Posted by Sudbury Northern Life 
The federal government has appointed a new mining ombudsman. However, the federal NDP is criticizing the new position, calling ombudsman's mandate "too weak" and "ineffective."
"As a retired miner, I am all too aware of what these corporations are getting away with; some of them with the financial support of our federal government," said Nickel Belt New Democrat MP and mining critic Claude Gravelle.
The new ombudsman will not be able to investigate activity that happened prior to their appointment, make policy or legislative recommendations, or begin an investigation without the consent of the complainant and the company in question, said a release from the NDP.
New Democrat MP Paul Dewar has introduced a Private Members Bill which would make the ombudsman completely independent and provide him or her will full investigative powers.
