Thank you, Mr. Chairman. These are the remarks on the legislative action paper on the office of the ombudsman for the Northwest Territories.

The standing committee has read its report on the review of the legislative action paper on the office of the ombudsman for the Northwest Territories on February 16, 1995.

In the report to this House, the standing committee stated their support of the legislative proposal contained in the action paper. In particular, the standing committee was satisfied with the role of the ombudsman, the jurisdiction of the ombudsman and the influence of the ombudsman contained in the paper.

The public was also receptive to the proposal to create an ombudsman-like office for the Northwest Territories. The action paper proposes an amalgamation of the office of the ombudsman with the office of the Access and Privacy Commissioner which is created under the recently-passed Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act. However, it is the opinion of the standing committee that legislation creating the office of an ombudsman should be delayed until such time as an evaluation on the Access and Privacy Commissioner's office has been completed, and it has been determined whether there is a need for a more general type of ombudsman in the territories.

That's the report, Mr. Chairman.