Candidates sought for three legislative officer positions
New Brunswickers are encouraged to submit expressions of interest for three legislative officer positions: the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, the New Brunswick Consumer Advocate for Insurance, and the Chief Electoral Officer for the Province of New Brunswick. Government House Leader Rick Doucet announced the competitions today, Wednesday September 21st, 2016.
“Legislative officers play an important role in providing an independent voice for New Brunswickers on the various issues that may arise within these particular positions,” said Doucet. “We are committed to filling these three roles with the most qualified candidates, to ensure New Brunswickers continue to be represented in the province.”
A selection committee has been established to identify candidates for these three positions, to develop a roster of qualified candidates, and to submit this list to the Executive Council Office. The selection committee is comprised of: the Clerk of the Executive Council, the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, a member of the judiciary, and a member of the university sector.
“We want to ensure this is an open and transparent process, in order to select those individuals who will be best suited to these roles,” said Doucet.
Interested individuals have until October 12th to submit their expressions of interest to the selection committee by email to , by fax to 506-453-2266, or by regular mail to: Executive Council Office, Attention: The Clerk, Chancery Place, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5H1.
New Brunswick currently has eight legislative officers, including:
- the Auditor General (appointed on Dec. 1, 2010 for a 10-year term);
- the Child and Youth Advocate (appointed on Aug. 1, 2013 for a 7-year term);
- the Commissioner of Official Languages for New Brunswick (appointed on July 22, 2013 for a 7-year term);
- the Access to Information and Privacy Commissioner (appointed on Sept. 1, 2010 for a 7-year term); and
- the Ombudsman (appointed on July 10, 2013 for a 7-year term).
More information on the required qualifications and conditions for these positions is available online.
Conflict of Interest Commissioner / Integrity Commissioner
The Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner is responsible for administering the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act which sets out acceptable standards of conduct for all members of the legislative assembly and of the executive council.
The commissioner performs three separate but related roles: advising members of the legislative assembly of their obligations for conduct; meeting with members of the legislative assembly at least annually to review their disclosures of financial interests and the general obligations imposed by the act; and providing opinions in response to requests from members of the legislative assembly or members of the public respecting compliance or alleged contraventions of the act.
It is the intention of the government to introduce legislation to implement the recommendation to combine the functions of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner into the new office of the Integrity Commissioner.
New Brunswick Consumer Advocate for Insurance
The Office of the Consumer Advocate for Insurance is mandated to examine the underwriting practices and guidelines of insurers, brokers and agents, and report the use of any prohibited underwriting practices to the superintendent; to conduct investigations in relation to insurers, brokers and agents concerning the premiums charged for contracts of insurance and the availability of contracts of insurance; to respond to requests for information with respect to insurance; to develop and conduct educational programs and carry out insurance related tasks or investigations as directed by the legislative assembly.
Chief Electoral Officer for the Province of New Brunswick
Elections New Brunswick is mandated to ensure the democratic rights of all New Brunswickers through the conduct of free and fair elections, by ensuring compliance with election laws and by enhancing public confidence in and awareness of the electoral process.
The Chief Electoral Officer administers elections to ensure they are fair and free of political influence as set out in the Elections Act. In addition, the Chief Electoral Officer holds the position of Supervisor of Political Financing and oversees compliance with the Political Process Financing Act. In New Brunswick, the CEO is also the Municipal Electoral Officer, and as such is responsible for all municipal, district education council, regional health authority elections and plebiscites conducted under the Municipal Elections Act.
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