A college student in an online learning program sought our help after he lost access to one of his courses. He complained that there wasn’t sufficient warning that there was a time limit to complete the course. The college pointed to its fine print, which explained the time limit, and told the …
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A college student in an online learning program sought our help after he lost access to one of his courses.
/en/our-work/case-stories/time-reconsider
Home security
Issues: Group home; Rights (Good care); Rights (Safety) A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home. When we contacted staff at the responsible agency, they …
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A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home.
/en/our-work/case-stories/home-security
Opening doors
Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care); Rights (Fairness) A youth who was turning 18 called us for help when plans for her to enter a transitional housing program and complete her final semester of high school fell through. She could not reach her CAS worker, who had gone on a sudden …
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A youth who was turning 18 called us for help when plans for her to enter a transitional housing program and complete her final semester of high school fell through.
/en/our-work/case-stories/opening-doors
Far from home
Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Fairness) After he suffered a traumatic brain injury, an eight-year-old boy in the care of a northern children’s aid society (CAS) was airlifted from his home community to a rehabilitation hospital in southern Ontario. Hospital staff called us when he was …
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After he suffered a traumatic brain injury, an eight-year-old boy in the care of a northern children’s aid society (CAS) was airlifted from his home community to a rehabilitation hospital in southern Ontario.
/en/our-work/case-stories/far-home
Watchful help
Issues: Children’s aid society; Group home; Rights (Safety) A mother contacted our Children and Youth Unit because she was concerned that her son might have been hurt by a staff member in a group home. We reached out to the teenager immediately, and also relayed the mother’s concerns to her son’s …
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A mother contacted our Children and Youth Unit because she was concerned that her son might have been hurt by a staff member in a group home.
/en/our-work/case-stories/watchful-help
Submission regarding the Five Year Review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017
Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding the Five Year Review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 Paul Dubé Ombudsman of Ontario July 2023 Overview Every five years, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is required to formally …
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Every five years, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services is required to formally review the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 (the CYFSA) and to report publicly on the review’s findings.
Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA); Rights (Good care) The Office of the Children’s Lawyer contacted us on behalf of a 17-year-old who was trying to get the cost of braces for her teeth covered by her children’s aid society (CAS). The youth had a Voluntary …
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The Office of the Children’s Lawyer contacted us on behalf of a 17-year-old who was trying to get the cost of braces for her teeth covered by her children’s aid society (CAS).
/en/our-work/case-stories/bringing-smile
Missing in Inaction: Misty’s Story
O N TA R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G 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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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”
Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care) A 13-year-old in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS) contacted us when he didn’t hear back from his CAS about making arrangements to see his mother. The youth had regular weekly visits scheduled with his mother at his grandmother’s house, …
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A 13-year-old in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS) contacted us when he didn’t hear back from his CAS about making arrangements to see his mother.
/en/our-work/case-stories/uninterrupted-visits
A Voice Unheard: Brandon’s Story
O N TA R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G 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 OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario December …
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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
Issue: Group home A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home. When we contacted staff at the responsible agency, they confirmed another resident had been …
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A 16-year-old complained that staff at his group home weren’t helpful to him after his personal belongings, including a laptop, were stolen or damaged by other youths living in the home.
/en/our-work/case-stories/secure-resolution
Please remain seated
A man studying online for his real estate certification complained to us after he was accused of leaving his seat during a virtual exam and then locked out of the program. He insisted that he had never left his seat, and that a glitch in the virtual proctoring technology had mistakenly identified …
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A man studying online for his real estate certification complained to us after he was accused of leaving his seat during a virtual exam and then locked out of the program.
/en/our-work/case-stories/please-remain-seated
Conversion confusion
A man who had accidentally submitted incorrect information to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) sought our help when OSAP converted his $32,000 grant to a loan. He told us that because of the mistake, OSAP had concluded that his wife was employed, when in fact she lived in Afghanistan …
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A man who had accidentally submitted incorrect information to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) sought our help when OSAP converted his $32,000 grant to a loan.
/en/our-work/case-stories/conversion-confusion
Vaccination pass
A university student who was exclusively enrolled in online courses and as an online teaching assistant complained to us that he was “unenrolled” because he did not provide proof that he had received the COVID-19 vaccine. He complained that there was no clear appeal process, and no distinction was …
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A university student who was exclusively enrolled in online courses and as an online teaching assistant complained to us that he was “unenrolled” because he did not provide proof that he had received the COVID-19 vaccine.
/en/our-work/case-stories/vaccination-pass
Timely help
Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) A concerned adult contacted our Office on behalf of a youth who was denied a This link opens in a new tab Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) by a children’s aid society (CAS). VYSAs are available to 16- and …
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A concerned adult contacted our Office on behalf of a youth who was denied a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) by a children’s aid society (CAS). VYSAs are available to 16- and 17-year-olds who have left home because of concerns about their safety, and who are in need of child protection services.
/en/our-work/case-stories/timely-help
ID help
Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Get help) A 14-year-old needed our help getting identification documents to register for school and access health care, after he was removed from his home by a children’s aid society (CAS) over safety concerns. The youth looked to his CAS worker for support …
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A 14-year-old youth needed our help getting identification documents to register for school and access health care, after he was removed from his home by a children’s aid society (CAS) over safety concerns.
/en/our-work/case-stories/id-help
Lost Opportunities
O N TA R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G 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 OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, …
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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.
/en/our-work/investigations/lost-opportunities
Strengthening the Designation: A Collaborative Effort
O N TA R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G 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 …
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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
Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care); Rights (Get help) A youth sought our help with retrieving belongings she had left behind at her family home after experiencing physical abuse at the hands of her stepfather. She told us that she didn’t feel safe returning there without the support …
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A youth sought our help with retrieving belongings she had left behind at her family home after experiencing physical abuse at the hands of her stepfather.
/en/our-work/case-stories/helping-hand
Refusal reversed
Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA); Rights (Get help) A 16-year-old complained to us that her children’s aid society (CAS) had refused to allow her to enter into a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) after she had left her home due to the abusive …
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A 16-year-old complained to us that her children’s aid society (CAS) had refused to allow her to enter into a Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA) after she had left her home due to the abusive behaviour of her aunt.
