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Displaying 1 - 20 of 247

Services in French at ServiceOntario locations

Media release, "French Language Services Commissioner to investigate in-person service delivery at ServiceOntario" (April 1, 2025) Investigation into services in French at ServiceOntario locations. Announced April 1, 2025. Case update (2024-2025 Annual Report) … Services in French at ServiceOntario …
/en/our-work/investigations/ongoing-investigations/services-french-serviceontario-locations

Child welfare agencies placing youth in hotels, motels, offices and trailers

Media release, "Ombudsman to investigate child welfare practice of placing children and youth in hotels, motels, offices and trailers" (September 5, 2024) Investigation into the practice of child welfare agencies placing young children and teens in hotels, motels, offices and trailers. Announced …
/en/our-work/investigations/ongoing-investigations/child-welfare-agencies-placing-youth-hotels-motels-offices-and-trailers

Parting words

A Francophone man was let go from his position as a volunteer firefighter with a municipality. He complained to us that the municipality sent him a letter explaining his termination in English only. He asked if we could help him connect with someone who could send it in French, given that his …
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A Francophone man was let go from his position as a volunteer firefighter with a municipality.
/en/our-work/case-stories/parting-words

One for the price of two

A man sought our help in getting money back from his municipality for a nonexistent water line. He told us that when he bought the property, he was told there were two water lines, and he would be billed for both. He said municipal staff assured him the second line was there, even though it was not …
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A man sought our help in getting money back from his municipality for a nonexistent water line.
/en/our-work/case-stories/one-price-two

Sudden shutoff

A woman who was in hospital sought our help after water service was cut off to her home, where her son, who has autism and medical needs, was receiving at-home care in her absence. She told us she had a payment plan with the water service provider and had paid her bills. She was worried for her …
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A woman who was in hospital sought our help after water service was cut off to her home, where her son, who has autism and medical needs, was receiving at-home care in her absence.
/en/our-work/case-stories/sudden-shutoff

Saved, not sold

A man called us in distress, saying he would become homeless if he could not immediately pay nearly $25,000 in property tax arrears and fees. He said he had just learned that his municipality had seized his properties for unpaid taxes and put them up for auction. The properties would go to the …
Body
A man called us in distress, saying he would become homeless if he could not immediately pay nearly $25,000 in property tax arrears and fees.
/en/our-work/case-stories/saved-not-sold

Continued care

Issues: Children’s aid society, Rights (Get help), Rights (Fairness) A young woman who had been in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS) sought our help because she was not provided with continued care and support – including mental health supports – after she turned 18, even though she was …
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A young woman who had been in the care of a children’s aid society (CAS) sought our help because she was not provided with continued care and support.
/en/our-work/case-stories/continued-care

Hair help

Issues: Youth justice facility, Rights (Good care), Rights (Identity) A group of nine youths detained at a youth justice centre complained to us that they could not get hair oil. They complained that this left them with dry hair that was prone to breakage. Result: We made inquiries with the centre …
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A group of nine youths detained at a youth justice centre complained to us that they could not get hair oil.
/en/our-work/case-stories/hair-help

Healthy review

Issues: Youth justice facility, Physical restraints, Rights (Safety) A young person in a youth justice centre contacted us after an incident where mechanical restraints were used on him. He complained that he was never assessed by the health care team at the centre after this use of restraints, …
Body
A young person in a youth justice centre contacted us after an incident where mechanical restraints were used on him.
/en/our-work/case-stories/healthy-review

Coming of age

Issues: Rights (Good care), Disability, Indigenous A group home director contacted us about an Indigenous youth with special needs who had been in the home’s care for seven years. The youth was nearing her 18th birthday, and the director was concerned that nothing had been done to ensure that she …
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A group home director contacted us about an Indigenous youth with special needs who had been in the home’s care for seven years.
/en/our-work/case-stories/coming-age

Signs of the times

We noticed that signs put up by Metrolinx around the construction site of the Scarborough subway extension were in English only. Metrolinx is a government agency and its communications, including signage, are required to be in English and French. Result: We pointed these signs out to Metrolinx …
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We noticed that signs put up by Metrolinx around the construction site of the Scarborough subway extension were in English only.
/en/our-work/case-stories/signs-times

Eclipse of the chansons

As part of a promotion of places in Ontario to view the total solar eclipse in April 2024, Destination Ontario posted a playlist of eclipse-themed songs on its website, such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “I Can See Clearly Now.” A Francophone man complained to us that all of the songs on the playlist …
Body
As part of a promotion of places in Ontario to view the total solar eclipse in April 2024, Destination Ontario posted a playlist of eclipse-themed songs on its website, such as “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “I Can See Clearly Now.”
/en/our-work/case-stories/eclipse-chansons

Legal obligation

A Francophone woman complained to us after she went to a provincial courthouse for a family court case in a region that is designated under the French Language Services Act (meaning services in French must be available by law). She said she was unable to obtain services in French at the clerk’s …
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A Francophone woman complained to us after she went to a provincial courthouse for a family court case in a region that is designated under the French Language Services Act (meaning services in French must be available by law).
/en/our-work/case-stories/legal-obligation

Family care

We stepped in to help an Indigenous man who was struggling to care for the newborn child of relatives suffering from addiction. No paperwork had been done to secure funding for necessary medication, foster care and other resources. RESULT: As a result of our involvement, a Customary Care Agreement …
Body
We stepped in to help an Indigenous man who was struggling to care for the newborn child of relatives suffering from addiction.
/en/our-work/case-stories/family-care

Submission regarding proposed changes to the municipal code of conduct and integrity commissioner framework

Submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding proposed changes to the municipal code of conduct and integrity commissioner framework Paul Dubé Ombudsman of Ontario February 2025 Overview The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is seeking feedback on proposed changes to …
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The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the municipal code of conduct and integrity commissioner framework for Ontario municipalities, in connection with legislative amendments that were proposed in Bill 241, the Municipal Accountability Act, 2024.
/en/our-work/submissions-government/submission-regarding-proposed-changes-municipal-code-conduct-and-integrity-commissioner-framework

Inside Job

O N TA R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G Inside Job Investigation into matters relating to the Regional Municipality of Niagara’s hiring of its Chief Administrative Officer, and its administration of his contract OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario November 2019 O N TA R I O O N TA …
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Investigation into matters relating to the Regional Municipality of Niagara’s hiring of its Chief Administrative Officer, and its administration of his contract
/en/our-work/investigations/inside-job

By-law Surprise

O N TA R I O ’ S WAT C H D O G By-law Surprise Investigation into the reasonableness and transparency of by-law enforcement and billing practices in the Township of St. Clair and the County of Lambton Ombudsman Report Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario April 2018 1-800-263-1830 www.ombudsman.on.ca …
Body
Investigation into the reasonableness and transparency of by-law enforcement and billing practices in the Township of St. Clair and the County of Lambton.
/en/our-work/investigations/law-surprise

Submission regarding the designation of areas under the French Language Services Act

Submission to the Ministry of Francophone Affairs regarding the designation of areas under the French Language Services Act Carl Bouchard French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario January 2025 Overview The Ministry of Francophone Affairs is seeking input on its plan to amend the list of …
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The Ministry of Francophone Affairs is seeking input on its plan to amend the list of areas designated under the French Language Services Act.
/en/our-work/submissions-government/submission-regarding-designation-areas-under-french-language-services-act

Unscientific translations

A Francophone father contacted us after visiting the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto with his family in the summer of 2023. He told us that there were five staff members at the admissions counter, but none of them could speak any French beyond “bonjour.” He asked, in English, if he could be …
Body
A Francophone father contacted us after visiting the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto with his family in the summer of 2023.
/en/our-work/case-stories/unscientific-translations

The screens on the bus say “we speak French”

GO Transit, the public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is a division of government agency Metrolinx. A Francophone reported to us that the Black History Month messages displayed on the electronic destination signage of GO Transit buses were in English only (as were many …
Body
GO Transit, the public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is a division of government agency Metrolinx.
/en/our-work/case-stories/screens-bus-say-we-speak-french

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The Ontario Ombudsman’s work takes place on traditional Indigenous territories across the province we now call Ontario, and we are thankful to be able to work and live on this land. 

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