I move, seconded by the Member for Thebacha:
WHEREAS the Official Languages Act of the N.W.T. recognizes Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwich'in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tlicho as the official languages of the N.W.T.;
AND WHEREAS the Official Languages Act first came into force in 1984, with major amendments in 1990 and 2003;
AND WHEREAS the amendments made in 2003 by the 14th Legislative Assembly, as a result of the comprehensive review of the Special Committee on the Review of the Official Languages Act changed the rules of the Minister Responsible for Official Languages and the Languages Commissioner, and established the Official Languages Board and the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board;
AND WHEREAS the Official Languages Act requires the Legislative Assembly or a committee of the Legislative Assembly designated or established by it to review the provisions and operation of the Official Languages Act at the next session following December 31, 2007;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Hon. Member for Thebacha, that the 16th Legislative Assembly refers the review of the provisions and operation of the Official Languages Act required by section 35 of that act to the Standing Committee on Government Operations;
The administration and implementation of the act, including regulations, policies and procedures established by the G.N.W.T.
The achievements of the objectives stated in the preamble of the act
The effectiveness of the provisions of the act, and in particular, the extent to which they are contributing to the objectives stated in the preamble
The roles and responsibilities of the Minister, the Official Languages Board, the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board, and the Languages Commissioner, and the extent to which those roles and responsibilities have been fulfilled and are contributing to the objectives stated in the preamble.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations shall have access to such persons, papers and records as necessary for the conduct of this review.
The Minister, Languages Commissioner, Official Languages Board, and Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board shall provide all reasonable assistance to the Standing Committee on Government Operations as required by the act.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations shall be provided through appropriations of the Legislative Assembly with adequate funds to carry out its responsibilities.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations shall be provided by the Legislative Assembly of the N.W.T. with the necessary administrative and professional support to carry out its terms of reference and assigned responsibilities as they relate to this review.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations may make recommendations for amendments to the act that it considers desirable through a final report.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations shall table a report, which may be an interim report, during the life of the second session and a final report no later than February 2009.
Motion carried.
