Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am content with that. For the public, the ombudsman is a welcome device for ensuring that justice is done and that bureaucracies treat their clients fairly, promptly and respectfully. I think that is worth repeating twice. For bureaucracies, it is an additional failsafe check on their operations to ensure that any mistakes that have not been spotted are eventually caught and rectified. It also serves to identify unintentional impacts of otherwise well-intentioned procedures.

The cost of bringing these three offices under the umbrella of an ombudsman office would certainly be far less than separate agencies. It has been suggested that the access to information and privacy legislation could cost as much as $3 million. An ombudsman's office fulfilling all three roles could be operational on an annual budget of much less. Clearly, this government must be cautious in any new spending. However, the creation of an ombudsman's office would send the undeniable message that this government is committed to change, away from the ivory tower politics towards the philosophy of accessibility and collaboration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause