Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Three times in the 16th Assembly I spoke in this House for the need for the NWT to have an impartial arbiter, an ombudsman, to assist our residents with a dispute or a disagreement so they can avoid having to go to court to settle it.
The NWT is one of only three jurisdictions in Canada without one. This year, after much work by committee and staff, the Standing Committee on Government Operations on June 5th released a report which outlines the pros and cons of establishing an ombudsman office in the NWT. Such an office would act as an independent, impartial office with powers to investigate complaints of government wrongdoing from members of the public.
The standing committee report determines that public need for an ombudsman outweighs concerns about cost and it cites devolution as a major new development. Let me quote a few passages from the report. “Never before has the territorial government been more complex or sophisticated. Never before has the need for an ombudsman been greater,” the report states.
The report goes on to say, “The sheer number and complexity of the various tribunals and processes can contribute to citizens’ perceptions of powerlessness and unfairness.”
Mr. Speaker, an NWT ombudsman office would likely not have any powers to reverse government decisions, but it would be an avenue of last resort for the public, one that is impartial, free and easily accessible, as stated in the report.
That report was an important first step to ignite a proper debate on this issue. The concerns about expense and bureaucratic complexity need to be weighed against the need for a one-size-fits-all office of appeal.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I provide some food for thought. The following is a quote from Chief Justice Milvain of the Supreme Court of Alberta in speaking about the 1970 Alberta Ombudsman Act. “As an ultimate objective, the ombudsman can bring to the Legislature his observations on the misworking of administrative legislation. He can also focus the light of publicity on his concern as to injustices and needed change. He can bring the lamp of scrutiny to otherwise dark places, even over the resistance of those who would draw the blinds. If his scrutiny and observations are well founded, corrective measures can be undertaken in due democratic process, if not, no harm can be done in looking at that which is good.”
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
That is an excellent description of what an ombudsman can do, and I invite Members in this House and members of the public to provide their input on the need for an ombudsman. There will be a public town hall meeting this coming Monday, November 3rd, in the Great Hall here in the Legislative Assembly, 7:00 p.m. I invite all members of the public and these Members to come and provide their views and hear what the ombudsman from Ontario has to say. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
