B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke announces 2026 retirement after 10 years on the job
VICTORIA - British Columbia's longest-serving ombudsperson has announced he will retire from his role in early 2026.
Jay Chalke has been in the role for a decade and oversaw the implementation of new responsibilities under B.C.'s Public Interest Disclosure Act, which provides secure channels for public employees to report serious workplace wrongdoing.
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Vancouver Sun
27-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke announces 2026 retirement after 10 years on the job
VICTORIA — B.C.'s longest-serving ombudsperson has announced he will retire from his role in early 2026. Jay Chalke has been in the role for a decade and oversaw the implementation of new responsibilities under B.C.'s Public Interest Disclosure Act, which provides secure channels for public employees to report serious workplace wrongdoing. He says in a news release that he didn't make the decision lightly, and serving as B.C.'s Ombudsperson has been 'the honour' of his career. He says he is 'deeply proud' of the work he has accomplished, but he believes it's time for 'new perspectives and fresh leadership to continue (the) important work in ensuring fairness in public administration.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. In the release, Chalke's office called him a steadfast advocate for fairness and accountability. It says the process to appoint a new ombudsperson will be led by the legislature and will begin soon to ensure a smooth transition. 'I am grateful to the dedicated team at the Office of the Ombudsperson and to the people of British Columbia for the trust they have placed in me,' Chalke says in the release. 'I look forward to supporting the transition and watching this office continue to make a difference.'
Toronto Star
27-05-2025
- Toronto Star
B.C. Ombudsperson Jay Chalke announces 2026 retirement after 10 years on the job
VICTORIA - British Columbia's longest-serving ombudsperson has announced he will retire from his role in early 2026. Jay Chalke has been in the role for a decade and oversaw the implementation of new responsibilities under B.C.'s Public Interest Disclosure Act, which provides secure channels for public employees to report serious workplace wrongdoing.
CTV News
06-05-2025
- CTV News
B.C. ombudsperson finds request for repayment of provincial COVID-19 aid unjust
VICTORIA — British Columbia's ombudsperson says the provincial government unfairly required some workers to repay $1,000 they received after losing their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The BC Emergency Benefit for Workers was introduced in 2020 and, in an effort to work quickly, the B.C. government initially required recipients to also be receiving the federal Canada Emergency Response Benefit. Jay Chalke's office says in a news release that the province was unaware that some people who had lost their job due to COVID-19 were being paid through other federal benefits, including employment insurance. He says the B.C. government paid those applicants, then ordered them to repay the funds. Chalke says people applied for the benefits in good faith to get through a crisis, then were ordered to pay back the money, not because they lost their jobs, but because of how a federal benefit claim was processed behind the scenes. His report makes one recommendation that the Finance Ministry change the Income Tax Act to extend the benefit eligibility to workers who lost their jobs due to COVID-19 but were excluded only because of employment insurance claims. Chalke says 'it was unjust for the province to require repayment in such circumstances.' The report also found some eligible workers were told to repay even though they met all the criteria. It says the repayment letters people received were confusing and offered no explanation as to why they were being asked to repay the benefit. The report also says the ministry did not use available federal data to verify their eligibility and instead placed the burden on the individual. 'This report isn't about trying to undo a program that was created in a hurry,' Chalke says. 'It's about what governments do when they later find out that parts of those programs were flawed.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2025.
