Joseph Paul Murdoch-Flowers has been chosen as the new ethics officer for Nunavut.
“Mr. Murdoch-Flowers has extensive legal expertise rooted in Inuit life and culture,” said Human Resources Minister Margaret Nakashuk on Feb. 20. “His broad legal experience is matched by his work in restorative justice, an essential ingredient for the territorial ethics officer. Mr. Murdoch-Flowers’ role is to ensure public confidence in the administration of government departments, public bodies and offices.”
Originally from Labrador and a graduate of the faculty of law at McGill University, Murdoch-Flowers is a practising lawyer who has previously worked in the National Litigation Division for the Government of Canada’s Department of Justice. He is experienced in civil litigation through his work with the Legal Services Board of Nunavut, and as acting senior justice of the peace for the Nunavut Court of Justice.
“My intention is to bring a level of confidence, responsibility, impartiality, and leadership to a role designed to assist public service employees with a process in communicating serious and unresolved concerns without reprisal, and by doing so, ensuring transparency and fairness,” Murdoch-Flowers stated.
The ethics officer appointment is for a term of five years, with the opportunity for reappointment. To ensure impartiality, the officer cannot be a member of the public service.
The previous, and first-ever appointed Nunavut ethics commissioner, Joe Schooner, held the position since 2015 before returning to work in a similar capacity in his home province of Manitoba.