Legislators say Inuit language education bill should die
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, May 8, 2017
NUNAVUT
The committee reviewing Bill 37 - the controversial bill to amend the Education Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act -will recommend it be dropped.
"When the house reconvenes for its spring sitting, the standing committee will formally recommend that Bill 37 ... not proceed further in the legislative process," announced chairperson for the Standing Committee on Legislation Tom Sammurtok May 5.
The committee took a short two weeks to arrive at its conclusion. The deadline for public comments was April 21.
"I am relieved (the committee members) 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," stated Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Aluki Kotierk.
Among the many concerns expressed to Nunavut News/North as the bill passed two readings in the Legislative Assembly, the stand-out was the right of Inuit children to be educated in their language. Bill 37 deferred that right for Grades 4 to 9 by a decade and indefinitely for higher grades.
"Given the overwhelming lack of consensus in support of the bill in such areas as language of instruction, the role of district education authorities and increased employment of Inuit teachers, the standing committee is of the view that it should be allowed to fall off the order paper when the current assembly dissolves later this year," stated Sammurtok.
As for Education Minister Paul Quassa, the committee's announcement was not the result he'd hoped for.
"There is a process to follow when a bill is put forward to the Legislative Assembly, and it is very disappointing that Standing Committee has not provided the public with an opportunity to understand the pros and cons of their decision," he stated in a news release.
"If members have specific concerns or recommendations, then these discussions should take place in Committee of the Whole."
All submissions from the public will be tabled and made public when the legislative assembly reconvenes.
