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In his role as watchdog, Sapers has been critical of government policy on a range of issues, including the treatment of mentally ill offenders and the growing aboriginal inmate population. He spoke out on the security classification of controversial inmate Omar Khadr, and on the government’s tough sentencing guidelines.

Sapers says he has not been given a reason, other than the time has come for a change, for the government’s decision to replace him.

Asked why Sapers was being replaced, and whether the government had identified a successor, Jeremy Laurin, a spokesman for Blaney, said: “We thank Mr. Sapers for more than a decade of service as Correctional Investigator, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Sapers said the nature of the ombudsman role “inevitably puts you in to disagreement with the authority” that makes the decisions you are criticizing.

“I’ve been doing the job that way ever since I was appointed and this government has re-appointed me in the past, so I have no sense that not being re-appointed is a form of punishment,” Sapers said. He said he doesn’t “fully appreciate” the government’s reasoning, however.

Catherine Latimer, executive director of the John Howard Society, said it’s “unfortunate” that the government is replacing a prison watchdog “uniquely qualified” for the job and who has “been doing such great work when CSC is facing such unprecedented challenges.”

Wayne Easter, the Liberal public safety critic, said “there’s no reason for replacing him other than the prime minister can.

“Yes, he talked straight to them in terms of the serious issues within the correctional system, but that’s what you want in that person,” Easter said.

Easter and Latimer both said that no matter who is chosen to replace Sapers, that person will need up to two years to learn the complex job.

Campbell said she “can’t imagine” who the replacement could be. “My guess would be that a lot of people in the business would say, ‘Well, I’m not going to be the undoing of Howard Sapers.’ ”

eloop@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter: @LoopEmma