Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue of an ombudsman. Mr. Speaker, during last fall's election, we were told by residents loud and clear that they wanted openness, transparency, and accessibility in government. This Assembly has responded. We focused on openness in the selection of the Cabinet. We enshrined it in our mandate. The government has even designated a Minister responsible for Public Engagement and Transparency.
Mr. Speaker, all these are moves in the right direction and we should go further. One important way to do this is to establish the Office of the Ombudsman. An ombudsman is a public representative who looks into situations where ordinary citizens feel they have not been treated fairly by government. An ombudsman can help people understand their rights and investigate imbalance or unfairness in how people are treated. An ombudsman is a neutral investigator resolving disputes, analyzing how the government works, and helping it serve people better. Mr. Speaker, as MLAs, it is an important part of our job to be available to our constituents, to assist them with the concerns about how government affects their lives. That is a part of this job that I eagerly take on because the ability to help constituents is at the heart of public service. We live in a complicated world and this is a complex government. In that environment, it is easy to imagine where different interpretation or application of different laws or regulations can wind up in a situation of uneven or unfair treatment. In fact, we are aware of some individuals' matters that have been unresolved for years. An ombudsman can help make sure citizens aren't left behind by the complexity of government. If someone is treated unfairly or unequally, an ombudsman can ensure he or she has an avenue to understand the process and address the inequality. It can help government be more efficient by correcting areas where the system should work better. Mr. Speaker, nine provinces and the Yukon have ombudsman offices. The importance of the office is illustrated by Yukon, in fact. Its office began as part-time and became full-time in 2013 because of the high demand. It recently expanded to a five-person office. Yukon has also adapted its legislation to allow Aboriginal governments to request ombudsman services. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous concept to conclude my statement. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, we committed in the mandate to develop legislation within two years to create this office. That was the right thing to do. It is an important element of government openness and accessibility. I urge the government to maintain this commitment as a high priority. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Justice regarding this important matter at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' Statements. Member for Nunakput.
