Ombudsman oversight coming soon to municipalities, universities and school boards
The public will be able to complain to the Ontario Ombudsman about school boards as of September 1, 2015, and about municipalities and universities as of January 1, 2016, now that the dates have been proclaimed for the relevant sections of the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act to come into force.
Dates for Bill 8 proclaimed: Historic expansion of mandate
(TORONTO – May 21, 2015) – The public will be able to complain to the Ontario Ombudsman about school boards as of September 1, 2015, and about municipalities and universities as of January 1, 2016, now that the dates have been proclaimed for the relevant sections of the This link opens in a new tabOmbudsman Act, 1990, the This link opens in a new tabPublic Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act is coming into force.
Passed by the legislative assembly on December 9, 2014, the act – also known as “Bill 8” – extends Ombudsman scrutiny to the so-called “MUSH sector” for the first time in the office’s 40-year history.
“We look forward to bringing the same level of oversight to municipalities, universities and school boards as we always have to provincial organizations,” said Ontario Ombudsman André Marin. The ombudsman’s office has reached out to these sectors and will release more details in the coming weeks.
Note to media: The Ombudsman will be at Queen’s Park to make a submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at 3 p.m. today, and will have a brief media availability thereafter.
For more information, contact:
Linda Williamson, Director of Communications
416-586-3426, lwilliamson@ombudsman.on.ca