(May 5, 2017 –Iqaluit, Nunavut Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) President Aluki Kotierk today welcomed the Standing Committee on Legislation’s recommendation that Bill 37 be withdrawn.

“NTI appreciates that the Standing Committee has asked that Bill 37 not proceed further in the legislative process. I am relieved they recognize that the issue of Inuktut language loss is urgent. I hope the Nunavut cabinet agrees with the Standing Committee recommendation so we can begin working on the real issue,” said Kotierk.

NTI and all three Regional Inuit Associations asked the Standing Committee and Premier Peter Taptuna to withdraw Bill 37 to give the GN, Inuit organizations and other stakeholders time to develop high-quality Inuktut language education. The first priority is to develop an effective and fully-funded Inuit Employment Plan within the Department of Education to train and hire Inuit teachers, principals and officials to allow for effective Inuktut language of instruction and to meet representative levels of 85 per cent, as required by Article 23 of the Nunavut Agreement.

NTI has repeatedly proposed a collaborative, results-oriented NTI-GN Education Training and Employment Implementation Initiative intended to ensure the rapid roll-out of the Inuit Employment Plan. The initiative allows for involvement and direction from communities on how training and hiring of Inuit school staff should be conducted and sustained over time. NTI asked the GN to demonstrate its commitment through substantial budgetary allocations, while also suggesting the $50 million Article 23 Implementation Fund be used for this purpose.