Madam Chair, I move that this Committee recommends that the definition of "authorities" and the schedule be amended to use language similar to that found in the Ombudsmen Act Yukon and that a further subclause expressively include the Housing Association as established with the Societies Act. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 122-19(2): Committee Report 13-19(2) - Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2019-20 Northwest Territories Ombud Annual Report - Definition of Authorities in Ombud Legislation, Carried
In the Legislative Assembly on June 1st, 2021. See this topic in context.
Committee Motion 122-19(2): Committee Report 13-19(2) - Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2019-20 Northwest Territories Ombud Annual Report - Definition of Authorities in Ombud Legislation, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 2756
Committee Motion 122-19(2): Committee Report 13-19(2) - Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2019-20 Northwest Territories Ombud Annual Report - Definition of Authorities in Ombud Legislation, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 2756
Committee Motion 122-19(2): Committee Report 13-19(2) - Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2019-20 Northwest Territories Ombud Annual Report - Definition of Authorities in Ombud Legislation, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 2757
Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the Ombud Act was drafted, it appears the drafters went and took a schedule out of the Financial Administration Act, which sets out a number of public bodies. But for some reason, that doesn't include -- well, it doesn't include housing associations, which are not formed under the Societies Act. They're nonprofit societies that are agents to the Housing Corp.
I guess this is a larger problem, and I've asked the Housing Corp a number of times why we have housing associations and why we have housing authorities and the difference in the roles, and they've never been able to give me a clear answer. But they serve very much the same function, and people should be able to go to the Ombud when the Housing Association makes a decision that is not procedurally fair. So that simply does that.
And I guess the second thing is that by using the schedule and the Financial Administration Act that there is always different public bodies being created with various arm's length from government. But the most jurisdictions -- and we specifically pick the Yukon -- just provide a broad definition of government authorities that gives the Ombud some flexibility in deciding, you know, what public agency falls under their authority to investigate.
I really don't think there's any sort of floodgate issue here, and I think the Housing Association example is a prime example of why it's easier to just have a broad definition of who the Ombud can investigate. Thank you.
Committee Motion 122-19(2): Committee Report 13-19(2) - Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2019-20 Northwest Territories Ombud Annual Report - Definition of Authorities in Ombud Legislation, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 2757
Committee Motion 122-19(2): Committee Report 13-19(2) - Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2019-20 Northwest Territories Ombud Annual Report - Definition of Authorities in Ombud Legislation, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
June 1st, 2021
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Madam Chair. Yes, someone who was here in the 18th Assembly when the bill was being reviewed, I think this was just an oversight on the part of folks that were looking at the reviewing the bill and the draft of it and so on.
The advantage of the Yukon definition is that it basically captures those organizations that are set up through legislation or -- and I'm not going to get all of the exact criteria right. But basically they are in one way or another almost an arm or a creature of GNWT. So I think the principle here was that -- and this was identified by the Ombud as something that was problematic. So when we set up agencies, associations through our legislation, that the Ombud should have the ability to review them. And that's what this does. So it just fixes an oversight from the last Assembly. Thanks. And I do support it. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Committee Motion 122-19(2): Committee Report 13-19(2) - Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2019-20 Northwest Territories Ombud Annual Report - Definition of Authorities in Ombud Legislation, Carried
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 2757
The Chair Lesa Semmler
Thank you. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.
---Carried
Ms. Martselos.