Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I am pleased to speak to Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Ombud Act. The bill proposes changes that derive specifically from the ombud's 2019-2020 Annual Report and the Standing Committee on Government Operations' review of that report.
The ombud of the Northwest Territories is a new position for this territory. It was only in April of 2019 when our first ombud was appointed. I made the decision to bring forward Bill 61 as a private Member's bill because it is important to listen to the people who are living the realities of the legislation created for this office, and these are changes that the government was not prepared to consider putting forward in the life of the 19th Assembly.
The ombud made her recommendations to ensure her office is fully enabled to fulfill the purpose and vision with which the Legislative Assembly created it. The changes in this bill would mean residents can make complaints about a wider range of public bodies. The changes would allow the ombud to investigate complaints into matters that have come up since April 1st, 1999, because right now the ombud can only investigate complaints into matters that have come up since January 1st, 2016. The changes would also allow the ombud to provide more notice of investigations. Finally, the changes would clarify the ombud's role.
I was pleased to concur with amendments proposed by the Standing Committee on Government Operations that further clarify the ombud's role and that ensure guardrails to make sure the ombud cannot override decisions of the Human Rights Commission or adjudication panel. The changes in this bill will improve the ability of the Office of the ombud to carry out the mandate of that office for the people of the Northwest Territories. That concludes my remarks on Bill 61. I'm pleased to hear comments or respond to questions. Thank you, Madam Chair.