(YELLOWKNIFE) Thursday, November 13, 2014 – On Thursday, November 6, 2014, Regular Members of the Legislative Assembly voted unanimously in favour of a motion calling on the Government of the Northwest Territories to bring forward legislation to establish an Office of the Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories

The motion was introduced by Mr. Michael Nadli, Deh Cho MLA, and Chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations (SCOGO). SCOGO tabled a report on the topic earlier this year. 

“An ‘ombudsman’ is a fancy word for a citizens’ defender—a peacemaker who gives a voice to the people,” said Mr. Nadli. “An ombudsman assists people, free of charge, who feel they’ve been treated unfairly by government.”  

Ms. Wendy Bisaro, Frame Lake MLA, and Deputy Chair of SCOGO, has been a long-time champion of the idea of an ombudsman. In seconding the motion in the Assembly, Ms. Bisaro noted that “the office can be a good force for government, in that it can promote accountability in administration and improve government through investigations.” She observed “Over the last couple of decades, particularly with devolution, our territory has grown and we have grown up, and part of being grown up is recognizing the need to help our neighbors and our friends. The time is now to bring this legislation forward.”

Generally the ombudsman has robust powers to conduct confidential investigations but cannot change or reverse government decisions. Earlier this month, Mr. André Marin, Ombudsman for Ontario was invited by the committee to speak on the role of an Ombudsman and promoted the idea of a similar office for the Northwest Territories. “Moral suasion is a primary tool in the ombudsman’s toolkit,” said Mr. Marin.

“This is an idea whose time has come,” Mr. Nadli emphasized. “The Government of the Northwest Territories is becoming more complex, especially now that devolution has been achieved. We hear a lot about the need for better public accountability and an ombudsman would help to ensure the GNWT is on the right track.”

In speaking to the motion in the Assembly, Premier Bob McLeod reiterated the issues raised by the Government in a discussion paper produced in 2012 and advised that Cabinet would abstain from the vote. The Government is expected to provide a response to the motion within 120 days.

For more information, contact: 

Michael Nadli, Chair
Standing Committee on Government Operations 
Legislative Assembly of the NWT 
P: 867-669-2268
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
E: michael_nadli@gov.nt.ca

Wendy Bisaro, Deputy Chair
Standing Committee on Government Operations 
Legislative Assembly of the NWT 
P: 867-669-2274
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
E: wendy_bisaro@gov.nt.ca