IQALUIT - Governments and business in Nunavut will be required to display signs in Inuktitut and provide reception and customer service in Inuktitut under territorial Inuit Language Protection legislation.

Louis Tapardjuk, minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, discusses the drafts of the Inuktitut Language Protection Bill and Official Languages Act tabled in the legislative assembly on March 28. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Expected to be passed in May following public consultations, the bill also states that essential services - health, housing, restaurants and hotels, for example - must be able to provide service to the public in Inuktitut.

Less onerous alternatives may be approved for those businesses in the private sector that can prove undue hardship, the document indicates.

A date when these measures would take effect has yet to be announced.

The bill includes staggered timetables for other initiatives such as the provision of Inuktitut education by Aug. 15, 2009 for students in kindergarten through Grade 3. It will apply to all grade levels as of Aug. 15, 2019.

Asked if there will be enough trained educators to fulfil the goal, Language Minister Louie Tapardjuk replied, "That will have to be up to the Department of Education, whether they have enough Inuktitut teachers or not."

As well, three years after the act is passed, the public service must have management that can communicate with Inuktitut-speaking employees.

The bill also calls for the creation of an Inuit language authority, to be known as Inuit Uqausinginnik Taiguusiliuqtiit. Comprising five appointees from various regions of Nunavut, the language authority will make decisions regarding language use and standardization.

Tapardjuk predicted that Inuit, who make up close to 85 per cent of the territory's population, will feel a strengthened sense of pride and dignity in their language and cultural heritage as a result of the legislation. It will give them a sense of ownership, particularly elders, who will be able to feel like they are part of the Government of Nunavut when service is delivered in their mother tongue, said Tapardjuk.

Paul Kaludjak, president of land claims organization Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, hailed the proposed language laws. Inuktitut had been put "into a secondary mode" on many occasions, but the legislation will ensure Inuktitut will be used first in businesses and workplaces, he said.

Benoit Heneault, vice-president of the Association des francophones du Nunavut, said protection of minority language rights is an important issue across Canada.

He added that his organization is pleased that passage of the Inuit Language Protection bill and the Official Languages bill was delayed so its members could have more time to review them. It was a sentiment echoed by Daniel Cuerrier, executive director of Association des francophones du Nunavut.

"We felt that there was not enough consultation done," Cuerrier said.

Those who violate the legislation will be dealt with by the languages commissioner, who has the authority to fine individuals up to $1,000 and businesses up to $5,000.

The languages commissioner may refer matters to the Nunavut Court of Justice for enforcement. However, the extent of penalties is still "being fleshed out" and will be part of the consultation process, said Tapardjuk.

Compliance measures will only take full effect as of Aug. 15, 2009.