NPA details plan to create Vancouver Office of the Ombudsperson

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      NPA mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe has detailed the party’s promise to establish an Office of the Ombudsperson.

      LaPointe, a former CBC ombudsperson, said today (September 23) that if the office was already in place in Vancouver, he believes the numerous lawsuits the city is currently facing could have been avoided.

      “When you have 16 lawsuits, something’s gone wrong, seriously wrong,” he told reporters at a news conference outside Vancouver City Hall.

      “So we want to make sure that that doesn't happen. People will still go to court at times to do it, but they need to see that there is at least an appeal process between the first time that it’s handled by city administration and the time that they have to go to court. And I think with an ombud in place you stand a better chance of regaining that trust, seeing, hearing and understanding people. And that’s really what we’re attempting to do.”

      The NPA is vowing to establish the ombudsperson position in 2015, with a mandate to investigate complaints from residents who believe a city department hasn't treated them fairly, has taken an inappropriate length of time to take action, or has failed to provide an adequate reason for a given decision.

      Under the party’s policy, the office would be independent from city staff and elected officials, and the ombudsperson would be appointed by an independent panel for a single term of at least six years.

      The NPA plans to gradually release policies from its platform in the lead-up to the November 15 election.

      Comments

      10 Comments

      Mark A

      Sep 23, 2014 at 11:45am

      Great that NPA is taking a logical step in opening up City Hall.
      As someone who waited over a year to get a building permit for a single family renovation and a complete run around by the planning and building departments, I wii be voting for the NPA.

      Alan Page

      Sep 23, 2014 at 12:52pm

      I'm getting more and more impressed by NPA bad Kirk LaPointe. Vision and Gregor Robertson are the most secretive and the least open city hall Vancouver has seen for decades. All of their open houses are a sham, all development proposal are already approved befor public gets to comment on, and the only way to get their attention is to file a lawsuit.

      That must end this November. We have great options to vote for, NPA, Green, COPE, and a cpl of great independents and smaller parties. Vision must go!!!

      Boris Moris

      Sep 23, 2014 at 1:07pm

      Where is John Coupar in this photo? All I see are jowly old white guys who look like they beg for scraps from Peter Armstrongs and Rob MacDonalds tables. Coupar wouldn't be using a 20 year old photo in his media handouts in order to give the impression of youthful vigor, would he?

      As for this "Ombudsperson" schtick, LaPointe would know all about that kind of smokescreen. After presiding over the spin doctor helm of the Vancouver Sun during Harper's rise to the PMO, it's entirely within the realm of probability that Harper would find a way to get LaPointe his job at the CBC in order to make sure that organization is undermined at every turn.

      Boris Morris

      Sep 23, 2014 at 2:05pm

      I'm pretty happy to see that there is at least someone who wants to give citizens a voice in this city. It's embarrassing and scary to see how secretive things have become. And to make up for that $1M promise? Why don't they just fire some of the Vision spin doctors who work in that bloated communications department? $2.2 MILLION DOLLARS spent on people to spin Vision's web of lies. It's disgraceful.

      Impressed!!

      Sep 23, 2014 at 2:09pm

      Great move from the NPA!! They seem like honest people who really want to move Vancouver forward. Sure, that might be visions phrase, but they've left so many people behind. All they want is to sell off Vancouver to developers, and scratch each other's backs. This is the worst administration we've ever had!

      Gregor is clearly campaigning for a federal posting, and he's treating the smart people of this city like idiots by campaigning on issues he has no control over. But people are waking up to vision's bold faced LIES!!

      Raymond Tomlin

      Sep 23, 2014 at 2:34pm

      @BorisMoris (one "s", so as to differentiate you from the next commenter above): your bought-and-paid-for-by-Vision "schtick" (to use your word) is getting more than a bit old.

      You look at the photo, and say "All I see are jowly old white guys ...". Really? Me, I see the women of the Non-Partisan Association (NPA) well-represented: NPA Council candidates Melissa DeGenova, incumbent Elizabeth Ball, and newcomer, Suzanne Scott; not to mention, NPA School Board candidates Penny Noble and Sandy Sharma; as well as NPA Park Board candidate, Erin Shum.

      Might I suggest to you, Mr. Moris, that you consider the purchase of "better eyewear" -- or, perhaps, a reduction in your intake of Vision Vancouver's myopia-inducing Kool-Aid.

      As to the NPA's announcement respecting the appointment of a city Ombudsperson should the Non-Partisan Association form municipal government post November 15, the announcement could hardly be more timely and appropriate, given the current lack of citizen access to City Hall, and the deafness of the current Vision Vancouver administration to the concerns of the citizens of our fair city.

      The appointment of a citizen advocate Ombudsperson overseeing municipal governance in Vancouver is an absolute necessity, in order to ensure fair and democratic civic governance that represents the interests of all.

      Good on the NPA, I say!

      James Blatchford

      Sep 23, 2014 at 3:12pm

      Who are the three heavies in the back row? It looks like they just crossed the border near Donetsk.

      tom

      Sep 23, 2014 at 4:33pm

      Dear impressed, they're all honest until the get elected!

      Ombudsman? Ok, but wish we had wards instead

      Sep 23, 2014 at 7:32pm

      A ward system would do much more to enhance Vancouver's democratic system than an ombudsman would.

      Not that an ombudsman is a bad idea, but remind me, who was it that campaigned against a ward system?

      The NPA.

      NPA trying to forget ward system?

      Sep 26, 2014 at 11:06pm

      They seem to be down-voting the post that points out that it was them, fronted by Sam Sullivan, that nixed our once in a life-time chance to get better representation on council.

      Including the use of election day advertisements for the "No" campaign on CKNW.