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2009 Nov 20 (Fri)

Métis Settlements Ombudsman

Kevin encourages the Minister of Aboriginal Relations to review the regulations governing the Métis Settlements Ombudsman's office.

 

1912 Alberta Hansard November 19, 2009

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. The annual report of the Métis Settlements Ombudsman raises concerns regarding declining working relationships, legal challenges that stall and undermine the ombudsman’s role, and unease with the ombudsman’s connection to the minister’s office. Calls that we’ve received in our office from settlements confirm these concerns. My question is to the Minister of Aboriginal Relations. What actions has the minister taken to address the concerns raised in the Métis Settlements Ombudsman’s most recent annual report?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, it’s true that there were some unavoidable delays in some of the processing and some of the administrative matters in the Métis Settlements Ombudsman’s office over the past several years, partly due to the complexity and partly due to staffing issues and a few other internal things. However, we have a new Métis Settlements Ombudsman that has taken over after the good work done by the previous one, and some of those streamlines have now taken place. I think you’ll see some improvements coming over the next few months.

Dr. Taft: Well, thanks, Mr. Speaker. That doesn’t fit with the calls we’re getting to our office. The problems continue. The friction continues. My question again to the same minister: will the minister review the regulations governing the office of the Métis Settlements Ombudsman now rather than waiting four years until the regulations expire?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, in fact, I’ve had several meetings with the Métis Settlements General Council on this matter, and we have agreed to taking a look at what we call a parallel process. As part of that parallel process we’ll be probing fairly deeply into the functions and purpose and nature of the Métis Settlements Ombudsman, who, according to the Métis Settlements Act, carries the investigatory powers of the minister.

Dr. Taft: Okay. It sounds like the minister is already conducting a review. I’m going to give him a suggestion. As it stands now, the minister appoints and effectively delegates authority to the Ombudsman. Will the minister consider establishing legislation enshrining the Métis Settlements Ombudsman as an entity separate from the minister to remove the politics from that position?

Mr. Zwozdesky: Mr. Speaker, I can assure this member and the House that there are no politics with respect to that appointment. The fact is that the Métis Settlements General Council suggests one member to sit on a tribunal. I as minister suggest one person with that background to sit on a tribunal council. The two of them together choose a third person. They review potential applicants. Then they make a recommendation to me, and then the appointment is made. In this most recent case I was very convinced that Mr. John Brosseau had the skills and the experience and the integrity necessary to fill that position. The issue is one of competency, and he certainly has it.

 

 

Date: Fri Nov 20 12:25:48 MST 2009 Author: Rebecca IP: 142.244.158.237