Releasing Annual Reports Sooner

It is important for the annual reports of statutory officers, like the Ombud, to be released in a timely manner. Timely release allows for any problems identified by statutory officers, and recommendations to fix them, to be addressed sooner. The Committee's review process is also more relevant when annual reports are provided shortly after the year's end. Ultimately, timely release enhances the effectiveness of the committee's oversight of government. The Ombud's Annual Report is not currently released to committee or the public in a timely manner. The Ombud's first two annual reports, for 2019-20 and 2020-21, were released only once they were tabled in the Legislative Assembly. Tabling occurred in the fall session of the Assembly - six to eight months after the fiscal year-end in March.

The delay is not the result of the slowness on the Ombud's part. The Act requires the Ombud to prepare and submit her annual report to the Speaker "no later than July 1st. The Speaker must then table the report" as soon as is reasonably practicable.

Tabling a document has the effect of making it available to the public. Historically, the Speaker only tables a document during session, the period of time when the Legislative Assembly holds its meetings. In most years, the next instance after July 1st when session is held is in the fall. This implies a period of three to five months during which the annual report is complete but not available for committee or the public to review.

The annual reports of other statutory officers, such as the Information and Privacy Commissioner and the Languages Commissioner, are also typically available to committee and the public in the fall session. Committee wants to see the annual reports of statutory officers, and of all public entities more generally, released in a timelier fashion.

The Standing Committee on Government Operations therefore recommends:

Recommendation 2

That the Speaker of the Northwest Territories, in consultation with the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, and before the end of the 19th Assembly, review and amend the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, to allow annual reports of statutory officers to be released publicly once they are received, and before they are tabled. This rule change should, in effect, allow the Speaker to make available to committee and to the public the Ombud's annual report upon receipt or shortly thereafter.

Conclusion

This concludes the Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2020-2021 Annual Report of the Ombud. Committee looks forward to the government's response to these recommendations.

Recommendation 3

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.