Mr. Speaker, we privileged few in this House face no small amount of public scrutiny for the decisions we make, which is a fundamental feature of our democratic traditions. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that we all uphold the high standards Northerners expect from us in the decisions that we make.
Mr. Speaker, politicians as a whole never tend to poll well, except for a handful on election day. Earlier this year, a survey asked Canadians which jobs they trust and respect the most. While firefighters and nurses came out on top, politicians were found to be the least-respected jobs in the country for the third year running. Judges, on the other hand, consistently maintain a great deal of trust in the public's eye despite the fact that they are appointed by the same politicians who rank at the bottom of public opinion.
I wonder why this is, and the answer seems clear: a fair and transparent appointment process that is vetted by local experts who ensure that politicians make honest decisions about these appointments based on merit and experience, rather than patronage, favouritism, or ideology. In short, Canadians and Northerners tend to trust the judicial appointment process, even if they don't trust the politicians making the appointment.
Mr. Speaker, this now brings me to a recent appointment made by the Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission. The workers' advisor is a political appointment made by the Minister who helps workers understand the workers' compensation system and is entirely independent of the commission. This is a very important and well-compensated position with a six-figure salary. In the past, Ministers have put the position out to the public in asking for an expression of interest from Northerners who wanted the job. That was not the case in this most recent appointment. Instead, the Minister appointed his long-time political aide to the post without any form of public process.
Mr. Speaker, this is exactly the kind of circumstance that make Northerners question the trust they place in elected officials. Important political appointments like this are entirely at the discretion of the Minister, but that does not mean he should ignore established processes. I want to be clear that I am in no way questioning the merits of the appointment or the person who occupies the position. I am questioning the appointment process and why an individual so close to the Minister's personal political career was selected without any concerns of personal conflict or a chance for a public expression of interest.
Later today I will have questions for the Minister, and I hope he can answer them satisfactorily. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.