André Marin:

The Ombudsman

André Marin became Ombudsman of Ontario in 2005 and was appointed to a second five-year term in 2010. He is the province’s sixth Ombudsman since the office was established in 1975, and the first to be reappointed. Since his appointment, he has reorganized the office and refocused its resources on high-profile, systemic investigations into issues affecting millions of Ontarians, from newborn babies to property taxpayers to lottery players, through the creation of the Special Ombudsman Response Team (SORT). 

Along with responding to more than 18,500 individual complaints a year, the office conducts systemic investigations using SORT, resulting in dramatic government reforms. The Ombudsman's recommendations to date have been overwhelmingly accepted by the  government. 

Mr. Marin’s pioneering work in conducting systemic administrative investigations has drawn the interest of the global ombudsman community. Through the “Sharpening Your Teeth” training course he developed in 2007, he has also shared his expertise in conducting systemic investigations with ombudsmen and administrative watchdogs around the world. From May 2007 to May 2009, he also served as president of the Forum of Canadian Ombudsman, representing public and private ombudsmen across the country. He also served as the North American Regional Vice-President of the International Ombudsman Institute from  July 2006 to November 2012.

In 2012, Mr. Marin was awarded the Canadian Bar Association's John Tait Award of Excellence, a national award which recognized that his “unwavering commitment to public service, his advocacy skills and legal acumen distinguish him as an outstanding legal professional,” according to CBA President Trinda L. Ernst. He was also named as an inductee for the 2012 class of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law’s Common Law Honour Society. As well, in 2012, Mr. Marin was honoured with the Ontario Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his exceptional career achievements and contributions to the practice of law in Ontario, and presented with the Achievement in Oversight Award from the U.S.-based National Association for Civilian Oversight in Law Enforcement. In 2011, he was awarded the Order of Merit by the Civil Law Section of the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law. This honour is the Civil Law Section’s highest distinction, recognizing alumni who have made remarkable contributions to the legal profession and demonstrated exceptional community and social engagement. He was also celebrated the same year by the Carleton University Alumni Association, receiving their highest alumni honour, the A.D. Dunton Alumni Award of Distinction, for his contributions to law and public service in Canada. In 2009, Mr. Marin received the Ontario Bar Association’s Tom Marshall Award of Excellence for his outstanding contribution to the practice of public sector law in Ontario.

Prior to his appointment as Ombudsman of Ontario, Mr. Marin served as Canada’s first Ombudsman for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. His work led to resolving systemic problems as he made recommendations to ensure accountability, transparency and the integration of ethics into Canada’s military. Before becoming the military Ombudsman, Mr. Marin was Director of the province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) from 1996 to 1998. Prior to 1996, Mr. Marin was an Assistant Crown Attorney.

Mr. Marin is a Magna Cum Laude with First Class Honours graduate of the University of Ottawa law school’s National Program. He obtained his LL.L. in 1988 and his J.D. in 1989. Prior to receiving his law degree, he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Carleton University (Ottawa).