.
Search
Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad
Francophones drop out

Review of languages act blasted as biased and shameless

Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Hay River Reserve (Oct 09/02) - The Federation Franco-TeNOise has withdrawn from a review of the NWT's Official Languages Act.

Federation president Fernand Denault delivered a blistering condemnation of the consultation process at a wrap-up workshop Oct. 1-2 on the Hay River Reserve.

Reading from a prepared statement, Denault said the progress report of the legislative assembly's special committee shows it is defending political interests and acting in bad faith.

The substance of the federation's presentation to the committee in March is absent from the progress report, he said, adding it reinforces the GNWT's "arrogant and scandalous" attitude towards the francophone minority and is a "biased and a shameless manipulation" of both francophone and aboriginal submissions.

Nor has the committee reflected submissions from the national francophone federation or the federal Commissioner of Official Languages, he said.

"This incident is just one of many betrayed promises, sham consultations, manipulations of opinion and cancelled agreements," he said. "It confirms our conviction that only the Supreme Court of Canada will be able to instill respect and honesty in NWT politicians."

The GNWT has accepted millions of dollars from the federal government over the years to provide services in French, but has refused to do so, Denault noted. Steven Nitah, the chair of the special committee, said he is disappointed by the federation's decision to withdraw.

"We'll take their submission and carefully consider all aspects of it," he said, explaining the progress report only outlined directions for the final report in the spring and no major decisions have yet been made.

The Tu Nedhe MLA also said it appears the francophone federation's concerns were more with the government than with the official languages review process.