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Highlights of the Official Languages Act 

The Preamble describes several principles which the Act is based upon, including:
  o A commitment to the preservation, development and enhancement of the Aboriginal languages of the NWT
  o Legal recognition of NWT Aboriginal languages and provision for the use of those languages 
  o Establishment of English and French as official languages in the NWT with equal status, rights and privileges 
  o Preservation and enhancement of official languages is a shared responsibility between language communities, the Legislative Assembly, and the Government of the Northwest Territories 
Section 4 recognizes Chipewyan, Cree, English, French, Gwich’in, Inuinnaqtun, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey and Tlicho as Official Languages of the NWT. 
Sections 6 and 7 speak to the use of Official Languages in the proceedings and documents of the Legislative Assembly. 
Section 8 sets out requirements for public documents from the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories to be in English and French. Regulations can be made to require that these documents be published in other Official Languages as well. 
Sections 9 and 10 speak to the use of Official Languages when dealing with the courts
Section 11 sets out the public’s rights to communicate with and get services from head or central government offices in English and French. The same rights exist for dealing with other offices (for example, regional offices) if there is “significant demand”, or it is reasonable to make services available in both languages given the “nature of the office”. 

Section 11 also sets out the public’s right to communicate with and get services from regional, area or community offices of government in an official Aboriginal language if there is “significant demand” for services in that language, or it is reasonable to make services available in that language given “the nature of the office”.
Sections 14 – 25 speak about the Languages Commissioner.

The Languages Commissioner is appointed by the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories on the recommendation of the Legislative Assembly. 

The Languages Commissioner’s duties are: 
    o To make sure that the rights, status and privileges of all Official Languages are recognized. 
    o To make sure that the government institutions comply with the spirit and intent of the Official Languages Act. 
    o To investigate complaints from the public that government is not following the Act. 
    o To investigate language issues on her or his own initiative.
Sections 26 and 27 speak about the Minister responsible for Official Languages. The Minister has the overall responsibility for the Official Languages Act. The Minister is also responsible for the general direction and coordination of government policies and programs related to Official Languages.

The Minister must: 
    o Consider advice and recommendations from the Official Languages Board and the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board. 
    o Oversee the development of policies and regulations. 
    o Promote Official Languages education in schools, post-secondary, adult education and literacy training programs. 
    o Promote the use of Official Languages in government institutions for program and service delivery and in administration. 
    o Encourage the maintenance and revitalization of Aboriginal languages.
Sections 28 and 29 speak about the Official Languages Board. The members of this board represent all Official Languages (including English). The language community for each Official Language nominates a member. The Minister recommends members to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, who makes the appointments. 

The mandate of the Official Languages Board is to: 
    o Review the rights and status of each Official Language. 
    o Review the use of Official Languages in the administration and delivery of government services. 
    o Evaluate how the Official Languages Act is working 
    o Give advice and make recommendations to the Minister.
Section 30 and 31 speak about the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board. The members of this board represent all Aboriginal languages that are recognized in the Act. The language community for each Aboriginal language nominates a member. The Minister recommends members to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, who makes the appointments. 

The mandate of the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board is to: 
    o Review community, government and other programs and initiatives to maintain, promote and revitalize Aboriginal languages. 
    o Evaluate how the Official Languages Act is working 
    o Give advice and make recommendations to the Minister.

Section 34 lists a number of regulations that can be made. 
    o The Official Languages Board Regulations were made in 2004. They establish the Board and list which organizations nominate members to represent the language communities. Board members are appointed for two years. 
    o The Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board Regulations were also made in 2004. They establish the Board and list which organizations nominate members to represent the language communities. Board members are appointed for two years. 
    o In 2006 the Government Institution Regulations were made. They say which government bodies the Official Languages Act applies to. Examples: agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, offices and departments. 
    o Regulations to explain “designated offices” and “active offer” have not been made, but could be.

Section 35 says there must be a review of the Official Languages Act every five years. It also says what must be checked: 
    o The administration and implementation of the Act. (Whether government is following the law.) 
    o The effectiveness of the provisions of the Act. (Whether the law is working.) 
    o The achievement of the objectives stated in the preamble. (Whether the goals of the preamble are being met.) 

The review can include recommendations for changes to the law. 

The Official Languages Act does not apply to municipal governments, band councils, Aboriginal governments, and the private sector.

 
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