PC’s to cut 3 officers that provide independent oversight

Part of the fiscal plan also includes scrapping three legislative officers that provide independent oversight. They include the French languages service commissioner Francois Boileau, the environmental commissioner of Ontario Dianne Saxe and the Ontario child advocate Irwin Elman.

Minister Vic Fedeli says their duties will be absorbed by the provincial Ombudsman and the Auditor-General.

“We have 3 vital legislative offices that have been cut, the independent expert oversight that protects our environment and our children at a time when you cut carbon tax and have no environmental plan in place.” Sandy Shaw, MPP- Hamilton West-Ancaster- Dundas.

Step-grandfather of one year old Kody Smart, who died in 2015 after his grandfather, 40 year old Brian Matthews shook him violently causing a fatal brain hemorrhage, has been working with the child advocate officer to push for an inquest but now he worries that won’t happen.

“It’s going to put that request completely down, there wont be any chance of any inquiry, there won’t be any chance of holding them accountable and there won’t be any chance of ensuring this never happens again to any child in the future.” Chris York.

Ian Borsuk works with Environment Hamilton and says the elimination of the environmental commissioner is a huge blow to the environmental bill of rights. Saying now there will be no monitoring or enforcement of that bill.

“Especially in Hamilton, we and other Hamiltonians have relied on the EBR to basically protect Hamiltonians’ rights to clean air, clean water.”

Fedeli says people will not lose jobs due to these cuts, but no clear answer was given as to what will happen to these legislative officers and their staff.