Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 23/99) - The Nunavut legislature may be closer to fully bilingual Hansard transcriptions after representatives attended a national conference in Yellowknife.

"Inuktitut takes a little bit longer because theres not very many skilled typists in Inuktitut. It takes a little longer to produce," said deputy clerk Rhoda Perkison about the official record of the Nunavut legislature.

Currently, those wanting to read Hansard in Inuktitut read translations from the English transcription.

The English transcription is made by delivering half-hour tapes to different typists who transcribe the English speech and the simultaneous translation.

Perkison said during the conference that she would try to have some discussions with those representatives who produce French and English transcriptions.

"We have the opportunity to skip ahead of some of the lessons people have learned and take advantage of what people are saying here," said Chuck Gilhuly, the interim Hansard co-ordinator and the secretary-treasurer of Innirvik Support Services, the company that produces Nunavut's Hansard.

"Technology is a key issue for us because the assembly building is still being set up with all its equipment and the audiovisual technology."

Iqaluit's next legislature is set to be ready for the next assembly.

"Were listening to what's going on here and were realizing that were in line with the rest of the country," said Gilhuly.

"Theres a lot of lessons and a lot of experience sitting around the table so thats a lot to build on."

About 29 delegates from across Canada attended the Hansard convention in Yellowknife to discuss issues that affects the business.

"You learn a lot of things by talking to people who do like business," said Liz Wyman, whose company Office Compliments produces the Northwest Territories Hansard.

"We don't have competitors down the road so its useful to all be at a conference such as this."

Alberta's Hansard director, Gary Garrison, said he remembers how in the Alberta legislature one debate cited Hansard of more than 100 years ago to a quotation on the development of the NWT Act.

"What were writing now could be cited years into the future," he said.

Hansard transcripts are available at http:\\fp.itc.mb.ca\hac\index.html