Rylund Johnson

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is something that the federal government does for French. And I've actually had a job for the federal government where they would pay me for four hours on Fridays to take French lessons. And I think it would be great to see us doing the same thing for our Indigenous language speakers in the GNWT. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Mr. Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories identify which headquarters positions can be located to the regions, which jobs can be tagged as flexible and moved among a number of locations, and those that could be classified as remote working arrangements aiming to allow priority 1 employees to work in the community of residence. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that each department and agency be required to have an annual official languages action plan to improve and revitalize the language skills of its Indigenous employees. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations made it a priority to find ways to increase Indigenous representation in the Northwest Territories public service. This work began in 2020, and the committee's report was read into the record on March 28, 2023. The committee met with people in person and virtually in communities across the Northwest Territories to hear their perspectives on this matter.

The committee consistently heard a deep longstanding disappointment with the government as an employer and a viewpoint that the system is intended to keep Indigenous...

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment set up a creative commons for Indigenouslanguage resource materials;

And further, that the creative commons should build on the Our Languages NWT platform and offer an accessible digital space;

And furthermore, it should allow creators and users to share and collaborate on educational materials, languagelearning apps, curricula, grant applications, and other resources. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to note that this right exists in Nunavut and what they have done is their plan to roll it out, it goes until 2038. And I think that's the kind of multigenerational thinking you need if we're actually going to ever achieve this. And part of their plan speaks to they actually need to have students go through the education system, become fluent so they can then become teachers. So that's the kind of thinking they're at with this. And I believe as we go on to review our Education Act, language rights need to be a key part of it. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories double funding for Indigenous language education, services, and revitalization. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment commission a study on the state of Michif in the Northwest Territories and options to recognize Michif in the Official Languages Act;

And further, the study should be tabled in the House within the first 18 months of the 20th Assembly. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Mercer is the Clerk of the Assembly, he's essentially our deputy minister, but the thing I like about Tim is unlike quite a few deputy ministers, when he speaks, I understand what he's saying, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Mercer truly lives the ethos of fearless advice and loyal implementation. I had the honour of chairing caucus through the first half of this Assembly through some tumultuous times and I spent many hours in his office getting advice and discussing things, and he provided me a wealth of direction and options and always after those meetings, I was confident that...