Reports on Investigations

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July 12, 2024

12 July 2024

Missed Messages

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontarians turned to the provincial government for important information on protecting their health and that of their families and communities.

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April 29, 2024

29 April 2024

Rights Unrecognized: Mia’s Story

In the fall of 2019, 16-year-old “Mia” had at least two critical concerns: Finding somewhere to sleep from one day to the next and a way to finish high school.

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September 7, 2023

7 September 2023

Lessons for the Long Term

Investigation into the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s oversight of long-term care homes through inspection and enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic

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May 4, 2023

4 May 2023

Administrative Justice Delayed, Fairness Denied

Investigation into whether the Ministry of the Attorney General, Tribunals Ontario and the Landlord and Tenant Board are taking adequate steps to address delays and case backlogs at the Landlord and Tenant Board

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April 13, 2023

13 April 2023

Missing in Inaction: Misty’s Story

Investigation into the adequacy of measures undertaken by Johnson Children’s Services Inc., Anishinaabe Abinoojii Family Services, and a Southwestern Ontario children’s aid society to ensure the safety of “Misty”

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December 19, 2022

19 December 2022

A Voice Unheard: Brandon’s Story

Investigation into the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto’s response to child protection concerns involving “Brandon” between December 31, 2015 and October 26, 2018

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April 26, 2022

26 April 2022

Lost Opportunities

Investigation into the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ implementation of the decision to close custody and detention programs at Creighton Youth Centre and J.J. Kelso Youth Centre.

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March 31, 2022

31 March 2022

Strengthening the Designation: A Collaborative Effort

Investigation into Laurentian University’s cuts to French-language programming during restructuring and into the administration of the university’s designation by the Ministry of Francophone Affairs and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities

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May 20, 2021

20 May 2021

Oversight 911

Investigation into how the Ministry of Health oversees patient complaints and incident reports about ambulance services

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November 29, 2019

29 November 2019

Inside Job

Investigation into matters relating to the Regional Municipality of Niagara’s hiring of its Chief Administrative Officer, and its administration of his contract

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July 17, 2019

17 July 2019

Lessons Not Learned

Transparency of Near North District School Board’s decision to close Widdifield Secondary School after the 2016-2017 Pupil Accommodation Review process.

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September 27, 2018

27 September 2018

Suspended State

Investigation into the adequacy and effectiveness of the Ministry of Transportation’s notifications and communications with drivers about licence suspensions and reinstatements.

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July 18, 2018

18 July 2018

Press Pause

Investigation into a meeting of council for the Regional Municipality of Niagara on December 7, 2017. 

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April 11, 2018

11 April 2018

By-law Surprise

Investigation into the reasonableness and transparency of by-law enforcement and billing practices in the Township of St. Clair and the County of Lambton.
 

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August 21, 2017

21 August 2017

Public Notice

Investigation into a complaint about the Elliot Lake Residential Development Commission.

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August 10, 2017

10 August 2017

The Route of the Problem

Investigation into the Toronto District and Toronto Catholic District school boards’ oversight of student transportation and their response to delays and disruptions at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

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May 31, 2017

31 May 2017

Counter Encounter

Investigation into a complaint about the Township of Red Rock.

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April 20, 2017

20 April 2017

Out of Oversight, Out of Mind

Investigation into how the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services tracks the admission and placement of segregated inmates, and the adequacy and effectiveness of the review process for such placements.

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March 6, 2017

6 March 2017

Procuring Progress

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.

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August 24, 2016

24 August 2016

Nowhere to Turn

Investigation into the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ response to situations of crisis involving adults with developmental disabilities.

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June 16, 2016

16 June 2016

A Matter of Life and Death

Investigation into the direction provided by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to Ontario’s police services for de-escalation of conflict situations.

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May 25, 2015

25 May 2015

In the Dark

Investigation into the transparency of Hydro One’s billing practices and the timeliness and effectiveness of its process for responding to customer concerns.

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October 22, 2014

22 October 2014

Careless About Child Care

Investigation into how the Ministry of Education responds to complaints and concerns relating to unlicensed daycare providers.

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April 30, 2014

30 April 2014

Better Safe Than Sorry

Investigation into how the Ministry of Transportation administers the process for obtaining and assessing information about drivers who may have uncontrolled hypoglycemia.

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June 11, 2013

11 June 2013

The Code

Investigation into the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ response to allegations of excessive use of force against inmates.

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October 24, 2012

24 October 2012

In the Line of Duty

Investigation into how the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services have addressed operational stress injuries affecting police officers.

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December 14, 2011

14 December 2011

Oversight Undermined

Investigation into the Ministry of the Attorney General’s implementation of recommendations concerning reform of the Special Investigations Unit.

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June 10, 2011

10 June 2011

Non-emergency medical transportation services

Investigation into complaints about patient safety, infection control and other issues involving the vehicles that transport non-emergency patients, focusing on whether adequate measures are in place to protect the public.

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May 12, 2011

12 May 2011

Limited funding of Herceptin

Investigation into the province’s limited funding of Herceptin.

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December 21, 2010

21 December 2010

Long-term care

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care incorporated the Ombudsman’s suggestions in its ongoing upgrade of its monitoring of long-term care facilities after he identified serious systemic problems. Since the Ministry’s efforts are “a work in progress,” in lieu of a report, the Ombudsman released a summary of his findings and the Ministry’s responses to date.

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December 7, 2010

7 December 2010

Caught in the Act

Investigation into the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ conduct in relation to Ontario Regulation 233/10 under the Public Works Protection Act.

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August 10, 2010

10 August 2010

The LHIN Spin

Investigation into the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network’s use of community engagement in its decision-making process.

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June 15, 2010

15 June 2010

Dental implants

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care agreed to fund dental implants for a 55-year-old cancer patient who required extensive reconstructive facial surgery.  The Ministry also acknowledged that there may be others in such exceptional circumstances and undertook to address the gap in the system to allow them access to funding for dental implants.

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June 8, 2010

8 June 2010

Coroner’s inquest delays

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario sped up its process, improved its practices and addressed a backlog of cases after the Ombudsman launched an investigation in 2008 into complaints that mandatory inquests were not being held within a reasonable time frame.  Based on this result, the Ombudsman determined no further investigation was warranted, but continues to monitor the issue.

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September 30, 2009

30 September 2009

A Vast Injustice

Investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s decision-making concerning the funding of Avastin for colorectal cancer patients.

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August 25, 2009

25 August 2009

Too Cool For School Too

Investigation into Cambrian College’s administration of its Health Information Management Program and the oversight provided by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

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July 23, 2009

23 July 2009

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) program

Investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s administration of the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) program.

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July 14, 2009

14 July 2009

Too Cool For School

Investigation into the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ oversight of Bestech Academy Inc. and enforcement of the Private Career Colleges Act.

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April 27, 2009

27 April 2009

Pirating Our Property

Investigation into the City of Oshawa's apparent failure to co-operate.

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March 23, 2009

23 March 2009

The ABCs of Education and Training

Investigation into the City of Oshawa, Development Services Committee special meeting of May 22, 2008.

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September 30, 2008

30 September 2008

Oversight Unseen

Investigation into the Special Investigations Unit's operational effectiveness and credibility.

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June 26, 2008

26 June 2008

A Test of Wills

Investigation into Legal Aid Ontario’s role in the funding of the criminal defence of Richard Wills.

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June 3, 2008

3 June 2008

Building Clarity

Investigation into how the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services represents its relationship with Tarion Warranty Corp. to the public.

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November 1, 2007

1 November 2007

Assistive Devices: Life and Breath

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care agreed to fund the home use of oxygen saturation monitors for children with life-threatening respiratory conditions, and to review the entire Assistive Devices Program.

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April 13, 2007

13 April 2007

Mental health services for military Children: Collateral Damage

The province created a $2-million emergency fund for children’s mental health services and the federal government committed $100,000 to help traumatized children of Ontario-based Canadian Forces personnel serving in Afghanistan.

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March 26, 2007

26 March 2007

A Game of Trust

Investigation into the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s protection of the public from fraud and theft.

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February 27, 2007

27 February 2007

Adding Insult to Injury

Investigation into the treatment of victims by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

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September 1, 2006

1 September 2006

OHIP: The Difference a Few Days Make

Coverage was granted to a 94-year-old man who moved back to Ontario from the U.S. and broke his hip 38 days before his Ontario health insurance eligibility was to take effect.

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August 9, 2006

9 August 2006

It's All in the Name

Investigation into the complaint of the Family Responsibility Office's ineffective enforcement using a writ of seizure and sale.

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July 20, 2006

20 July 2006

Out-of-country cancer care: The Out-of-Country Conundrum

The Ministry of Health overhauled its out-of-country care program and paid $75,000 to a chemotherapy patient who was wrongly denied coverage.

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May 31, 2006

31 May 2006

Losing the Waiting Game

Investigation into unreasonable delay at the Ministry of Community and Social Services' Ontario Disability Support Program's Disability Adjudication Unit.

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May 1, 2006

1 May 2006

Testicular implants for boys: A Medical Necessity

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term care restored funding for testicular prosthesis surgery for boys under 18.

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March 28, 2006

28 March 2006

Getting it Right

Investigation into the transparency of the property assessment process and the integrity and efficiency of decision-making at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

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September 27, 2005

27 September 2005

The Right To Be Impatient

Investigation into whether the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has failed to properly administer newborn screening in Ontario.

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September 1, 2005

1 September 2005

From Hope to Despair

Investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's refusal to fund the drug Cystagon for treatment of Batten's Disease.

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September 1, 2005

1 September 2005

Registrar General delays: Faster Service Guaranteed

SORT’s probe of complaints of delays in processing of registrations of births, deaths marriages and name changes found an improvements since the previous Ombudsman’s investigation in 2004. In 2007, the government announced guaranteed 15-day service for post-1991 events.

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May 20, 2005

20 May 2005

Between A Rock and A Hard Place

Investigation into parents forced to place their children with severe disabilities in the custody of Children’s Aid Societies to obtain necessary care.

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