Media releases

May 21, 2015

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...
May 14, 2015

Statement from Ontario's Independent Legislative Officers

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...
March 11, 2015

Ombudsman receives 10,000+ complaints about Hydro One, urges utility to stop “cruel, deceitful” threats to customers

Investigation update: 4,075 cases resolved as systemic probe continues.
January 27, 2015

Brighter days ahead for municipal accountability: Ombudsman

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...
October 22, 2014

Ontario Ombudsman finds children at risk in poorly monitored unlicensed daycares

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...
April 30, 2014

Improve monitoring of potentially unsafe drivers: Ombudsman. Province agrees to 19 recommendations to deal with medical conditions

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.
November 5, 2013

Ombudsman appoints former police chiefs as advisors to de-escalation investigation

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...
June 20, 2013

Ontario correctional officers should see report as a chance to improve working conditions: Ombudsman

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...
June 11, 2013

Ontario must crack “code of silence” among correctional officers involved in use of excessive force: Ombudsman

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...
October 24, 2012

Ontario and OPP failing to support police officers affected by operational stress injuries: Ombudsman

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...
December 14, 2011

Government failing to support police watchdog: Ombudsman

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...
June 10, 2011

Ombudsman welcomes regulation of non-emergency medical transfers

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...
May 12, 2011

Herceptin coverage extended – Ombudsman suspends investigation

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...
February 23, 2011

Ombudsman releases information on G20-related police complaints

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...
December 21, 2010

Ombudsman finds delays, inconsistencies and lack of transparency in monitoring of long-term care homes

Ministry effort to address problems “a work in progress”.
December 9, 2010

Ontario Ombudsman statement on G20 arrests and detentions

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...
December 7, 2010

Ombudsman finds G20 regulation of “dubious legality”; Citizens unfairly trapped by secret expansion of police powers

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...
August 10, 2010

Ombudsman finds Hamilton-Niagara region LHIN’s “clandestine” meetings illegal; urges province to increase transparency of all LHINs

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...
November 29, 2009

Ontario uncaps Avastin funding in wake of Ombudsman probe

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...
October 1, 2009

Statement by Ontario Ombudsman André Marin on Avastin funding

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...
September 30, 2009

Ministry decision to restrict cancer drug “verges on cruelty” - Ombudsman finds cap on Avastin funding unreasonable and wrong

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.