Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act, received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on November 2nd, 2022, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review.

Bill 61 is a private Member's bill sponsored by the Member for Yellowknife North. As such I, as deputy chair, assumed the role of chairing meetings about the review of this bill.

The committee sought feedback on Bill 61 and received eight written submissions. The committee held a public review of the bill on December the 9th, 2022. The input helped committee to understand the benefits of the proposed changes and put forward amendments to making the bill even stronger.

The committee amended two clauses: One to clarify the Ombud's mandate and one to maintain the exclusions on all six statutory officers covered in the existing Act and to exclude the Human Rights Commission and the adjudication panel from the Ombud's jurisdiction. As a result of the review of Bill 61, committee presented a report with two recommendations to the Legislative Assembly on February 14th, 2023.

I would like to thank the committee for its work on the review of Bill 61. Individual Members may have additional comments.