In the letter introducing the report, Tutcho comments that the impetus for this report was the privatization of the Aboriginal Language Section of the Language Bureau in 1996 (since its creation in 1973). She notes that Privatization is also known as Devolution.

Concerns:
• Contractors have no legal obligation to perform services at the same level as the OLA, only the GNWT needs to comply.
• Langue commissioner has no jurisdiction over contractors.
• Lack of funding
• Use of unqualified I/Ts. Contractor may provide less well-trained personnel.
• Decrease in some services, increase in their cost.

Recommendations:
• Amend the OLA to bind “agencies, boards, or contractors of the government” just as other legislation such as the Financial Admin Act does. The Federal OLA already has this amendment. (16)
• Add commitment to OLA into contracts explicitly. (16)
• The LC needs to be able to monitor the impact of privatization—right now it has now jurisdiction over contractors, but an OLA amendment would solve this problem. (17)
• Consider developing a certification process for I/Ts that standardizes quality of service.
• Have a registry of I/Ts
• Consider developing more language and I/T materials
• Consider a professional association, professional development, funding, etc.

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This report has been archived by the GNWT department of Education, Culture, and Employment. 

Office of the Languages Commissioner of the Northwest Territories [Judi Tutcho]. Special Report on Privatization and Language Services. Yellowknife, 2000.