R.J. Simpson

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 14, An Act to Amend the Securities Act, be read for the second time. The bill amends the Securities Act to provide a framework for the designation and regulation of benchmarks and benchmark administrators. The amendments are consistent with amendments across Canada and are based on recommended amendments from the Canadian Securities Administrators. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, on Thursday, October 29, 2020, I will move that Bill 15, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2020, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The direction we're moving in is that, if you are answering a phone in a government office in a region where there is a number of Chipewyan speakers, then my hope is that, in the coming years, there will be a requirement to answer in that Indigenous language. Wherever there are sufficient numbers of speakers, I hope that there will be a requirement to answer in that language the same way there is with French in those four communities, where there is a significant number of French speakers.

We are definitely moving in the direction that the Member is talking about. ECE has the French Language...

Just to be clear, an Indigenous language can be added onto the English and French. We still need the English and French as part of the active service. It was my understanding that, during this active offer training, employees were encouraged to answer in any Indigenous language they are able to speak. I will look into that, and I will ensure that that is actually happening because the Member has different experiences or a different understanding of that. I will double check and I will get back to the Member.

The official languages guidelines are currently being updated by the Indigenous...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, "Follow-up for Oral Question 363-19(2), Policing in Hay River and the Northwest Territories." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is nothing wrong with saying it in an Indigenous language, but the fact is that GNWT is a public government and Canada is a bilingual nation. Until Indigenous governments take over certain services and service delivery, those are the laws that we have to follow.

I don't think that answering in one language denigrates or reduces the value of another language. I was talking with my spouse about this the other day. She was saying her granny spoke many languages, and when I think back, my grandpa spoke many languages. He was from Fort Chipewyan. He spoke English, French, Chipewyan, Cree. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to clarify something right off the bat, if an Indigenous employee or any employee wants to make an active offer in any one of our Indigenous languages, they are not only allowed to, I encourage them to. I think we need more of that. There is no policy saying that people cannot make active offers in their own languages. In case there is any question within the departments, the Minister is telling them right now that it is allowed and that it is encouraged.

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The reason that these active offers are being made is that Section 11(1) of the Official Languages...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following three documents: "Annual Report on the Activities of the Rental Officer - April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020;" "Legal Aid Commission of the Northwest Territories Annual Report 2019-2020;" and "Northwest Territories Coroner Services 2019 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don't think we can discriminate in the territory based on age and so to say that someone is under a certain age so they make less because we're calling it a training age. I had jobs when I was younger. I wasn't training. I was training people sometimes. I was working with people older than me, and I was training them. I don't want to get in trouble with any sort of human rights legislation, but again, I'm open to anything. I can't wait to see that report, and as soon as I receive it, I'll make sure that it's shared with the Standing Committee on Social Development. I'll be happy to have a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Depending on how long I'm here, I'm sure, at some point I might. The way that this works is that there is a minimum wage committee. It's made up of non-governmental organizations, industries, and there are representatives from the GNWT, as well. This group of people look at economic climate in the territory, they look at employment statistics, and they produce a report. That report should have been on my desk already, but the recent report from Finance regarding the effects of COVID-19 was deemed important enough that the committee got back together. They are...