Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The language initiative across the NWT is taking on different forms. One of the initiatives that complicated this is trying to instill a level of cultural identity. Some communities have gone to advance those initiatives by changing the name of their community. But what we have is two government departments, so my question is to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.
Does the Minister’s department work seamlessly with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to facilitate a community’s application for an official name change? Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a coordinated approach between Municipal and Community Affairs and Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you.
Can the Minister clarify whether a simple majority on the plebiscite or option poll is enough to prove that a community wants a name change? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t clarify that right now, but I would assume it’s 50 percent, 51 percent to approve a name change. But I will confirm that and relay that on to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Does the government have an official position on community name changes and does it actively support communities that want to take this step, or is the government neutral on this matter? Mahsi.
We work with the communities and if there’s a desire from the communities to change their name to their more traditional language, which a lot of them are doing, this government would fully support the position of the community, and if that’s their wish then we will respect that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister explain, for the sake of the community understanding this process, what would the process entail and perhaps how long might that process take? Mahsi.
Thank you. As far as how long the process goes, I’m really not quite sure. We will work with the communities and try to expedite their desire to change their name if they wish to do that. So I will get the correct information and I will share it with the Member. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
