Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the chair of the Assembly's Standing Committee on Government Operations, I'm pleased to move this motion. Committee members have a keen interest in any measures that could improve government accountability, administrative fairness and responsiveness. The matter of a territorial ombudsman, which could be just such a measure, has often been discussed in this House. There is support from this Assembly for the concept, as shown by the passage of Motion 9-17(3) last June.
The Standing Committee on Government Operations took the initiative to write to the Premier to state our interest in the possibility of an ombudsman combined with one or more of the existing part-time statutory officers. I would like to thank the government for reviewing our concerns and cataloguing the current statutory appeals processes. This is a hopeful start, but more information is, clearly, needed. The present motion will authorize the Standing Committee on Government Operations to conduct independent research and analysis to explore the need for a territorial ombudsman and the potential role of such an officer.
From my own point of view, as an MLA representing small communities, I will want to make sure that such an office can benefit all of our residents. Practical, cost-effective options for implementation should also breed research. The standing committee will be very pleased to undertake this work on referral by the Assembly, and report back to the House at an early date.
I'd like to thank the deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, Ms. Wendy Bisaro, for seconding this motion and for her long-standing leadership on this issue. Finally, thank you, colleagues. I hope you will support this motion in the interest in full and fair consideration of the need for a territorial ombudsman.