Ontario needs a more consistent, transparent process for appointing officers of the Legislature who keep an eye on everything from how the government spends our tax dollars to whether it is meeting its environmental objectives. Otherwise, the government is vulnerable to accusations – as have arisen this week – that it is skewing the process to get rid of bothersome watchdogs.

With just a few weeks left in the five-year terms of Ombudsman André Marin and Environmental Commissioner Gord Miller, the government has opted not to automatically reappoint them but to establish review panels and open their jobs to competition.

A competitive process will help ensure that the best available candidates are appointed. But the inconsistent application of this process and the last-minute nature of the move can’t help but cause suspicion.

Information and Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian, for example, was not subjected to a competitive process and a review panel when she was reappointed last year for a third term. Indeed, the Liberals faced criticism for that decision, just as they are being criticized now for doing the opposite with Marin and Miller.

The government’s ad hoc approach to these appointments is problematic for everyone. Doubt is unfairly cast over those who are reappointed without a competitive process, and the government’s motives are called into question when jobs are opened to competition.

Government House Leader Monique Smith says it is “not likely” that in the future watchdogs will be appointed or reappointed without a competitive process. That response is not entirely reassuring.

We need to be confident that the politicians in power are not unduly influencing the choice of watchdogs overseeing them. A consistent, transparent appointment process would instill that confidence.