2nd Session, 43rd Legislature

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Bill 18

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AMENDMENT ACT (INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES OF INSTRUCTION)

(Assented to                                         )

HIS MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:

C.C.S.M. c. P250 amended

1   The Public Schools Act is amended by this Act.

2   Clause 12.2(1)(d) of the French version is amended by adding "qu'il juge" after "mesure".

3(1)   The following is added after subsection 79(1):

Use of Indigenous languages

79(1.1)   When authorized by the school board, an Indigenous language that is recognized under section 1 of The Aboriginal Languages Recognition Act or prescribed by regulation may, in compliance with the regulations, be used as the language of instruction in any school in the school division or school district.

3(2)   Subsection 79(2) is amended in the part before clause (a) by striking out "English or French" and substituting "English, French or an Indigenous language as set out in subsection (1.1)".

3(3)   Subsections 79(3) and (4) of the French version are amended by adding "la" before "langue d'enseignement" wherever it occurs.

3(4)   Subsection 79(6) of the French version is amended

(a) in clause (a), by striking out "tous les niveaux" and substituting "tout niveau"; and

(b) in clause (b), by adding "la" before "langue d'enseignement".

3(5)   The following is added after subsection 79(6):

English or French as subject of instruction

79(6.1)   In a school where an Indigenous language as set out in subsection (1.1) is used as the language of instruction

(a) French may be a subject of instruction in any grade; and

(b) English or French must be a subject of instruction in every class in Grades IV to XII.

3(6)   Subsection 79(7) is amended by striking out "providing jointly" and substituting "jointly providing instruction to".

3(7)   The following is added after subsection 79(7):

Agreements by boards — Indigenous languages

79(7.1)   A school board may enter into an agreement with another school board for jointly providing instruction to classes in which the language used for instruction is an Indigenous language as set out in subsection (1.1).

3(8)   Clause 79(9)(c) is amended by adding ", at least two of whom are Indigenous persons with expertise respecting the teaching of Indigenous languages" after "the minister".

3(9)   Subsection 79(10) of the English version is amended by striking out "he may deem necessary" and substituting "the minister considers necessary".

Coming into force

4   This Act comes into force on a day to be fixed by proclamation.