Jay Chalke reflects on challenges his office is facing, including backlogs
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke’s office investigates complaints from citizens about the services of 1,000 British Columbia public bodies. This year, the beleaguered ferry corporation received a $500-million infusion from government and went through an executive shuffle. The management-heavy company continues to grapple with staffing shortages that have delayed or cancelled sailings.
“So we don't have jurisdiction. We do have jurisdiction over the ferries commissioner, but we don't have jurisdiction over BC Ferries itself. I do think that the public have a right to seek some sort of external complaint mechanism and it's something I'd like to see returned at some point in the future."
Chalke said that his office has seen an increase in complaints about local governments, Crown corporations and health authorities. The office was allotted $12.8 million for operations this year. On Oct. 25, Chalke tabled his funding request for next year to the B.C. legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services. He is seeking $14.8 million for each of the next three fiscal years. That includes an additional $692,000 for inflationary wage increases, $244,000 for Indigenous services and $146,000 for outreach.
B.C. was the last province to do so and Chalke has overseen the gradual implementation of the Public Interest Disclosure Act . By the end of next year, when post-secondary employees are included, 300,000 public employees will be covered. Chalke said PIDA does not yet cover local governments, but hopes that will be raised when a legislature committee is struck next year to undertake the statutory, five-year review of the ombudsperson’s enabling legislation.
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