Review of the Statutory Offices of Newfoundland and Labrador: Reconsidering Oversight Structures
Statutory officers hold an essential role in the Canadian parliamentary structure, but one that has been described as operating in a “constitutional twilight zone” underscored by their largely ad hoc development. In this article, the author describes a chaotic series of events in Newfoundland and Labrador which prompted the province’s Minister of Justice and Public Safety to launch a review of the operations of statutory offices. As a researcher for retired Justice Robert Fowler, the person tasked with conducting this review, the author explains how greater definitional clarity, added oversight, and processes for managing conflicts and independently evaluating officers seeking reappointment were among Justice Fowler’s general recommendations. Although the author notes the effectiveness of the team’s proposed recommendations nor their implementation cannot and should not be presumed, the Review of Statutory Offices hoped to reaffirm the role of statutory officers in promoting good governance. This article is based on the author’s analysis of the cited publicly available materials.