Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to make a few comments with regard to the motion. Specifically, it is my understanding that this should be a matter for the Board of Management of the Legislative Assembly.
An ombudsman must be independent. It must have the independence necessary to allow him or her to investigate complaints against the government impartially. Therefore, the ombudsman must be an officer of the Legislative Assembly and not part of government. This is the case in all Canadian jurisdictions where there is an ombudsman. As the Member stated, all jurisdictions in Canada, except the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Prince Edward Island, have a general ombudsman office.
With regard to the cost of operating these offices, my understanding is the costs range anywhere from about $500,000 a year in Yukon to about $13 million a year in Quebec. As I understand it, the last time that we investigated the costs, it was in the cost estimate of about a million-plus dollars to have an ombudsman office.
As this is a recommendation to the government, Cabinet will be abstaining from this vote.