There are a number of checks and balances within our system of government. The ability to question government on its decisions and to seek information are two of these. The freedom of the press and the ability for the media to report openly on the decisions of government is another check on government.

Added to these are the various independent officers that are part of our system of  democracy. Many of these officers have direct responsibility for ensuring that citizens are able to have decisions of government reviewed independently. Others have the ability to audit and access information not generally available to the public.

These officers include the Auditor General, the Ombudsman, the Conflict of Interest Officer and the Chief Electoral Officer, to name a few. However, in Manitoba, too often the important role of these officers is frustrated by either a lack of authority or positions not being filled quickly. For example the ability for both the Ombudsman and the Conflict of Interest Officer in Manitoba to investigate government and elected officials is very limited. They also have limited ability to act upon wrongdoing when they find it.

In addition, we have seen how in Manitoba under the NDP government, these important roles can go unfilled for many months and sometimes years. This has been the case for each of the Auditor General, the Ombudsman and the Chief Electoral Officer in recent years where individuals filled the role on an interim basis because the NDP refused to move the process along to hire a permanent replacement.

That’s why last week I was pleased to co-sponsor legislation in the Manitoba Legislature that will ensure that the process for filling vacant positions for independent officers must begin within 30 days of a vacancy. And I am glad that all parties in the Legislature agreed with the legislation and that it will be proclaimed into law soon.

But this still only solves part of the problem. The officers who fill these roles also need to be given the proper legislative power to their jobs. For example, recently the Manitoba Progressive Conservative Caucus asked the Auditor General to examine the $1 million ad campaign that is paid for by taxpayers and run by the NDP government. The ads appear to provide no information and should be reviewed to see if they are strictly partisan and not eligible for taxpayer funding. The Auditor General’s office has indicated they are willing to do the audit but their legislation does not allow them to conduct it without all political parties making the request and, of course, the NDP are not interested.

So while there are many checks and balances in our current system of government, there is certainly much room for improvement. One improvement, ensuring that officers are appointed quickly, has been made. Another, ensuring that they have the power to do their job, is still very much a work in progress.