Deddf iaith i Nunavut

Mae cynulliad deddfwriaethol Nunavut yng Nghanada newydd pleidleisio o blaid deddf iaith newydd yn gwneud yr iaith Inuit yn gyfartal â Saesneg a Ffrangeg yn y rhanbarth. Pan bleidleisiodd y cynulliad yn unfrydol o blaid y mesur cafwyd curo dwylo brwd. Am y tro cyntaf yn hanes Canada bydd gan yr iaith Inuit statws ac amddiffynfa gyfreithiol. Wrth ddarllen cofnod y drafodaeth mae’n amlwg fod iaith yn gwbl sylfaenol i hunaniaeth trigolion Nunavut. Dyma beth ddywedodd James Arreak, aelod cynulliad Uqqummiut fel rhan o’r drafodaeth:

We often see businesses or organizations where the names of buildings or what they do, a lot of times they are just done in English, and a lot of times people who would go in won’t go in because they’re not sure. And in restaurants, people who want to go out to a restaurant end up just leaving without eating because they can’t read English. Once this bill is passed, it wouldn’t be like that because it will serve everybody, especially the service industries.

Gellir darllen deddf ieithoedd swyddogol Nunavut ar-lein.

Bellach maen nhw’n gweithio ar fesur newydd sef deddf i amddiffyn yr iaith Inuit.

Dyma ddatganiad i’r wasg a wnaed gan lywodraeth Nunavut drannoeth pasio’r ddeddf, 5 Mehefin 2008.

Nunavut Legislative Assembly Approves
The Official Languages Act

Iqaluit, Nunavut (June 05, 2008) – The Nunavut Legislative Assembly has passed an Official Languages Act marking a significant achievement in the second legislative assembly’s stated goal of strengthening Inuit culture.

“This is a very important day in Nunavut’s history,” said Louis Tapardjuk, Minister of Culture Language Elders and Youth, “with the approval of the Official Languages Act the Inuit language along with English and French are now poised to become Nunavut’s Official Languages. This is a key first element in our work to ensure the Inuit Language stays at the centre of life in Nunavut, while protecting and promoting the rights of those who speak English or French.”

With passage through the Nunavut Legislature completed the Official Languages Act must now be referred to the Government of Canada as required by the Nunavut Act. After federal agreement is received and regulations are ready, the Act can be brought into force.

“This piece of legislation defines who we are as Inuit in Nunavut and we are calling on all members of the federal parliament to grant this legislation speedy passage,” said Tapardjuk.

This new Official Languages Act deals with the use of Official Languages in the Legislative Assembly and the courts and with the delivery of territorial government services to the public. Provisions of the Act also ensure that documents, signs, and notices from Nunavut public bodies are in the official languages.

A single Minister will be given the responsibility for overseeing a comprehensive Official Languages implementation plan and be held accountable for progress made in implementing the legislation. The role of the Languages Commissioner has been strengthened and expanded, both as a language ombudsperson and through a compliance function to ensure that the legislation is followed.

“For the first time Inuit in Nunavut will have a clear legal statement of their inherent right to use the Inuit Language in full equality with English and French,” said Tapardjuk, “this exceeds any other statutory protection in place for Inuit or an Aboriginal people in Canada and has the same status as human rights legislation.”

The Nunavut government has demonstrated its commitment to protect the Inuit language as well as French, both of which have suffered from historical disadvantage.

The Official Languages Act was the result of more than eight years of consultation and collaboration. Minister Tapardjuk expressed his appreciation to all those involved and in particular Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, past and present Languages Commissioners of Nunavut, Association des francophones du Nunavut and the Legislature’s Ajauqtiit Committee. “The collaborative work of all involved improved this legislation,” said Tapardjuk.

The Government of Nunavut will continue working on a companion piece of legislation, the Inuit Language Protection Act. That Act is the second key part of Government’s approach to the protection and promotion of the Inuit Language. Bill 7 addresses use of the Inuit Language by the private and public sector in providing services to the public. It also addresses language issues for territorial government employees and education concerns.

(3 yn pleidleisio, cyfartaledd: 5.00 allan o 5)

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