Veterans Affairs committee  I haven't examined the Australian model lately, so I'd prefer not to go there and mislead you on it. There was a time when I was very comfortable with it, but I'm getting a little rusty on that end of things.

Veterans Affairs committee  The only thing I would say is that in talking about the different ombudsman models, there has been a tendency by organizations, specifically private ones, to use the word “ombudsman”, which conjures up all this credibility, without properly equipping the office to do its job. People wonder how that happened.

Veterans Affairs committee  We report to the Legislative Assembly, yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm absolutely 100% clear that it's to Parliament through one of these committees. There's no doubt about it: this is the only way the ombudsman can freely do this difficult job. I want to also say that everyone is of good faith. I have no doubt that this current minister is of good faith.

Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely. I understand the things you're trying to draw. I was talking from my experience. There is also a provincial Auditor General who has Auditor General functions. The distinction between an Auditor General and an ombudsman is the following; an Auditor General conducts an audit of the money trail as well as conducts other accounting functions, such as value-for-money auditing.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, I would advise against that, because in my experience there's a conflict of interest there. It would make it very hard for the ombudsman to be able to conduct the job as objectively and impartially as the ombudsman can when they report to Parliament through a committee. The minister's job, as I said in French, is to put forward the best footing of the department.

Veterans Affairs committee  The salary of the Ombudsman is usually the same as the salary of the most senior public servant in the province.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's right.

Veterans Affairs committee  I was appointed for five years. Most of the provincial ombudsman appointments are for a period of five years. Previously, in Ontario, an ombudsman was appointed for 10 years. The term of the mandate was reduced to five years. However, it is renewable. The Ombudsman also holds office during good behaviour.

Veterans Affairs committee  When I left my post in March 2005, Mr. Stoffer, I published a white paper in which I recommended there be one office for both. My concern is that since the military so adamantly opposes a statutory ombudsman, if the option is to piggyback a veterans ombudsman on the military one, it would be a shame, because it is an inferior model.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's a very good question. I've examined the world of ombudsmen and people who come through this world, and there are two kinds of backgrounds that I would discourage. One is someone with not enough experience who would not be able to properly put things in context; it has to be somebody who has some good work experience.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely. All the provinces have slightly different legislation on the ombudsman or public protector, but they are all more or less the same.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes. I brought a copy of our Ontario Act. I am willing to file it with the clerk if you wish. Unfortunately, I only have the English version, but it is available on our Web site in French and English. This is good legislation, very simple. The laws are very succinct, not complex or very lengthy.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, it is the case in Quebec, too. Everything else is within the jurisdiction of the Ombudsman of the province. The chair of the pension administration committee said that there were pitfalls, that the situation was unconstitutional and impossible. Tribunals of that kind have quasi-judicial independence.