Press Releases

Carl Bouchard: Digital tool would aid Francophones knowing and exercising their rights

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced an investigation into the practice of child welfare agencies placing young children and teens in hotels, motels, offices and trailers.

French Language Services Commissioner urges Ontario to respect law; make all out-of-home advertising bilingual

Carl Bouchard: French was systematically missing from the government’s health-related out-of-home advertising during COVID-19 pandemic

Annual Report 2023-2024: Significant achievements for children in care, Francophones, students, inmates – and in local transparency

York CAS accepts recommendations to improve use of Voluntary Youth Services Agreements; Province to work with agencies to improve knowledge

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced a new systemic investigation into the Ministry of Education’s direct payment programs for parents and students, due to concerns about a lack of fairness and transparency.

Carl Bouchard’s first report calls on government to improve staff training and ensure bilingual social media accounts

After an extensive nationwide search to fill the position of French Language Services Commissioner on a permanent basis, Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced that he has appointed Carl Bouchard to the role.

Today is Ombuds Day, an annual, internationally observed opportunity to educate and raise awareness among the public about Ombudsman offices like ours – the roles we play, the services we offer, and most importantly, the value we provide.

Annual Report 2022-2023: Promoting rights and fairness for vulnerable youth, long-term care residents, inmates, landlords and tenants, Francophones and more

It is essential that as a province, and as a nation, we continue to recognize the tragic effects of residential schools on the Indigenous children who attended those schools, and on the survivors who continue to live with those experiences.

Ministry of Long-Term Care accepts all recommendations to improve preparedness for next crisis

This week, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé welcomed ombudsman colleagues from Canadian provinces and territories for the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman (CCPO), held at his office in downtown Toronto.

Paul Dubé: Severe backlogs and delays denied justice to landlords and tenants alike

Three agencies in northern and southern Ontario accept all 58 recommendations

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced a new investigation into the plight of adults with developmental disabilities who are inappropriately housed in hospital due to a lack of supports and services in the community.

All recommendations accepted after investigation finds boy’s voice was “unheard and unheeded” for years

Kelly Burke: More than 1,000 cases resolved since May 2019 –  “I am proud of the work we have accomplished”

Annual Report 2021-2022: Broader public sector, child welfare and landlord/tenant issues among top areas of concern

Investigation reveals “significant flaws” in secretive operation that left affected youths and Indigenous communities in the dark

Kelly Burke: University and two ministries must do more to ensure the French Language Services Act is respected

Equivalent service in French and a positive experience for Francophones often lacking in 2020-2021, Kelly Burke reports

Today is the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It is a day to remember and commemorate the thousands of Indigenous children who were taken away from their communities and forced to attend residential schools – and the many who never returned home.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé is joining his counterparts from across Canada in urging that provincial and territorial governments considering vaccine passports do so with fairness and caution.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today called on the Ministry of Health to improve its processes for investigating complaints about ambulance services, in a report that reveals a system that is complicated, overburdened, and wholly inadequate.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé has been named this year’s winner of the Ontario Bar Association’s Tom Marshall Award of Excellence for Public Sector Lawyers, honouring his contributions to public sector law in Ontario.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced that his office has launched an investigation into complaints related to the government’s abrupt closures of two youth justice centres in Kenora and Thunder Bay.

Kelly Burke's vision: "Equivalent service, without delay (s’il vous plaît)"

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced the promotion of Domonie Pierre to the position of Director, Special Ombudsman Response Team (SORT), effective September 14.

Releasing his latest Annual Report today, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé reflected on the stunning and ongoing challenges faced by the province’s public sector due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today launched an investigation into the oversight of long-term care homes by the province’s Ministry of Long-Term Care and Ministry of Health during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today stressed that his office continues to help Ontarians during the present state of emergency, and has responded to hundreds of public complaints related to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

In accordance with the guidance of public health authorities and the provincial government, the office locations of Ombudsman Ontario have been closed since March 16. Despite this, my staff and I continue to work from home during the provincial state of emergency and remain available to assist the people of Ontario.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today released the following statement regarding the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the province’s correctional facilities.

As I write this, Ontario is in an unprecedented state of emergency, due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Millions of people are working from home and practicing “social distancing” as frontline health care workers and public sector leaders work to contain the outbreak and ensure that tests and treatment are available for those who need them.

Speaking to colleagues from across Canada and around the world, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé this week welcomed new international standards that define, promote and protect the role of ombudsmen in strengthening democracy and promoting fundamental rights.

In the wake of a recent surge in complaints, Ombudsman Dubé today announced an investigation into serious delays at the LTB, the administrative tribunal that resolves residential tenancy disputes.

As we close 2019 and look ahead to a new decade, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the recent historic changes to the Ombudsman’s Office, and to discuss our priorities for 2020.

Regional council accepts all recommendations for reform

Final report will be published after response is received, per Ombudsman Act.

But open portion of first meeting was “illegally closed” to public.

Investigation reveals meeting and details that were never made public.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today reported on an historic year in which his office handled a 30% surge in complaints and saw its mandate expanded for the second time in four years.
 

Cases and investigations to be handled by two new specialized units.

New organizational chart, new funding for new responsibilities.

New oversight of French language services and child protection begins May 1.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today released the following statement in light of the release of Justice John Fregau’s decision to stay proceedings against Adam Capay, the 26-year-old man who spent more than four years in solitary confinement (segregation) awaiting trial in Thunder Bay and Kenora.

New units will handle oversight of child protection and French language services.

Open meeting guide and digital case digest reflect decade of reports

New legislation transfers jurisdiction over child protection system and French language services.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today confirmed that his office has received more than 1,000 complaints about the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) since it opened October 17. Most are from customers frustrated with delayed deliveries, billing problems and poor customer service.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today called on the Ministry of Transportation to overhaul the way it notifies drivers whose licences are suspended for unpaid fines – a process his investigation found to be unreasonable, unjust and wrong.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé has directed staff to assess new complaints and issues related to suicides and operational stress injuries among Ontario Provincial Police officers, to determine whether or not a follow-up investigation is warranted.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced he will conduct a formal investigation into matters related to the hiring of the Regional Municipality of Niagara’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today called on the Regional Municipality of Niagara to apologize publicly to a local journalist and a citizen blogger for seizing their property and ejecting them from a council meeting last December. The region’s actions were unreasonable, unjust, wrong and contrary to law, Mr. Dubé’s investigation found.
 

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today cited improvements in accountability and bureaucratic leadership in several public sector bodies as a measure of how independent offices like his can make public services better.

For the second straight year, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé is among the nominees for Canadian Lawyer magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced an investigation into how the province oversees patient complaints and incident reports about ambulance services.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today called on the Township of St. Clair to apologize to a resident for surprising her with a bill for $11,700.63 in by-law enforcement expenses that it had no legal authority to charge.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today welcomed a news release from the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, confirming it is taking steps to transform how police use force across the province, as he recommended in a 2016 report.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today flagged several gaps in the province’s proposed new policing legislation, warning that they could undermine its promise of stronger civilian oversight of police.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today welcomed new legislation that promises to incorporate many of his recommendations to reform correctional services in the province, particularly the placement and monitoring of inmates in solitary confinement -- officially known as segregation.

Ombudsman Paul Dubé’s second year in office was distinguished by our first-ever investigations in the broader public sector (related to municipalities and school boards), important reforms in correctional services and policing, and connecting with a wider range of stakeholders than ever before. Here’s our annual top 10 list of key developments in the past year.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today shared new resources to inform municipal councils and their constituents about changes to the open meeting rules that take effect on New Year’s Day.
 

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today informed the Regional Municipality of Niagara that he will conduct a formal investigation into an incident at a council meeting on December 7, when a journalist and a citizen blogger were reportedly asked to leave the premises and had their property seized.

The new package of policing legislation tabled by the government today is a welcome response to numerous recommendations my office has made to improve the oversight and accountability of policing in Ontario.

Toronto’s two largest school boards have taken steps to prevent another bus driver shortage this fall, after an investigation by Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé revealed their “actions and inactions” led to thousands of students being stranded as school began last September.

Greater oversight of public sector bodies will improve accountability and services to Ontarians, provided it is consistent and effective, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé notes today in his latest Annual Report, marking the first full year of his term and his office’s expanded mandate.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé is among the nominees for Canadian Lawyer magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada.

Barring a councillor from the local town hall for more than two years is “excessive and unjustly punitive,” Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé has found in his first investigation of a complaint about a municipality.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced an investigation into how the province communicates licence suspensions and reinstatements to drivers who were suspended for unpaid fines, in the wake of several complaints by drivers – some of whom had no idea their licences were invalid.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today called on the province to reform its flawed system of placing and tracking inmates in solitary confinement, after his latest investigation revealed numerous issues putting vulnerable people at risk.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé’s investigation into non-competitive procurements in the city of Brampton found no evidence of maladministration, but identified several ways the city could improve its practices.

It’s been a year of historic change for our office, as the Ombudsman’s mandate doubled and we were able to help Ontarians with a whole new range of issues in the broader public sector. Here are 10 of the key developments of the past year.

As the new year approaches, the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman is set to mark one year of oversight of municipalities and universities. Since the historic new jurisdiction took effect Jan. 1, the office has received some 3,176 public complaints and inquiries about municipalities, and 232 about universities.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced an investigation into how the province tracks and reviews the placement of inmates in solitary confinement in its correctional facilities, in light of serious issues raised in an increasing number of complaints.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today released the first annual report of his office’s new, expanded mandate, which was doubled in the past year to include more than 1,000 public sector organizations – provincial government bodies, municipalities, universities and school boards.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today released his submission to the province’s Independent Police Oversight Review, calling for new legislation to make police oversight bodies more effective, accountable and transparent.   

Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced his office will conduct a systemic investigation into recent school busing problems at the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board.

After hearing about problems with busing of students in the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board, Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé has directed staff to assess the issues to determine whether or not a systemic investigation is warranted.

As the new school year begins, the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman is marking one year of oversight of school boards, after receiving 701 complaints and inquiries in the first year of its new mandate.

Province accepts 60 recommendations to fix chronic service gaps.

Leadership long overdue in teaching alternatives to lethal force.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced an investigation into the city of Brampton’s procurement practices, focusing on the administration of its purchasing by-laws, policies and procedures regarding non-competitive procurements.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé confirmed today that he expects to release reports on two of his office’s in-depth systemic investigations in June and July, once required processes are complete.

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today urged the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to abolish the practice of placing inmates indefinitely in segregation and develop alternatives to protect the rights of the vulnerable.

New Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé took his oath of office today, beginning a five-year term as the province’s independent, impartial watchdog. Mr. Dubé is the province’s seventh Ombudsman since the office was established in 1975.

Mr. J. Paul Dubé of Ottawa has been appointed as Ontario’s seventh Ombudsman for a five-year term, to begin April 1, 2016. His appointment by an all-party committee of the Legislative Assembly was announced yesterday and approved by unanimous vote in the Legislature.

Beginning tomorrow – January 1, 2016 – the Ontario Ombudsman is officially able to take complaints about the province’s 444 municipalities and 21 publicly funded universities. This historic expansion of the Ombudsman’s mandate is the result of the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, which also extended the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to school boards on September 1, 2015.

A year-end Top 10 list is an annual tradition here at the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman. As we wrap up our milestone 40th year and welcome an historic expansion of our mandate on January 1, Acting Ombudsman Barbara Finlay has designed this list to help Ontarians get to know us better. Without further ado, here are her Top 10 Things To Know for 2016.​

A new era of local government accountability begins January 1 when the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman takes on full oversight of municipalities, Acting Ombudsman Barbara Finlay said today in releasing the Office’s latest report.

The Office of the Ontario Ombudsman has closed its last Hydro One case, as the utility no longer comes under the watchdog’s scrutiny, Acting Ombudsman Barbara Finlay announced today.

Milestone coincides with historic expansion of mandate - The Office of the Ontario Ombudsman today celebrates 40 years of helping citizens resolve issues with the provincial government. The occasion comes as the office embarks on an historic expansion of its mandate – something the first Ombudsman began calling for in 1975.

The Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario today publicly released its submission to the government on the subject of police street checks. The submission was made in August as part of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ public consultation on the practice often known as “carding.”

Barbara Finlay has been named acting Ombudsman of Ontario, pending the Legislative Assembly’s selection process to fill the position permanently. Ms. Finlay has served with the Ontario Ombudsman’s office since 2005 as Deputy Ombudsman and Director of Operations. She has previously worked as Director General of Operations for the National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman, and as an Assistant Crown Attorney and part-time law professor.

One week after new legislation enabling the Ontario Ombudsman to take complaints about school boards took effect, 50 people have complained about a diverse range of issues – a number expected to grow as Ontario children return to school today.

Beginning tomorrow, September 1, the Ontario Ombudsman is officially able to take complaints about the province’s 82 school boards. The historic new expansion of the Ombudsman’s mandate was granted with the passage of Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today released his tenth annual report, marking the end of an historic year – and decade – that saw the largest investigation in the history of the office, the enactment of legislation extending the Ombudsman’s mandate to municipalities, school boards and universities, and an 86% increase in complaints received since 2009-2010.

As of June 4, 2015, the Ombudsman no longer has oversight of Hydro One. This oversight was removed in the passage of the Building Ontario Up Act (Budget Measures) 2015. If you have a new complaint about Hydro One, please refer to these options.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today reminded customers of Hydro One that his office is no longer able to take complaints about the utility, now that royal assent has been given to Bill 91, the Building Ontario Up Act (Budget Measures) 2015.

Egregious billing, customer service problems; Utility “lost sight of its public interest purpose”.

Ombudsman André Marin today called on Hydro One to overhaul its corporate culture to focus on customers and transparency, and urged the government to preserve independent oversight of the utility in the public interest.

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.

Ontario’s Independent Officers of the Legislative Assembly are calling on the provincial government to reverse plans in the Budget Bill that they believe will significantly reduce important oversight powers.

Investigation update: 4,075 cases resolved as systemic probe continues.

After seven years of “patchwork” enforcement and widespread confusion about the rules requiring them to hold open meetings, there is good news for Ontario municipalities and the citizens seeking to hold them accountable, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin says today in his latest report.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today called on the province to take urgent action to protect children in unlicensed daycares, after his latest investigation revealed systemic government ineptitude that has put them at risk for years.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today urged the province to ensure safer roads by fixing numerous flaws in its systems for monitoring drivers with potentially dangerous medical conditions.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today announced he has appointed two prominent former police chiefs as special advisors to his ongoing investigation into the direction provided by the province to police for de-escalating conflict situations.

In his latest report, released on June 11, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin revealed systemic problems with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ treatment of the use of excessive force in correctional institutions, which he said are troubled by a pervasive “code of silence” that has been festering for years.
 

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today called on the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to crack the pervasive “code of silence” under which some guards in the province’s correctional institutions use excessive force against inmates and conspire to cover it up.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today called on the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to take concrete action to support police officers across the province who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide and other forms of operational stress injuries.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today renewed his call for effective legislation to support the province’s police watchdog, after his latest investigation found the responsible ministry has actively undermined it.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today thanked the Ministries of Transportation and Health and Long-Term Care for acting on his recommendations and committing to regulate the industry that handles non-emergency transportation of hundreds of thousands of patients every year.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today suspended his investigation into the province’s limited funding of Herceptin, after the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care decided it would fund the drug for patients with breast cancer tumours of one centimetre in diameter or less.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today released information on 112 complaints received by his Office about police conduct during the June 2010 G20 summit in Toronto. The information, requested by the Ontario Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) in the course of its ongoing investigations, was also tabled in the Legislature and posted on the Ombudsman’s website.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today issued a brief additional statement about his special report Caught in the Act.  The statement addresses issues and questions surrounding the use of police powers granted by the province’s enactment of Regulation 233/10 under the Public Works Protection Act.

The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services quietly promoted the use of a likely illegal regulation to grant police “extravagant” powers on the eve of the G20 summit, Ontario Ombudsman André Marin says in his latest report, released today.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today released the results of his latest special investigation, calling on the province to improve the accountability and transparency of Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) across the province.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today welcomed the province’s announcement that it will uncap the funding of Avastin for colorectal cancer patients.  Mr. Marin recommended that the “absurd and indefensible” cap be lifted two months ago in his report, A Vast Injustice.

Yesterday, I issued A Vast Injustice, a report on my investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s decision-making concerning the funding of Avastin for colorectal cancer patients.  The basic premise of my report is that although the Ministry is entitled to consider cost in deciding whether to fund a cancer drug such as Avastin, any limit on the duration of funding should be supported by sound medical evidence.

The Ontario government’s funding cutoff for patients taking the cancer drug Avastin is unreasonable, wrong and “verges on cruelty,” Ontario Ombudsman André Marin’s latest investigation has found.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today issued a strong back-to-school warning to the provincial government to keep a closer eye on colleges, to ensure students are getting the education they pay for.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today  urged the province’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to get tougher on unscrupulous private career colleges.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin has found a city of Oshawa committee met inappropriately behind closed doors with a private business in a “lobbying” session that was supposed to be for “education and training” purposes only.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today tabled a report signalling to municipalities that they must respect the law when they engage the services of his office.

Ombudsman investigation finds culture of complacency at SIU.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today called on the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services to clarify its relationship with Tarion Warranty Corp. in its communications with new homeowners and the general public.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today called on the province to change the law to prevent further legal aid fiascos like the Richard Wills murder case.

Traumatized children of Ontario soldiers serving in Afghanistan will get the mental health services they need in the wake of the latest investigation by Ombudsman André Marin.

Ontario Ombudsman André Marin today called on the provincial government to regulate its lottery system as it does other gaming activities, in the wake of his office’s special investigation into the problem of “insider” theft and fraud involving Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation ticket retailers.

Ontario’s compensation system for crime victims is hurting the very people it is supposed to help, Ombudsman André Marin says in his report released today, Adding Insult to Injury.

In his most recent report titled, “It's All in the Name,” Ontario’s Ombudsman André Marin found that the Ontario Family Responsibility Office needs to accept greater responsibility for ensuring that the rights of Ontario’s Families are protected in the enforcement of support orders.

Ontario’s disabled have lost out on disability benefits to the tune of at least $6 million, as a result of delays in processing their applications for support by the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ Ontario Disability Support Program and the impact of a provincial regulation, which limited retroactive benefit payments to four months.

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is experiencing a crisis of credibility and must take real and concrete steps to improve public confidence in the assessment system, Ombudsman André Marin said at a press conference announcing the release of his report on the investigation into the transparency of the property assessment process and the integrity and efficiency of decision-making at MPAC.

Bureaucratic obfuscation, errors, excuses and omissions are just some of the criticisms Ombudsman André Marin leveled at officials at the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in his report titled, "From Hope to Despair".

The Ombudsman of Ontario, André Marin, announced the launch of a new special Ombudsman response team and its first major investigation at a press conference held earlier today.