News June 5, 2014

Standing Committee on Government Operations Releases its Report on Establishing an Office of the Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories

YELLOWKNIFE (June 5, 2014) - The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories’ Standing Committee on Government Operations released its report on Establishing an Office of the Ombudsman for the Northwest Territories yesterday. The report was tabled in the House in response to Motion 12-17(4) of the Legislative Assembly which referred the matter of an office of the ombudsman to the Standing Committee for research, review, and analysis.  

“The idea of establishing an ombudsman for the Northwest Territories was first raised in the Legislative Assembly over 20 years ago. With the recent achievement of devolution, the GNWT has marked a significant milestone in its evolution and has reached a new level of complexity,” said Committee Chair, Michael M. Nadli. “Our Committee strongly supports the creation of an ombudsman for the Northwest Territories at this time. This office would provide a single point of contact for NWT residents who are concerned that they have been treated unfairly by the government, and would help to ensure that the GNWT meets the commitment to accountability and transparency it has made to the people of the Northwest Territories.”

Committee Members chose to table the report now, so that there would be an opportunity for the public to review the report over the summer and provide their comments and feedback in advance of the next sitting of the Legislative Assembly in October 2014 at which time the report will likely be debated in the Legislative Assembly. A copy of the report will be posted on the Legislative Assembly website.
  
Committee Members look forward to discussing the merits of an ombudsman with the public as they travel this summer. In early autumn they will be advertising formal opportunities for public consultation and written comments. In the interim, members of the public are invited to contact any of the Committee members, listed below, with their comments, feedback and questions.

For more information, contact: 

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

Gail Bennett, Committee Clerk
Standing Committee on Government Operations
Legislative Assembly of the NWT
P: 867-669-2343 or toll-free 1-800-661-0784
E: gail_bennett@gov.nt.ca

Wendy Bisaro, Deputy Chair                        
P: 867-669-2274                                
E: wendy_bisaro@gov.nt.ca                        

Daryl Dolynny, Committee Member                     
P: 867-669-2244                                   
E: daryl_dolynny@gov.nt.ca                        

Alfred Moses, Committee Member
P: 867-669-2282
E: alfred_moses@gov.nt.ca

Norman Yakeleya, Committee Member
P: 867-669-2270
E: norman_yakeleya@gov.nt.ca