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Is Nunavut entitled to ESL money?

Education minister backs IDEA idea

SARA MINOGUE

Education Minister Ed Picco: "I'm taking this seriously."

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In a further effort to obtain federal funding for teaching English as a second language to school-aged, Inuktitut speaking children, the Iqaluit District Education Authority has sent a letter to Education Minister Ed Picco.

Dr. Dyane Adam, Canada's Commissioner of Official Languages, says that the effort could prove worthwhile.

"Nunavut is a very unique language landscape, where both official languages are in a minority setting," Adam says.

While the language commissioner is not responsible for delivering the money, Adam says that the IDEA is correct in believing that the federal government has a mandate to provide adequate teaching materials and instruction to those learning English or French as a second language.

Article 43 of the Official Languages Act states that "the minister of Canadian heritage shall take such measures as that minister considers appropriate to advance the equality of status and use of English and French in Canadian society."

That should mean that Nunavut — where most residents speak Inuktitut as a first language — is in a good position to receive federal funds, which are distributed by Heritage Canada.

The next step, which the IDEA has already taken, is to encourage Picco's office to negotiate with Heritage Canada for the funding.

Picco read the letter on Monday of this week, and said he likes the idea.

"I think it's an interesting proposal," he said. "I congratulate the IDEA on taking a look at this from different angles."

Picco has instructed his staff to look into the idea from the "administrative, logistical, and legal" points of view, in order to see what the next steps are.

"I'm taking this seriously," Picco said.

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