A woman sought our help after her husband, who recently had an aneurysm, underwent a capacity assessment to determine his ability to make decisions about his property and personal care. We learned that she had made an application for guardianship of her husband, but her lawyer had not submitted all …
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A woman sought our help after her husband, who recently had an aneurysm, underwent a capacity assessment to determine his ability to make decisions about his property and personal care.
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.
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 2 Submission to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services regarding the Five Year Review of …
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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.
Bringing a smile
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).
Administrative Justice Delayed, Fairness Denied
FOR RENT O N TA R I O ’ S WATC H D O G O N T A R I O ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE DELAYED, FAIRNESS DENIED Investigation into whether the Ministry of the Attorney General, Tribunals Ontario and the Landlord and Tenant Board are taking adequate steps to address delays and case backlogs at the Landlord and …
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Investigation into whether the Ministry of the Attorney General, Tribunals Ontario and the Landlord and Tenant Board are taking adequate steps to address delays and case backlogs at the Landlord and Tenant Board
Missing in Inaction: Misty’s Story
O N T A R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WATC H D O G OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario April 2023 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 …
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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”
Uninterrupted visits
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.
A Voice Unheard: Brandon’s Story
O N T A R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WATC H D O G OMBUDSMAN REPORT Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario December 2022 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, …
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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
Secure resolution
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.
Pardon the delay
A former client of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) contacted our Office after she was told she would have to pay an outstanding restitution order to receive a pardon for a past criminal offence. She told us she had paid the order through automatic deductions from her Ontario …
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A former client of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) contacted our Office after she was told she would have to pay an outstanding restitution order to receive a pardon for a past criminal offence.
Up in smoke
A woman sought our help after trying for several weeks to get a refund from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) for a package that Canada Post never delivered. She was told – and we confirmed – that her cannabis order had been destroyed when a truck carrying mail and parcels caught fire in the parking …
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A woman sought our help after trying for several weeks to get a refund from the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) for a package that Canada Post never delivered.
Finally heard
A couple with disabilities contacted us after trying for months to get an expedited hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) to address unsafe conditions in their apartment. Their landlord had failed to fix serious problems, including an unstable toilet, a broken intercom, and pest …
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A couple with disabilities contacted us after trying for months to get an expedited hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) to address unsafe conditions in their apartment.
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.
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.
Lost Opportunities
O N T A R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WATC 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.
A helping hand
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.
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.
Overcoming obstacles
Issue: Rights (Get help) A youth in care sought our help in filing a complaint about staff at her residential placement. She complained about the required forms not being made available, staff lacking knowledge about the complaints process, and not receiving a timely response. After we reached out …
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A youth in care sought our help in filing a complaint about staff at her residential placement.
Duty to report
Issues: Duty to report; Rights (Safety) A mother complained to our Office that her son’s school didn’t notify the local children’s aid society (CAS) about allegations he made to his teacher that his grandmother had hurt him. In response, we contacted the CAS, which agreed to connect with the school …
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A mother complained to our Office that her son’s school didn’t notify the local children’s aid society (CAS) about allegations he made to his teacher that his grandmother had hurt him.
Online schooling okayed
Issues: Children’s aid society; Disability; Rights (Good care); Rights (Identity) A 14-year-old in care told us her worker was insisting that she go to school in person, even though her preference was to continue to attend school online. The youth had mental health issues, including anxiety, and …
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A 14-year-old in care told us her worker was insisting that she go to school in person, even though her preference was to continue to attend school online.
