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January 15, 2016

How do we help the first responders who endure trauma when helping us? (The Globe and Mail)

Late one night in the summer of 2014, Bill Rusk, a police sergeant in Owen Sound, Ont., was crouched on the roof of a downtown store, watching the window of a second-floor apartment in the building...
December 31, 2015

Ombudsman begins taking complaints about Ontario municipalities and universities on New Year’s Day

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...
December 31, 2015

The Ontario Ombudsman’s Top 10 Things to Know for 2016

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...
December 16, 2015

Ombudsman reports progress in municipal transparency, encourages local accountability officers

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...
December 4, 2015

Ombudsman closes last Hydro One case – oversight ends today

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.
October 30, 2015

Ombudsman’s office marks 40 years of helping citizens, improving governance

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...
September 24, 2015

Ombudsman’s office releases submission on carding

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...
September 16, 2015

Acting Ombudsman of Ontario named

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...
September 8, 2015

Ombudsman receives 50 complaints about school boards in first week of mandate; increase expected as classes begin

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...
August 31, 2015

Ombudsman begins taking complaints about school boards September 1

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...
July 28, 2015

Ombudsman marks decade of progress in 2014-2015 Annual Report

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...
June 5, 2015

Information for new Hydro One complainants

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...
June 4, 2015

Ombudsman no longer able to take Hydro One complaints

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...
May 25, 2015

Ombudsman urges corporate culture overhaul, ongoing oversight of Hydro One

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...
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...