O N TA R I O Rights Unrecognized: Mia’s Story Investigation into the adequacy of services provided by York Region Children’s Aid Society to “Mia” OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario April 2024 O N TA R I O 1-800-263-1830 www.ombudsman.on.ca Rights Unrecognized: Mia’s Story DIRECTOR, …
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Investigation into the adequacy of services provided by York Region Children’s Aid Society to “Mia”.
Submission to the Ministry regarding searches of staff, visitors and young persons at youth justice facilities
Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding searches of staff, visitors and young persons at youth justice facilities Paul Dubé Ombudsman of Ontario March 2024 Overview The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has requested input on proposed …
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The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has requested input on proposed regulatory amendments to Ontario Regulation 155/18 under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, which would outline additional provisions for searches of staff, visitors and young persons on the premises of youth justice facilities.
When a conservation authority approved a permit to fill regulated flood plains, we received several complaints from local residents concerned about the negative effects on the environment. Officials at the conservation authority told us the permit was unprecedented, but found no grounds to deny the …
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When a conservation authority approved a permit to fill regulated flood plains, we received several complaints from local residents concerned about the negative effects on the environment.
/en/our-work/case-stories/flood-concern
A grey area
An environmental group complained to us when they didn’t hear back from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry about their concerns related to a development project’s unregulated grey water and natural septic systems. They were worried the development would affect a nearby lake, as well as …
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An environmental group complained to us when they didn’t hear back from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry about their concerns related to a development project’s unregulated grey water and natural septic systems.
/en/our-work/case-stories/grey-area
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
Errant pass
A woman sought our help after she purchased an annual Ontario Parks pass by mistake – she had meant to buy a Parks Canada pass (for national parks) instead. Her request for a refund was initially turned down but after we put her in touch with a more senior official at the Ministry of the …
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A woman sought our help after she purchased an annual Ontario Parks pass by mistake – she had meant to buy a Parks Canada pass (for national parks) instead.
/en/our-work/case-stories/errant-pass
Debris debacle
A group of residents near a construction site complained that the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks was not acting on their complaints about debris. After Ombudsman staff spoke with Ministry officials, they explained the enforcement action they took to address the problem, which …
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A group of residents near a construction site complained that the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks was not acting on their complaints about debris.
/en/our-work/case-stories/debris-debacle
Septic solution
A homeowner sought our help with servicing his septic tank – which was located on the property of a neighbour who would not allow access. We helped him reach the right people at the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, who arranged to visit both properties and speak with both the …
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A homeowner sought our help with servicing his septic tank – which was located on the property of a neighbour who would not allow access.
/en/our-work/case-stories/septic-solution
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.
