Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Ombud and commends it to the House.

Introduction

The Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed the 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Ombud.

The Ombud Act requires the Ombud to prepare an annual report. The report includes information on the number of inquiries and complaints received. It can also include recommendations. The Speaker tables the report in the Legislative Assembly. Once tabled, the committee reviews the report. As part of the review the Ombud, Ms. Colette Langlois, appeared before committee on February 11, 2022.

The committee commends her user-friendly approach in her annual report. The strong visuals, plain language, and ample statistics provided an excellent template to understand the Ombud's activities. The committee report follows up on previous recommendations from the Ombud and from committee to improve the Ombud Act - work that the Government of the Northwest Territories has declined to pursue in the life of the 19th Assembly.

The committee also makes two substantive recommendations in this report:

• First, that the GNWT review and amend the Ombud Act by Fall 2025; and,
• Second, that the Speaker amend the Rules of the Northwest Territories Assembly to allow annual reports of statutory officers to be made available to the public sooner. The committee is pleased to submit this report to the Legislative Assembly and looks forward to its earnest consideration.

I'll now pass it over to the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh