Question Period Note: GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE INCLUSION OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES ON FEDERAL ELECTION BALLOTS

• Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend a sincere thanks to the Procedure and House Affairs Committee, and all the witnesses that participated in the study on the inclusion of Indigenous languages on ballots.

• The Government appreciates the report’s thoughtful recommendations which seek to improve the experience of voting for Indigenous electors.

• Reconciliation is a government priority, including through the implementation of the Indigenous Languages Act and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

• The Government acknowledges the importance of reclaiming, revitalizing, maintaining, and strengthening Indigenous languages and is committed to removing barriers to voting and participation in the democratic process.

o Between March 29, 2022, and June 14, 2022, the Procedure and House Affairs Committee (PROC), conducted a study examining the notion of including Indigenous languages on federal ballots. The study consisted of six meetings and heard testimony from 17 witnesses, including, among others, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Canada, CEOs for Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, academics, and the Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Lori Idlout.

o On June 21, 2022, PROC tabled its report on this study entitled “The Inclusion of Indigenous Languages on Federal Election Ballots: A Step towards Reconciliation”, which included the following four recommendations for Elections Canada that seek to improve the experience of Indigenous peoples in participating in federal elections:

o Recommendation 1: Undertake a pilot project in Nunavut to include Inuktut languages (i.e., Inuit languages) on federal election ballots;

o Recommendation 2: Establish an Indigenous communities’ advisory group to formulate recommendations for consideration to make the federal electoral process as accessible as possible for Indigenous voters;

o Recommendation 3: Print and post copies of the official ballot in Indigenous languages where appropriate; and,

o Recommendation 4: Consult with the Commissioner of Indigenous Languages on these matters.

o PROC requested a Government Response, which must be tabled in the House of Commons by no later than October 19, 2022.

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