing and special committees hold public meetings in communities outside of the capital. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends, should a situation arise in the future where interpretation is not available for a language being spoken in the Assembly, that the Speaker give strong consideration to a recess in or adjournment of proceedings until such a time as adequate interpretation can be provided. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

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

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Chair. When we did some of our committee deliberations and we heard some of the feedback from the public, one thing that was brought up was having some on-call interpreters. I think it's really important that we have a good pool to draw from and also make sure that the right training is provided, have those supports in place. I just thought I would speak to that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Speaker and Board of Management develop a rights-based official languages policy for the Legislative Assembly and that the policy come into effect prior to the end of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. The idea behind this motion is that we do need to have a policy moving forward that better recognizes and incorporates the use of all of the official languages in the way that we conduct our work and business here in the Assembly. There are a number of suggestions in the report itself, and I am not going to go over those, but it does involve things like making sure that we have backup interpreters on call and that there is basically a plan, step-wise, for improvement of the use of official languages across all of the work that we do here at the Legislative Assembly. I think that is a really key thing. I hate to put all of this on the Board of Management. They have got a lot of other work on their plates, of course, but we do need to develop a policy in this area. I think what we have also recommended is that this come back to us before the end of this Assembly so that we can keep moving this in the right direction. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

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

---Carried

Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the suggestions made on pages 10 and 11 of Committee Report 8-19(2) be investigated by the Office of the Speaker, the Board of Management, and the Office of the Clerk in an effort to make immediate improvements in the provision of official languages services; and further, if any of these suggestions are found to not be feasible at present, a plan to realize these outcomes be included in the official languages policy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am not going to read what is on pages 10 and 11, but just to refresh Members' memory and for those who may be listening, there are some immediate changes that we can make. We have started to do some of this, where we try to make sure that we have interpretation available for the entire sitting day, that there are at least a couple of interpreters available; we are going to look at including statistics around use of official languages in the House in future annual reports from the Legislative Assembly, making sure that some of our basic documents are made available in all of the official languages, things like the votes and proceedings, the orders of the day, that kind of thing, and that we also consider upgrading our audio and video equipment to make sure that we can broadcast and stream all of the official languages on an ongoing basis. Those are the sorts of things that this recommendation is really aimed at improving, some immediate operational changes to help us improve the use of official languages right away. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. To the motion.

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Question has been called. All those in favour? Opposed? Abstentions? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Standing Committee on Government Operations consider the issues of interpreter and translator training and accreditation and the possibility of a future Government of the Northwest Territories languages bureau in the context of its review of the Official Languages Act. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Rocky Simpson

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. O'Reilly.