NR 07-09 LAN ENG Language Bills Introduced.doc
(June 6, 2007 — Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) President Paul Kaludjak was present yesterday in the Nunavut Legislative Assembly when two new pieces of language legislation were introduced by Culture, Language, Elders and Youth Minister Louis Tapardjuk. Kaludjak said that the bills are a good start, but that both Bills 6 and 7, the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act, should do more to protect the language rights of Inuit, and to ensure that the language itself is saved.
I know the English and French languages are constitutionally protected as Canada’s Official Languages, but our Aboriginal right to speak, protect and promote Inuktitut is constitutionally protected as well. Eighty-five per cent of Nunavut’s population speaks an Inuit language. Both of these new bills should be stronger in what they offer to protect our language, said Kaludjak. These proposed bills are a stepping stone, but urgent steps are required to save Inuktitut for our future generations, Kaludjak added.
NTI believes the Inuit Language Protection Act is too vague in a number of areas, including education in Inuit language, government obligation to deliver Inuit language education, and proficiency requirements.
The Inuit Language Protection Act should state that every person has the right to receive the education program in Inuit language. There should be an implementation schedule that ensures that most of the education program will be delivered in the Inuit language as soon as possible. There should also be clear Inuit language requirements for graduation.
NTI is also calling for the Government of Nunavut (GN) to make Inuit language the working language of the GN. As it stands, Bill 7 only makes the Inuit language a language of work, and would allow the GN to put English language requirements in virtually any job description.
NTI has also asked the GN to work with NTI and the business community to phase in Inuit language services, including signage. These initiatives are long overdue.
Because the majority of customers in Nunavut are Inuit and speak Inuit languages, it only makes good business sense to have Inuit language speaking employees provide services, said Kaludjak.
In terms of the Official Languages Act, as well as wanting to see Inuktitut translations for laws and legal instruments in Nunavut on par with French and English, NTI is calling for the strengthening of the role of the Office of the Languages Commissioner of Nunavut.
It is critical that the new legislation be as strong and as powerful as the language legislation we inherited from the Government of the Northwest Territories. The Languages Commissioner must have the ability to proactively promote Inuit language, including evaluating the effectiveness of the two Acts, said Kaludjak.
The Language Legislation Steering Committee will continue to meet on the proposed legislation. After the bills receive second reading in the Legislative Assembly today, they will be referred to the Legislature’s Ajauqtiit Standing Committee for further review and possible consultation.
Kaludjak said NTI looks forward to submitting additional changes to the bills to provide the protective measures necessary to ensure that Inuit language is elevated to its rightful place in Nunavut.
For further information:
Kerry McCluskey
Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Tel: (867) 975-4914 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
