In a way, any special report published by Complaints Commissioner Elton Georges’ office represents a failure, because it means that a complaint and the office’s subsequent recommendations haven’t led to a resolution, the commissioner said Monday.
But even when a complaint does get to the special report stage – only nine have since the office was founded three years ago – government officials can still right whatever wrong took place, Mr. Georges added.
Now that his latest two special reports have been made public and widely reported in the media, it’s the public’s turn to pressure leaders to take action, he said.
“Enough people just need to say to the government, ‘You need to do the right thing,’” Mr. Georges said.
When some reporters suggested that perhaps the complaints commissioner’s office needed more authority to take action, rather than just to make recommendations, Mr. Georges disagreed.
Instead of passing more restrictive laws or threatening punishments, “Government should act right by the people,” he said.
See the Sept. 27, 2012 edition for full coverage.
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