A woman who was seriously injured in a car accident complained that she waited seven months to receive her application for ODSP benefits. Our staff discovered that her initial call was not responded to for a month, despite a promise on ODSP’s website that a case worker would set up an interview …
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A woman who was seriously injured in a car accident complained that she waited seven months to receive her application for ODSP benefits.
/en/our-work/case-stories/painful-delay
Held at the border
A mother whose support payments from her ex-husband were collected through an enforcement agency in the U.S. complained that the FRO would not release any of it to her because it didn’t have the necessary documentation from a U.S. court. She had even travelled to the U.S. in an attempt to get the …
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A mother whose support payments from her ex-husband were collected through an enforcement agency in the U.S. complained that the FRO would not release any of it to her because it didn’t have the necessary documentation from a U.S. court.
/en/our-work/case-stories/held-border
Follow the money
A mother of two complained that FRO officials had not done enough to collect the more than $30,000 in support owed by her ex-husband, even though they knew where he worked. After we contacted FRO officials, they issued notice to the man’s employer and have since collected more than $5,000 in …
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A mother of two complained that FRO officials had not done enough to collect the more than $30,000 in support owed by her ex-husband, even though they knew where he worked.
/en/our-work/case-stories/follow-money
An arresting mistake
A father contacted us from jail after he was arrested for failing to pay child support arrears to the Family Responsibility Office. He was unaware that he owed any support, and he had custody of his child when he was arrested. Our review determined that the FRO’s notices were sent to the wrong …
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A father contacted us from jail after he was arrested for failing to pay child support arrears to the Family Responsibility Office.
/en/our-work/case-stories/arresting-mistake
Tale of two cities
A Toronto woman who was seeking rapid reinstatement of ODSP benefits was staying with a relative in Oshawa while undergoing medical treatment. The ODSP office in Oshawa told her she would have to apply through their Toronto office – but she was too ill to travel, and worried that she could not make …
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A Toronto woman who was seeking rapid reinstatement of ODSP benefits was staying with a relative in Oshawa while undergoing medical treatment. The ODSP office in Oshawa told her she would have to apply through their Toronto office – but she was too ill to travel, and worried that she could not make ends meet without benefits.
/en/our-work/case-stories/tale-two-cities
No place like home
The parents of two adult sons with highly complex medical needs and developmental disabilities contacted our Office because they felt they were in crisis. They wanted to continue to care for their sons at home, but were experiencing their own health challenges. The sons needed round-the-clock care, …
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The parents of two adult sons with highly complex medical needs and developmental disabilities contacted our Office because they felt they were in crisis. They wanted to continue to care for their sons at home, but were experiencing their own health challenges.
/en/our-work/case-stories/no-place-home
Message mistake
After an ODSP recipient left her case worker a message asking about reporting employment income, she was surprised to discover her benefit entitlement was suspended. The worker had done this without even speaking to the woman – who was not actually employed, but only seeking information. She then …
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After an ODSP recipient left her case worker a message asking about reporting employment income, she was surprised to discover her benefit entitlement was suspended.
/en/our-work/case-stories/message-mistake
Found money
A woman who was owed more than $100,000 in support payments complained to us about FRO’s lack of enforcement action against her ex-husband, even though she had provided information about his assets, finance and employment situation. Our review of the case determined that FRO had failed to act, and …
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A woman who was owed more than $100,000 in support payments complained to us about FRO’s lack of enforcement action against her ex-husband, even though she had provided information about his assets, finance and employment situation.
/en/our-work/case-stories/found-money
Between A Rock and A Hard Place
Parents forced to place their children with severe disabilities in the custody of Children’s Aid Societies to obtain necessary care. FINAL REPORT André Marin Ombudsman of Ontario May 2005 OMBUDSMAN ONTARIO Final Report Special Investigation: Parents Forced to Place their Children with Severe …
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Investigation into parents forced to place their children with severe disabilities in the custody of Children’s Aid Societies to obtain necessary care.
Ombudsman Report ANDRÉ MARIN, OMBUDSMAN OF ONTARIO MAY 2006 INVESTIGATIVE TEAM Director, Special Ombudsman Response Team (SORT) Gareth Jones Investigators Rosie Dear Barbara Hirst Janet Ortved SENIOR COUNSEL Laura Pettigrew Wendy Ray Final Report Investigation into Unreasonable Delay at the …
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Investigation into unreasonable delay at the Ministry of Community and Social Services' Ontario Disability Support Program's Disability Adjudication Unit.
/en/our-work/investigations/losing-waiting-game
It's All in the Name
OMBUDSMAN REPORT André Marin • Ombudsman of Ontario • August 2006 INVESTIGATIVE TEAM Investigators Elizabeth Weston Sue Haslam, Manager, Investigations SENIOR COUNSEL Laura Pettigrew www.ombudsman.on.ca … Investigation into the complaint of the Family Responsibility Office's ineffective enforcement …
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Investigation into the complaint of the Family Responsibility Office's ineffective enforcement using a writ of seizure and sale.
/en/our-work/investigations/its-all-name
Nowhere to Turn
Nowhere to Turn Investigation into the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ response to situations of crisis involving adults with developmental disabilities Ombudsman Report n Paul Dubé, Ombudsman of Ontario n August 2016 www.ombudsman.on.ca 1-800-263-1830 Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario …
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Investigation into the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ response to situations of crisis involving adults with developmental disabilities.
/en/our-work/investigations/nowhere-turn
French Language Services Commissioner to investigate in-person service delivery at ServiceOntario
(TORONTO – April 1, 2025) French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard today announced that he is launching an investigation into service in French at ServiceOntario locations. "We hear regularly from people who say they were either unable to be served in French by ServiceOntario staff, or …
Commissioner urges Ontario to create a digital directory of public services subject to the FLSA
French Language Services Commissioner presents his 2023-2024 Annual Report; urges Ontario to create a digital directory of public services subject to the French Language Services Act (TORONTO, December 5, 2024) – In his 2023-2024 Annual Report, released today, French Language Services Commissioner …
Ontario government urged to make public health ads bilingual after investigation reveals shortfalls (Law Times)
Angelica Dino 24 July, 2024 This link opens in a new tab Law Times News French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard has released a report urging the Ontario government to ensure all out-of-home advertising is bilingual. This follows an investigation which found that the government …
French language services commissioner calls on government to ensure ads in public spaces are bilingual (The Trillium)
Sneh Duggal July 12, 2024 This link opens in a new tab The Trillium The province's French language services commissioner is calling on the government to ensure all of its advertising in public spaces is bilingual after he found that few ad campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic included any …
FLS Commissioner urges Ontario to respect law; make all out-of-home advertising bilingual
(TORONTO – July 12, 2024) French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard today released a report urging the Ontario government to make all of its out-of-home advertising bilingual, after his latest investigation found it systematically failed to meet its obligations under the French Language …
French language services commissioner receives highest level of complaints and inquiries since 2019 (The Trillium)
Sneh Duggal This link opens in a new tab The Trillium December 7, 2023 A sign for the French River between Sudbury and Parry Sound was missing something: French. So was a provincial ministry’s X account that was detailing the government’s plans to redevelop Ontario Place. These were just a few of …
French Language Services Commissioner reports robust results for Francophones and 40% increase in cases
(TORONTO – December 7, 2023) French Language Services Commissioner Carl Bouchard today called on Ontario government ministries and agencies to train all frontline staff on how and why they are required to provide services in French. They should also ensure their social media accounts are in French …
Ombudsman appoints Carl Bouchard as French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario
(TORONTO – December 4, 2023) After an extensive nationwide search to fill the position of French Language Services Commissioner on a permanent basis, Ombudsman Paul Dubé today announced that he has appointed Carl Bouchard to the role. Mr. Bouchard has served as Interim Commissioner since March 3, …
