Skip to main content
Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

Secondary navigation

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • News
  • Careers
Français
Français

Main navigation

  • Make a complaint
    • What you can expect
    • What we can help you with
    • File your complaint
    • Frequently asked questions
  • Help for…
    • Indigenous people
    • Children, youth and families
    • French speakers
  • Our work
    • Case stories
    • Investigations
    • Annual reports
    • Municipal meetings
    • Submissions to government
    • Brochures, posters and resources
    • Outreach and engagement
  • Info for public bodies and officials
    • What to expect if we contact you
    • Members of Provincial Parliament
    • Provincial government
    • Municipal government
    • Services for children and youth
    • Services for French speakers
    • School boards
    • Training and education
    • Questions and inquiries

Main navigation

  • Make a complaint
    • What you can expect
    • What we can help you with
    • File your complaint
    • Frequently asked questions
  • Help for…
    • Indigenous people
    • Children, youth and families
    • French speakers
  • Our work
    • Case stories
    • Investigations
    • Annual reports
    • Municipal meetings
    • Submissions to government
    • Brochures, posters and resources
    • Outreach and engagement
  • Info for public bodies and officials
    • What to expect if we contact you
    • Members of Provincial Parliament
    • Provincial government
    • Municipal government
    • Services for children and youth
    • Services for French speakers
    • School boards
    • Training and education
    • Questions and inquiries

Secondary navigation

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • News
  • Careers
Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

Français

Attention – phone lines closed – Thursday, June 26:
Our phone lines will be closed from 11:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 26.
Complaints can still be filed using our secure online complaint form or via email at info@ombudsman.on.ca.

File your complaint here

Search

Refine your search

  • Annual Reports
  • Case Stories
  • Investigations
  • Submissions to government

Keyword

Category

  • Certificates and permits
  • Children and youth
  • Education - Daycare - Grade 12
  • Education - Post-Secondary
  • (-) Employment
  • Energy and environment
  • (-) French language services
  • Health
  • Law and order
  • Money and property
  • Municipalities
  • Social services
  • Transportation
Displaying 21 - 40 of 145

Lost in translation

While watching the livestream of the tabling of the province’s 2024 budget on the Government of Ontario’s French YouTube channel, a Francophone noticed that, when the Minister of Finance spoke in French near the end of the video, the interpreter translated what he said into English. The woman …
Body
While watching the livestream of the tabling of the province’s 2024 budget on the Government of Ontario’s French YouTube channel, a Francophone noticed that, when the Minister of Finance spoke in French near the end of the video, the interpreter translated what he said into English.

Long-term solution

A Francophone reached out to us after taking part in a webinar hosted by a non-profit organization that receives funding from the Ministry of Long-Term Care. She had signed up for the webinar as she is part of the family council for a long-term care home. She received a bilingual email from the …
Body
A Francophone reached out to us after taking part in a webinar hosted by a non-profit organization that receives funding from the Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Language support

The Ontario Autism Program, administered by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, offers support to families of children and youth on the autism spectrum. A Francophone parent of a child with autism complained to us that the program communicated with them in English, both orally …
Body
The Ontario Autism Program, administered by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, offers support to families of children and youth on the autism spectrum.

Heritage plaques: See other side

We noticed that the same text – in English only – appeared on both sides of the provincial plaque at Old City Hall in downtown Toronto. The Provincial Plaque Program, which commemorates important historical people, places, events, sites and works, is administered by the Ontario Heritage Trust, an …
Body
We noticed that the same text – in English only – appeared on both sides of the provincial plaque at Old City Hall in downtown Toronto.

Ensuring bilingual service

A Francophone man told us about a workplace accident that left him unable to use his legs for a few years. After multiple complex surgeries, he started walking again. His injury claim was submitted to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). He shared a letter with us from the WSIB that was …
Body
A Francophone man told us about a workplace accident that left him unable to use his legs for a few years.

Dropped call

Ontario Northland, a government agency, is responsible for providing transportation services in Northern Ontario. A Francophone who wanted information from Ontario Northland called the agency’s toll-free line to book bus tickets, and felt frustrated by the experience. Even though the Francophone …
Body
Ontario Northland, a government agency, is responsible for providing transportation services in Northern Ontario.

Daycare designations – Not child’s play

In February 2024, we learned via the news media of possible changes happening at Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, a Francophone daycare centre in Toronto that appears in Ontario Regulation 398/93 as a government agency designated under the French Language Services Act . One of the centre’s locations was …
Body
In February 2024, we learned via the news media of possible changes happening at Le Petit Chaperon Rouge, a Francophone daycare centre in Toronto that appears in Ontario Regulation 398/93 as a government agency designated under the French Language Services Act.

Cracking the code

To prepare for a virtual hearing where he was representing himself without the help of legal counsel, a Francophone man tried to access a secure portal on the Ministry of the Attorney General’s website. He complained to us that the website was available in English only. RESULT: We brought this …
Body
To prepare for a virtual hearing where he was representing himself without the help of legal counsel, a Francophone man tried to access a secure portal on the Ministry of the Attorney General’s website.

Comprehensive training

An employee of a Francophone non-profit organization in eastern Ontario was responsible for organizing French language training for members of the employer’s joint health and safety committee. Even though this training is mandatory under the Occupational Health and Safety Act , she had difficulty …
Body
An employee of a Francophone non-profit organization in eastern Ontario was responsible for organizing French language training for members of the employer’s joint health and safety committee.

Bilingualism not on their radar

A Francophone received an automated speed enforcement camera ticket in the mail from their municipality. The document was bilingual and directed the reader to the municipality’s website to pay the ticket. However, the website was entirely in English. RESULT: The municipality, like others across …
Body
A Francophone received an automated speed enforcement camera ticket in the mail from their municipality.

Bad experience, better service

A Francophone woman contacted us to share an experience she found particularly distressing. She had visited a ServiceOntario location near her home in the greater Toronto area to renew her Photo Card. While in line, she asked for service in French from the receptionist, who responded in English. …
Body
A Francophone woman contacted us to share an experience she found particularly distressing.

Automated errors

A Francophone with more than a decade of experience with a professional association in the education field contacted us after he noticed some errors on the French version of the association’s website. He reported that the terminology was wrong for several professional titles. He also noticed some …
Body
A Francophone with more than a decade of experience with a professional association in the education field contacted us after he noticed some errors on the French version of the association’s website.

An historic moment

During a visit, an Ottawa Francophone noticed that the name of the Upper Canada Village tourist site in Eastern Ontario was in English only. This attraction is managed by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, a government agency. RESULT: While this complaint was being reviewed, the unilingual “Upper …
Body
During a visit, an Ottawa Francophone noticed that the name of the Upper Canada Village tourist site in Eastern Ontario was in English only.

Active offer at the Legislative Assembly

During a visit to the Legislative Assembly, we noticed that the security staff were welcoming visitors in English only, and the ID cards they gave to visitors were also in English only. However, Measure 1 of Ontario Regulation 544/22 regarding the “active offer” of services in French stipulates …
Body
During a visit to the Legislative Assembly, we noticed that the security staff were welcoming visitors in English only, and the ID cards they gave to visitors were also in English only.

A disappointing entrance

When visiting the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto with his family, a Francophone noticed that the touchscreen ticket vending machines at the entrance were only available in English. He subsequently contacted us to make a complaint. The Royal Ontario Museum is an agency of the Government of Ontario. …
Body
When visiting the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto with his family, a Francophone noticed that the touchscreen ticket vending machines at the entrance were only available in English.

2023-2024 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario

Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario O F F I C E O F T H E O M B U D S M A N O F O N T A R I O O N TA R I O ’ S WATC H D O G • C H I E N D E G A R D E D E L’ O N TA R I O 2023--- 2024 Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario We are dedicated to being an effective agent of …
Body
Commissioner's Message - Five years of contributions to Ontario’s vibrant Francophone community: I am pleased to present the 2023-2024 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario. May 1, 2024, marked five years to the day since the Ontario Ombudsman was entrusted with monitoring the administration of the French Language Services Act.

Missed Messages

O N T A R I O REPORT OF THE FRENCH LANGUAGE SERVICES COMMISSIONER Carl Bouchard July 2024 Missed Messages Investigation into unilingual out-of-home government advertising regarding health services between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2023 O N T A R I O Missed Messages DIRECTOR, FRENCH LANGUAGE …
Body
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontarians turned to the provincial government for important information on protecting their health and that of their families and communities.

Stress reducer

A man lost his house when his Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits were cut off. Although this decision was eventually reversed and his benefits were reinstated through the WSIB, he was diagnosed in the meantime with severe depression. He told our Office he was having difficulty …
Body
A man lost his house when his Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits were cut off.

Bridging the gap

A man sought our help in obtaining his Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. He said the Ministry refused to recognize his training because there was a 14-year gap between his completion of the first and second …
Body
A man sought our help in obtaining his Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

Proof of skills

A man had been waiting to receive a new wallet card from Skilled Trades Ontario – proof of his skilled trade credentials – for more than a year. He told our Office he received conflicting information about the reasons for the delay. RESULT: After we raised the case with Skilled Trades Ontario …
Body
A man had been waiting to receive a new wallet card from Skilled Trades Ontario – proof of his skilled trade credentials – for more than a year.

Pagination

  • First First page
  • Previous Previous page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • Next Next page
  • Last Last page

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. 

Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

483 Bay Street
10th floor, South Tower
Toronto, ON M5G 2C9

Toll-free (Ontario only): 1-800-263-1830
Outside Ontario: 416-586-3300
info@ombudsman.on.ca

Footer menu

  • Make a complaint
  • Help for...
  • Our work
  • About us
  • Careers

Make a complaint

  • Info for public bodies and officials
  • News

Footer buttons

  • Sign up for our newsletter
  • Contact us

Follow us

All contents © 2025 Ombudsman Ontario. All rights reserved.

Footer Utility

  • Site map
  • Accessibility