Interim Report on the Review of the Official Languages Act 2008-2009
This report will be available in all Official Languages
Review of the Official Languages Act 2008-2009
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In February 2008, the 16th Legislative Assembly adopted a motion referring the review of the Official Languages Act’s to the Standing Committee on Government Operations (Standing Committee Members: Kevin Menicoche, Chair, Robert Hawkins, Deputy Chair, Glen Abernethy, Jackie Jacobson, David Krutko).
During June and July, 2008 Awasis Education Inc. (Ms. Sarah Wright) will assist with surveys, interviews and focus groups addressing Aboriginal Language specialists and frontline workers.
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We hope you will participate in the survey. If you want to provide any additional input, you will have several opportunities. You can obtain further information about the Official Languages Act review or about the Committee’s activities from the Legislative Assembly at 1-800-661-0789 or at 1-867-669-2241 and ask for the Committee Clerk, Ms. Patricia Russell.
The review will focus on examining:
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Whether progress has been made since the changes to the Official Languages Act in 2003.
Whether the Government implements and administers the Act effectively and efficiently.
Whether the objectives and goals of the preamble are being met.
Whether the changed roles and responsibilities of the Minister Responsible for Official Languages improved the administration and implementation of the Act.
Whether the changed role of the Languages Commissioner as an ombudsperson improved implementation of the Act.
Whether the new Official Languages Board has met its mandate to review the rights, status and use of Official Languages.
Whether the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board has fulfilled its mandate to promote, maintain and revitalize Aboriginal languages.
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The Standing Committee on Government Operations plans the following steps
for the review of the Official Languages Act
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Literature and document review
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Survey, interview and focus group with Aboriginal languages frontline workers and professionals
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Awasis Education Inc. was contracted by the Legislative Assembly to assist the Committee with this part of the review
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Public Committee meetings
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Witnesses with designated roles under the Official Languages Act
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Stakeholder and expert witnesses
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Community visits and public hearings
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Other input from the public
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Questionnaire - Deadline: November 21
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Written submissions - Deadline: November 14
The Standing Committee on Government Operations will analyze and evaluate the findings of these different review steps and report back to the Legislative Assembly. This report may include recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness, administration and implementation of the Official Languages Act.