NWT Office of the Ombud opens office in Hay River

Greetings from Hay River, Northwest Territories where, as of November 18, 2019 the NWT Office of the Ombud is officially open. The Ombud Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly in November 2018 after more than two decades of calls by northerners for the creation of a parliamentary ombud office. Colette Langlois was appointed as the territory’s first Ombud on April 8, 2019 for a 5 year term.

Our small (but mighty) team of 3, consisting of Colette, Darlene Lamb, Intake Officer and Office Manager, and Michelle Staszuk, Early Resolution and Investigations Officer, will serve a population of approximately 45,000 people spread across 33 communities.

The Ombud’s mandate includes public education about the principles of administrative fairness, as well as resolving and investigating complaints about territorial government departments and agencies such as Aurora College, the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission, school boards, health and social services authorities, and public housing authorities.

We are grateful for the advice and support we have received over the last several months from our Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman colleagues as well as the wider FCO community. All of us look forward to meeting more of you and to working with you over the coming years.

Please visit our website at www.nwtombud.ca, or even better, visit us in Hay River!