A man who needed to renew his Ontario Security Guard licence for work contacted our Office for help in speeding up the process with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services. He had been waiting for three months and his existing licence had expired, which threatened to affect his …
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A man who needed to renew his Ontario Security Guard licence for work contacted our Office for help in speeding up the process with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
Fire protection
A man whose home and important documents were destroyed by fire complained that he was having trouble renewing his Ontario health card. He had been given a temporary card, but it was due to expire soon, and he needed a quick resolution because he suffers from seizures and requires frequent medical …
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A man whose home and important documents were destroyed by fire complained that he was having trouble renewing his Ontario health card.
Finding compassion
A woman complained to our Office on behalf of her 34-year-old daughter, who requires a specially-made drug at a cost of $200 per month. The drug is not covered by the Ontario Drug Benefit Program and her cardiologist’s request under the Exceptional Access Program was denied. After our Office …
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A woman complained to our Office on behalf of her 34-year-old daughter, who requires a specially-made drug at a cost of $200 per month.
Name changer
In 2001, after years of using his stepfather’s surname, a man decided to revert to his original birth surname. He was issued a short-form Ontario birth certificate reflecting the change. But 12 years later, when he requested a long-form version, it still showed the stepfather’s surname – and …
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In 2001, after years of using his stepfather’s surname, a man decided to revert to his original birth surname. He was issued a short-form Ontario birth certificate reflecting the change.
Identity issue
A woman who had surrendered her driver’s licence for medical reasons complained to us that she was having trouble obtaining a photo identification card from ServiceOntario. She had presented her expired Canadian passport as documentation to obtain the new card, but was told it wasn’t acceptable. We …
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A woman who had surrendered her driver’s licence for medical reasons complained to us that she was having trouble obtaining a photo identification card from ServiceOntario.
Got him covered
A man who had lost all of his identification a few years earlier sought our help because he was unable to get health coverage through OHIP. Ombudsman staff made inquiries with OHIP about how he could prove he was an Ontario resident. OHIP was able to verify that he was a permanent resident through …
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A man who had lost all of his identification a few years earlier sought our help because he was unable to get health coverage through OHIP.
Delay headache
A woman whose migraine medication is covered through the Exceptional Access Program contacted us because she was worried about how long it was taking the program to approve a renewal of her prescription. She feared she would run out of medication before a new supply was approved. Our staff …
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A woman whose migraine medication is covered through the Exceptional Access Program contacted us because she was worried about how long it was taking the program to approve a renewal of her prescription.
From Hope to Despair
From OMBUDSMAN REPORT A N D R É M A R I N | O M B U D S M A N O F O N T A R I O | A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 Whether the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s refusal to fund the drug Cystagon for treatment of Batten’s Disease is unreasonable and unfair. to …
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Investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's refusal to fund the drug Cystagon for treatment of Batten's Disease.
The LHIN Spin
Investigation into the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network’s use of community engagement in its decision-making process. OMBUDSMAN REPORT André Marin, Ombudsman of Ontario • July 2010 The LHIN Spin …
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Investigation into the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network’s use of community engagement in its decision-making process.
Limited funding of Herceptin
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care agreed to fund Herceptin for patients with breast cancer tumours of one centimetre in diameter or less. The Ombudsman suspended his investigation in May 2011, but he continues to monitor complaints and developments on the issue. Case update - Annual report …
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Investigation into the province’s limited funding of Herceptin.
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. In June 2011, the ministries of Transportation and Health and Long-Term Care …
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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.
Long-term care inspections system was overwhelmed by first wave of COVID-19, ombudsman finds (Toronto Star)
Kristin Rushowy, Queen's Park Bureau This link opens in a new tab Toronto Star September 7, 2023 With winter on the horizon and an expected uptick in COVID-19 cases, it’s time for the government to ensure inspections and other improved safety measures are in place for long-term care homes in the …
Living conditions ‘like hell’: Ontario Ombudsman reports on pandemic LTC inspection failures (The Trillium)
Jessica Smith Cross This link opens in a new tab The Trillium September 7, 2023 At the height of the first wave, a staff person at the Orchard Villa long-term care home reported to a provincial government inspector that “there is no staff to feed and care for residents, and that living …
Ontario ombudsman urges stronger enforcement of LTC rules (Global News)
Allison Jones The Canadian Press September 7, 2023 Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care needs to ensure in-person inspections of nursing homes can take place in a future pandemic and that inspectors can immediately act when residents are at risk of ongoing serious harm, the province’s ombudsman …
Ontario's LTC inspection system fell apart during 1st COVID-19 wave: report (CBC)
Adam Carter This link opens in a new tab CBC News September 7, 2023 Ontario's long-term care inspection system was totally overwhelmed during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ministry overseeing care homes was caught unprepared and unable to ensure the safety of residents and staff, …
Ontario government oversight of long-term care homes 'largely collapsed' during pandemic, ombudsman finds (CTV News)
Codi Wilson This link opens in a new tab CTV News September 7, 2023 The Ministry of Long-Term Care’s oversight mechanisms “largely collapsed” when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with on-site inspections of long-term care homes grinding to a halt for nearly two months during the first wave of the …
Long-term care inspection system collapsed during deadly first weeks of COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario Ombudsman finds
(TORONTO – September 7, 2023) Ombudsman Paul Dubé today called for an overhaul of Ontario’s long-term care inspection system, after his latest investigation found it was completely overwhelmed during the first wave of COVID-19. There were no inspections of long-term care homes for seven weeks in …
Ombudsman to investigate cases of people with developmental disabilities who are inappropriately housed in hospitals
(TORONTO – March 27, 2023) 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. The Ombudsman informed the Ministry of Children, …
Ombudsman to investigate province’s handling of ambulance service complaints
TORONTO (May 1, 2018) – Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced an investigation into how the province oversees patient complaints and incident reports about ambulance services. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Emergency Health Regulatory and Accountability Branch, which oversees …
Province must act immediately to support people with developmental disabilities: Editorial (Toronto Star)
Toronto Star Aug. 24, 2016 Ontario doesn’t house people with developmental disabilities in dedicated institutions anymore — and in 2013 the province rightly apologized for doing so in the past. But as a disturbing new report from Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé points out , in some ways things haven't …
