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November 29, 2024

29 November 2024

Town of Cochrane

The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Town of Cochrane on February 13, 2024 about the resignation of its integrity commissioner. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussion about the integrity commissioner’s role with the municipality fit within the open meeting exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual in the Municipal Act, 2001. However, the Ombudsman also found that council’s subsequent closed session discussion about the process it would follow to replace the integrity commissioner did not fit within any open meeting exceptions in the Act, could have been parsed from the first part of the discussion, and should have been discussed in open session.

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November 27, 2024

27 November 2024

United Counties of Leeds and Grenville

The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by the Committee of the Whole for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville on July 5, 2023, to discuss an update on the Counties’ fundraising campaign for a municipally owned long-term care facility under the open meeting exception for plans and instructions for negotiations. The Ombudsman determined that the procedural discussion to determine whether or not to consider the update in closed session, and the closed session discussion about changes to the public fundraising policy, contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 because both discussions did not fit within any of the exceptions to the open meeting rules. However, a portion of the Committee’s discussion regarding internal communications processes related to donations and naming rights, including mention of particular donors and their wishes, fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual. Because this portion of the closed session discussion could not have been further parsed, this portion of the Committee of the Whole’s closed session discussion did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001.

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November 22, 2024

22 November 2024

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint about an interview panel convened by the Mayor of the City of Hamilton to advise her on the selection of a new City Manager.

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November 22, 2024

22 November 2024

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint about a closed meeting held by the City of Hamilton’s Selection Committee for Agencies, Boards and Sub-Committees on October 24, 2023.

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November 22, 2024

22 November 2024

Norfolk County

The Ombudsman reviewed complaints about a closed special meeting of council for Norfolk County on January 9, 2024, as well as closed meetings held by council-in-committee on February 14, 2023, November 15, 2023, and January 16, 2024. The Ombudsman found that at its January 9, 2024 meeting, council did not provide sufficient detail in its resolution to proceed in camera and discussed a matter in camera that did not fit within the open meeting exception cited in its resolution. The Ombudsman also found that council-in-committee did not contravene the Act during its February 14, 2023 closed meeting, but did contravene the Act during its meetings on November 15, 2023 and January 16, 2024 by discussing some issues in camera that did not come within any of the exceptions to the open meeting rules.

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November 12, 2024

12 November 2024

Township of McGarry

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that alleged council for the Township of McGarry contravened the open meeting rules during an emergency meeting of council on September 1, 2023. The Ombudsman found that portions of council’s closed session discussion concerning the former Mayor’s resignation and potential appointees to fill the resulting vacancies fit within the open meeting exceptions. Although the remaining portions of the discussion about what method council would use to fill the vacancies did not fit within any exceptions to the open meeting rules, requiring council to have parsed those parts of the discussion would have detracted from free, open, and uninterrupted discussion. The Ombudsman further determined that the Township provided notice for the emergency meeting in accordance with its procedure by-law and did not hold votes contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001.

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November 8, 2024

8 November 2024

Township of Black River-Matheson

The Ombudsman reviewed complaints about a special meeting held by council for the Township of Black River-Matheson on February 20, 2024 and about alleged gatherings of a quorum of councillors held prior to that meeting.

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November 5, 2024

5 November 2024

City of London

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding a closed meeting held by council for the City of London on April 2, 2024.

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September 23, 2024

23 September 2024

Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART)

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the Board of Directors for Saugeen Mobility and Regional Transit (SMART) does not hold meetings that are open to the public. The Ombudsman found that SMART is a shared local board of 10 member municipalities that is subject to the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001.
 

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September 18, 2024

18 September 2024

Towns of Grimsby and Lincoln and Township of West Lincoln

The Ombudsman received complaints that a joint meeting held by the councils for the Town of Grimsby, the Town of Lincoln and the Township of West Lincoln did not adhere to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that the first part of the closed session discussion fit within the closed meeting exception for education or training. However, small-group discussions that occurred during the second part of the closed session did not fit within any of the exceptions.

 

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September 18, 2024

18 September 2024

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a meeting of the Finance and Administration Committee for the City of Elliot Lake on December 18, 2023. The complaint alleged that council’s closed session discussion about procurement practices did not fall within any of the prescribed exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman found that the Finance and Administration Committee for the City of Elliot Lake contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it received a presentation on proposed changes to the City’s procurement by-law in closed session on December 18, 2023. The Ombudsman found that the Committee’s discussion did not fit within any of the Act’s closed meeting exceptions.

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September 16, 2024

16 September 2024

City of Oshawa

The Ombudsman reviewed complaints about a meeting of the City of Oshawa’s Corporate and Finance Services Committee which raised concerns about the public notice – which was temporarily unavailable on the City’s website due to a technical issue – and about the failure of the audio during the meeting webcast.

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September 13, 2024

13 September 2024

Town of Iroquois Falls

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a meeting held by council for the Town of Iroquois Falls on November 28, 2022.

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September 6, 2024

6 September 2024

Township of Jocelyn

The Ombudsman investigated closed meetings held by council for the Township of Jocelyn on January 10 and 13, February 7, April 4, and October 10, 2023 and found that the discussions at each of these meetings fit within various closed meeting exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001. However, the Ombudsman also found that the Township contravened the Act at its October 10 meeting by failing to pass a resolution to enter into closed session, failing to take closed meeting minutes, and by improperly closing the beginning of the meeting to the public. Although no illegal votes occurred at the meetings, the Ombudsman nevertheless recommended as a best practice that council clearly identify any specific directions given in closed session, formally vote on them, and record that vote in the closed meeting minutes.
 

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September 3, 2024

3 September 2024

Municipality of Whitestone

The Ombudsman received complaints that meetings held by council for the Municipality of Whitestone did not adhere to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman also received a complaint about a meeting held by the Municipality’s Wah Wash Kesh Landings Task Force and its open meeting practices.

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August 16, 2024

16 August 2024

Town of Halton Hills

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding a meeting of council for the Town of Halton Hills held on August 28, 2023. The complaint alleged that council’s closed session discussion of recent provincial policy announcements about municipalities did not fit within the closed meeting exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001. The complaint also alleged that council did not pass a resolution stating that this matter would be discussed in closed session.

The Ombudsman found that the discussion did not fit within any exceptions to the open meeting rules, and that council failed to include a general description of this topic in its resolution to proceed into closed session. Council accordingly contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 on August 28, 2023. The Ombudsman also noted that council’s minutes incorrectly suggested that council had included this topic of discussion in its resolution when it had not.

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August 7, 2024

7 August 2024

Municipality of Callander

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding two closed meetings held by council for the Municipality of Callander on December 12, 2023 and January 9, 2024.

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August 6, 2024

6 August 2024

Township of Lanark Highlands

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that the Committee of the Whole for the Township of Lanark Highlands contravened the open meeting rules on June 27, 2023 when it discussed a management letter regarding draft financial statements with an auditor during a closed session.

The Ombudsman found that the discussion about the management letter fit within the exception for security of the property of the municipality because the information discussed related to an ongoing threat to the security of the municipality’s property. However, the Ombudsman found that the Township contravened the requirements of section 239(7) of the Municipal Act, 2001 on June 27, 2023 by failing to keep an adequate record of what was discussed in camera. As a best practice, the Ombudsman recommended that the Township make audio or video recordings of its closed sessions.

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July 30, 2024

30 July 2024

Township of Tiny

The Ombudsman received complaints about the meeting practices of the Township of Tiny Administrative Centre Committee.

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July 12, 2024

12 July 2024

Missed Messages

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.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

2023-2024 Annual Report

Ombudsman's Message - Focusing on rights – and the future

It is an honour to present my ninth Annual Report as Ombudsman as this Office prepares to mark its 49th anniversary. The time is ripe for both reflection and forward thinking – and this report, fittingly, does both.

 

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Mistaken identity

A transgender inmate contacted our Office after she was involved in an altercation with correctional officers.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Privacy protections

We received complaints from a group of 10 inmates, all women, that they were strip searched by correctional officers in their unit, in view of one another.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Report as required

We received complaints from two inmates at the same facility, alleging they had been sexually assaulted.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Stair-struck

A business owner complained to us after his municipality informed him that a set of stairs on the back of his building encroached on municipal property.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Municipal mine-field

We were contacted by the leaseholder of Crown land that included ski trails and a drainage system that had previously been installed by his municipality.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

In the zone

A homeowner reached out to us when the land around her home was rezoned from agricultural to industrial.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

More fair, less taxing

A woman who could not pay her property taxes due to financial hardship sought our help after her municipality refused her request to cancel her debt.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Course correction

A group of 50 students at a university reached out to our Office for help after they all failed the same course.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Fair trade

A student sought our help after his college told him he would have to retake a trade course he had already effectively completed, which would delay his graduation and the full-time employment he had arranged.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Helpful information

An international student at a college of applied arts and technology requested a tuition refund when he decided to leave his program and return home to India.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Long-distance resolution

A woman who had been living outside of Canada for 15 years sought our help in obtaining more than $25,000 in child support through the Family Responsibility Office (FRO).

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Pricey blunder

A woman sought our help because she hadn’t received Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) payments or drug benefits from August 2020 to October 2021.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Appeal to reason

A woman had her ODSP application denied after a year of waiting.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Suitable support

A father in crisis sought our help to find services and supported living for his son, a 15-year-old with complex special needs.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Group revelation

After giving a presentation at a group home, our staff were conducting private conversations with the residents, as we normally do.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Group home; Quality of care; Rights (Good care)

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Routine violation

A young person in a youth justice centre complained to us that he was being routinely strip-searched by staff after every visit he had with his lawyer.

Issues: Youth justice facility; Rights (Safety)

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Ready, set – redo

Three months after he turned 18, a young man told us he had been forced to rely on social assistance because he had never been registered for “Ready, Set, Go” funding, which supports young people transitioning out of care.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA)

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Support secured

A staff member from a youth residence contacted us, concerned that a youth with special needs and physical disabilities wasn’t receiving adequate support, such as grab bars in the shower and railings on porch stairs.

Issues: Duty to report; Disability; Rights (Identity)

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Post-mortem review

A woman contacted us in frustration over delays and a lack of communication from the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) regarding a deceased relative who had been an OPGT client.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Friendly assistance

A woman complained to us that her friend, who was a client of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT), was struggling to pay for her day-to-day expenses with the weekly $50 the OPGT provided.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Lack of urgency

A landlord who claimed her tenant was threatening to kill her and her children asked for an urgent hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Surprise eviction

A woman called us for help on the morning that she, her partner and three children were being evicted.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Correcting the record

A transgender woman who changed the name and sex designation on her driver’s licence contacted us in frustration after being told that her car insurance would now cost more.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Kept in suspense

A senior sought our help when his driver’s licence was suspended, just seven months after he had gone through an extensive process with the Driver Medical Review Office to get it reinstated.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Motorcycle mix-up

A man noticed that the driver’s licence he’d had for four years did not indicate that he was also qualified to drive a motorcycle.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

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.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

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.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Stress reducer

A man lost his house when his Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits were cut off.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Action reaction

A woman reached out to us after contacting the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s Action Line with concerns about her mother’s death in a long-term care home.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Service for a smile

A woman whose daughter had to have an emergency root canal procedure – at a cost of $700 – sought our help in obtaining coverage through Healthy Smiles Ontario, a provincial program that covers dental care for eligible children and youth who are 17 and under.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Billing blunder

A low-income senior complained that her utility provider had been incorrectly applying her Ontario Electricity Support Program credit to her water bill for more than five years.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Powerful help

A woman whose medical condition makes her reliant on an electric wheelchair, bed and lift was facing having her hydro disconnected because of an outstanding bill of $15,000.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Water clarity

A landlord complained to us that his municipality had put his tenant’s unpaid water and wastewater charges on his property tax bill, without notifying him in advance.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Writing wrongs

A man came to us for help when a problem with his birth certificate prevented him from applying for federal employment insurance (EI).

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

At long last

We heard from a man who was waiting for a new long-form birth certificate for his son.

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June 26, 2024

26 June 2024

Married name mishap

A bride whose name was misspelled on her marriage certificate sought our help after waiting in vain for ServiceOntario to send her a form to request a correction.

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June 3, 2024

3 June 2024

Submission regarding Proposed Policy Directive Updates for Children's Aid Societies

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services has requested comments on a regulatory proposal related to amendments to Policy Directive: CW 003-23 — Preparing Youth for Successful Transition from the Care of Children’s Aid Societies.

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May 31, 2024

31 May 2024

Township of Springwater

The Ombudsman received complaints regarding a special meeting held by council for the Township of Springwater on May 3, 2023. The complaints collectively alleged that council’s discussions in closed session did not fit within the closed meeting exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman found that that discussions regarding a rainbow crosswalk project and an employment matter related to the local public library fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual. While a discussion about the completed hiring process for a specific position did not fit within the cited exception for labour relations and employee negotiations, a portion of that discussion came within the personal matters exception, and the remainder of that discussion could not be parsed. Accordingly, the Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 at its special meeting on May 3, 2023.

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May 24, 2024

24 May 2024

Submission regarding Bill 188, Supporting Children's Futures Act, 2024

The Standing Committee on Social Policy is currently considering Bill 188, An Act to amend the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017 and various other Acts, also known as the Supporting Children’s Futures Act, 2024.

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May 21, 2024

21 May 2024

Township of McMurrich/Monteith

The Ombudsman investigated closed meetings held by council for the Township of McMurrich/Monteith on September 5 and September 14, 2023, during which Council discussed a potential disposal of municipally owned property. The Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001. The first portion of the closed meeting discussion on September 5 discussion fit within the exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege, and the second portion fit within the exception for the acquisition or disposition of land. The closed meeting discussion on September 14 fit within the exception for the acquisition or disposition of land.

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May 21, 2024

21 May 2024

Township of Lanark Highlands

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint about meetings held by council for the Township of Lanark Highlands.

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May 9, 2024

9 May 2024

Municipality of Temagami

The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Municipality of Temagami on June 20, 2023, during which council discussed previously owned property, a request to sell property, and issues related to a local long-term care home.

The Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001 as these discussions fit within the exceptions for personal matters about an identifiable individual, acquisition or disposition of land, and litigation or potential litigation.

The Ombudsman also reviewed whether public notice was provided for the June 20, 2023 meeting, and found that the municipality had provided notice several days prior. The Ombudsman noted as a best practice that meeting minutes should be made available publicly available to improve accountability and transparency.

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April 29, 2024

29 April 2024

Rights Unrecognized: Mia’s Story

In the fall of 2019, 16-year-old “Mia” had at least two critical concerns: Finding somewhere to sleep from one day to the next and a way to finish high school.

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April 29, 2024

29 April 2024

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding several meetings held by council for the Town of Amherstburg in 2022 and 2023. The complaint alleged that council contravened the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to provide sufficient information about the topics of discussion in resolutions to proceed into closed session on August 8, 2022, February 13, 2023, and March 27, 2023. The complaint also alleged that council held meetings on November 29 and 30, 2022, which were not livestreamed and were not open to the public, and that council failed to provide public notice of its February 14, 2023 training session.

The Ombudsman found that council contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to provide sufficient information about some of the topics of discussion in its resolutions to proceed into closed session. However, the Ombudsman found that the Town did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 on November 29 and 30, 2022, as he determined that the public could have attended the meetings in person, although he was unable to determine whether they were livestreamed. Likewise, council did not contravene the open meeting rules regarding notice of the February 14, 2023 meeting, as its training session did not come within the definition of meeting, and was therefore not subject to the open meeting rules.

The complaint also alleged that a gathering of members of the Town’s Accessibility Advisory Committee at a transit facility, where committee members were shown a demonstration of an accessible bus, in September 2022 was a meeting that was subject to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that the Town did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 on September 8, 2022, as the gathering at the transit facility did not materially advance the committee’s business or decision-making, and was not a meeting subject to the open meeting rules.

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April 2, 2024

2 April 2024

Municipality of Calvin

The Ombudsman received a complaint about meetings held by the Municipality of Calvin’s Ad Hoc Code of Conduct Working Group and Ad Hoc Municipal Planning Working Group. The complaint alleged that these two bodies were committees of council, and that they did not provide the public with notice of their meetings, publish meeting agendas, or have someone clerk or record minutes of their meetings, contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipality’s procedural by-law. The complaint also raised procedural concerns that these bodies were not properly established by resolution or by-law.

The Ombudsman found that the Ad Hoc Code of Conduct Working Group and Ad Hoc Municipal Planning Working Group were established through council resolution and were committees of council. The Municipality contravened both the Municipal Act, 2001 and its procedural by-law in not providing notice of these groups’ meetings and in not having someone clerk or record minutes of their meetings. However, the Municipality did not violate either the Act or the Municipality’s procedural by-law by not providing members of the public with these groups’ meeting agendas.

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April 2, 2024

2 April 2024

Submission to the Ministry of Education regarding integrity commissioners and meeting procedures for school board trustees

The Ministry of Education has requested comments on three regulatory proposals related to school board governance and accountability.

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March 25, 2024

25 March 2024

Submission to the Ministry regarding searches of staff, visitors and young persons at youth justice facilities

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.

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March 15, 2024

15 March 2024

Submission to the Ministry of Northern Development regarding the proposed modernization of the Northern Services Boards Act

The Ministry of Northern Development has recently sought feedback on potential changes to the Northern Services Boards Act.

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February 20, 2024

20 February 2024

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman received complaints that two closed meetings of council for the City of Elliot Lake did not fit into the closed meeting exceptions. The Ombudsman found that the meetings fit within the closed meeting exceptions except for a portion of one of the closed session discussions, which did not fit within the exception for personal matters.

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February 13, 2024

13 February 2024

City of Kawartha Lakes

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that the City of Kawartha Lakes’ Short Term Rental Licensing Program Task Force may have held illegal meetings between April and June 2023, during the development of a by-law to licence, regulate, and govern short-term rental accommodation.

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January 16, 2024

16 January 2024

City of London

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint about a gathering held by members of the Community and Protective Services Committee of the City of London on March 21, 2023. The complaint alleged that a quorum of the committee held a tour with the Executive Director of a local non-profit organization and expressed concern that, a few hours later, the committee held a formal meeting, during which it voted to recommend approving conditional funding for the non-profit.

The Ombudsman found that the gathering constituted an illegal meeting under the open meeting rules, as a quorum of the committee was present and committee business was materially advanced during the gathering. The Ombudsman noted that the information received by committee members during the gathering could reasonably be construed as having informed their decision-making. The Ombudsman recommended that members who organize tours that may be subject to the open meeting rules should consult with City staff.

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January 3, 2024

3 January 2024

Municipality of Casselman

The Ombudsman received complaints about a secret call held by members of council for the Municipality of Casselman on January 26, 2021. An audio recording of the call was inadvertently published on the Municipality’s website and the complainants were concerned that the discussion during the call advanced council business and constituted an illegal closed meeting under the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found that a quorum of council for the Municipality of Casselman materially advanced matters that constituted council business during the call, that it constituted a “meeting” under the Municipal Act, 2001, and was a very serious violation of the open meeting rules.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

2022-2023 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario

Commissioner's Message - Tangible results

I am pleased to present the 2022-2023 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario. The Commissioner plays an important role in supporting Ontario’s Francophone community, and is responsible for monitoring compliance with the French Language Services Act and recommending ways to improve the delivery of government services in French.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Our voices matter too

A Francophone municipal employee in Eastern Ontario was invited to take part in an English-only survey on the quality of municipal and provincial emergency management programs.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Everything at the ready

A Francophone filed a complaint about an announcement of a public consultation on the reform of housing industry regulations posted to the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery’s French LinkedIn page.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Bet on bilingual

A Francophone reached out to us because he was unable to find French versions of posts on the social media accounts of Lotto Max (Facebook, Instagram and X).

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

A Place for French?

A Franco-Torontonian reached out to let us know that content on Infrastructure Ontario’s X account (@InfraOntario) about plans for an upcoming spa, water park and multi-storey parking garage at Ontario Place was only available in English.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

No room for failure

Two Francophone students from Northern Ontario reached out to us with concerns about the quality of the French version of the accreditation exam for emergency medical care assistants.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Substantial improvement

A Francophone member of the military contacted us about a regulation in the Environmental Protection Act that he needed for work, but was not available in French.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Translation in progress

Walking to work one day, a man noticed English-only signs about the upcoming construction of Corktown Station in Toronto for the future Ontario Line.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

One complaint, 600 signs

Our Unit handled a case involving more than 600 English-only road signs in Northern Ontario, reported by a Francophone who told us he drove more than 800 kilometres to document them.

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December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Returning French to the French River

A Francophone resident from the Sudbury area informed us about an English-only sign marking the French River on Highway 69, located between Parry Sound and Sudbury.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Your call is important to us

A man called the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) call centre in December 2022 to make an online purchase.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Checked out

A Francophone who had been unemployed for a long time requested a background check from the OPP so he could be hired for a new job.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Alert unheard

As he drove to Hamilton in a snowstorm, a driver noticed that the French version of the government’s emergency weather alerts broadcast on the radio were garbled and unintelligible.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Fairer treatment

A Francophone teen at a secure treatment centre run by a designated organization was having trouble accessing services in French, including in the classroom.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Starting off right

A Francophone representing himself in a dispute received an English-only email inviting him to sign up for the CaseLines platform (used by Ontario courts) to upload his documents for an upcoming hearing.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

That’s my name

An Eastern Ontario mom reached out to us on behalf of her daughter.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

In the eye of the ID holder

A Francophone with an Outdoors card noticed that the eye colour field on his (bilingual) card was in English only (“brown”).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Service on demand

A man who had moved from Quebec to Ontario had initiated the process to change his driver’s licence.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Road to improvement

A Francophone man in Northern Ontario called 511 to get information on driving conditions and selected service in French.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Zone change

A Franco-Torontonian contacted us to say that the web page for the “Tow Zone” pilot program operated by the Ministry of Transportation showed stickers in English only on the vehicles of authorized towing companies.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

The portal is open

The doctor of a Francophone woman who needed surgery was of the opinion that it would be too risky for her to drive.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Patient understanding

A woman in Northern Ontario went to the emergency room of a designated hospital and was greeted by an employee who asked her COVID-19 screening questions in English only.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

How did we do?

A patient at a designated hospital in Northern Ontario told us that on one of her many visits to the hospital, she had noticed multiple unilingual English posters, including one that said “Tell us how we’ve done,” as well as posters in French with errors, including one that misspelled “défense de vapoter” (vaping prohibited).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

When in doubt, ask

A Francophone told us about her partner’s experience after undergoing heart surgery in a partially designated hospital.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Double encryption

A blind Francophone man complained to us after a designated community health centre in Northern Ontario sent him confidential, encrypted documents regarding his health in English only.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Understanding the assessment

A Francophone man required services from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) after he was injured at work.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Unavailable in French

A Francophone woman received a construction notice in English only from Metrolinx, which had been mailed to tenants of a residential building in Toronto.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

A true active offer

A man went to a ServiceOntario branch in central west Toronto to get an accent added to his first name on his health card.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Continuity at work

While at work, a Francophone man noticed that the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) had published a notice on its website in English only about a proceeding.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Understanding the bill

A Francophone woman who was in a car crash in the Ottawa region received a bill from the Ministry of Transportation’s Highway Incident Claims Unit.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2023

7 December 2023

Telephone tag

A Francophone in Eastern Ontario reached out to tell us about her experience as a witness to a situation while camping.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 6, 2023

6 December 2023

County of Haliburton

The Ombudsman received complaints that a closed meeting of council for the County of Haliburton did not fit into the closed meeting exceptions. The Ombudsman found that the closed meeting did not fit into the exceptions for matters under another Act or information supplied in confidence by a third party. However, a portion of the closed session discussion fit within the exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 29, 2023

29 November 2023

Town of Grimsby

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of Grimsby contravened the open meeting rules when it held a closed meeting on February 21, 2023.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 23, 2023

23 November 2023

Township of Morley

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint about a gathering of a quorum of members of council for the Township of Morley on December 14, 2022. The complaint alleged that the gathering was a meeting that did not comply with the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman found that that the Township of Morley contravened the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001 on December 14, 2022. The members of council, who also comprised a quorum of the Roads and Public Utilities Standing Committee, held a discussion in a Township garage with a member of staff regarding snowplowing operations and materially advanced the Township’s business and decision-making. In failing to treat the gathering as a meeting subject to the open meeting rules, the Township of Morley contravened the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 21, 2023

21 November 2023

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman investigated a complaint about a closed meeting held on February 6, 2019 by the General Issues Committee of the City of Hamilton. The discussion in closed session related to a consultant’s report from November 20, 2013 that found that there were low levels of friction on the Red Hill Valley Parkway. The complaint alleged that the Committee breached the open meeting rules when it misrepresented a four-part PowerPoint presentation as a single item, and that some of the content did not fit within the exceptions of the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman concluded that the Committee did not contravene the open meeting requirements under the Municipal Act, 2001, as the in camera discussion was permissible under the Act. However, to improve the accountability and transparency of its meetings, the Ombudsman made best practice suggestions relating to the Committee’s closed meeting procedures.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 16, 2023

16 November 2023

Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding two closed meetings held by council for the Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers on July 26 and August 9, 2023.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 16, 2023

16 November 2023

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint that a meeting of the City of Hamilton’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Sub-Committee did not livestream a meeting to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2023

8 November 2023

Municipality of Brockton

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that council for the Municipality of Brockton contravened the open meeting rules on February 14, 2023 when it discussed a partnership proposal during a closed session.

The Ombudsman found that discussions about the partnership proposal did not fit within the exception for information supplied in confidence because the information discussed was not supplied confidentially and the reasonable expectation of harm was not clearly established. As a best practice, the Ombudsman recommended that, before relying on the exception for information supplied in confidence, the Municipality should confirm with the third party whether or not the information was supplied in confidence, and, where appropriate, inquire into what concrete harms could be expected if the information was disclosed publicly.
 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 30, 2023

30 October 2023

Huronia Airport Task Force

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that the April 19, 2022 electronic presentation of the Huronia Airport Task Force was not broadcast in the manner specified on the public notice.
 
The Ombudsman found that the Huronia Airport Task Force was a committee of the Town of Midland, the Town of Penetanguishene, and the Township of Tiny under each municipality’s procedure by-law. The Ombudsman determined that as the Huronia Airport Task Force materially advanced its business on April 19, 2022, the presentation was a meeting subject to the open meeting rules in each municipality’s procedure by-law. The Ombudsman found that the Town of Midland, the Town of Penetanguishene, and the Township of Tiny contravened the open meeting rules under their respective procedure by-laws when the municipalities failed to provide updated public notice regarding the changed electronic location of the Huronia Airport Task Force’s meeting on April 19, 2022, or record minutes of that meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 19, 2023

19 October 2023

Town of Deep River

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding the April 19, 2023 meeting of Council for the Town of Deep River.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

2022-2023 Annual Report

Ombudsman's Message - Value for all
In preparing this Annual Report, my eighth as Ombudsman, I am struck by the sheer scope of change that Ontario’s public sector, including my Office, has experienced since 2016.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Dangerously close

An inmate sought our help because he was housed on the same range with another inmate who was facing charges for stabbing him – and, he told us, was now extorting him for access to the canteen, food and phone calls.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Issues overlooked

An inmate told us a correctional officer threw him to the ground and started punching and kneeing him – leaving the inmate with swollen arms and a broken hand.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Added grief

A woman whose common-law spouse had died while they were living in a homeless shelter complained to us that the Chief Coroner’s Office had buried him even though she had requested to claim the body.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Permit me

A woman complained to us about how her municipality handled her request to convert a shipping container into a garden shed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Home again

A woman reached out to us because her family’s subsidized housing unit was uninhabitable after a fire.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

All’s well that ends well

Three residents told us that construction near their homes had caused their wells to dry up.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Every vote counts

Shortly before the day of the October 2022 municipal election, several voters in one municipality complained to us that their mail-in ballots arrived too late.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Capacity concerns

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Guardian angels

A community support worker contacted us with concerns about a 97-year-old neighbour.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Waiting to be heard

A single mom of a child with a disability contacted us in desperation.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Seal of disapproval

A man who pays family support through the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) complained to us that the FRO was garnishing too much from his federal disability payments, leaving him unable to pay his rent.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Suspended payment

A woman was owed thousands of dollars in support payments by a former spouse who was living in British Columbia.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Funding frustration

The mother of an 11-year-old with autism and developmental disabilities contacted us when she wasn’t able to access funding under the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) or the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program (ACSD), even though she believed her child was eligible for both.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Far from home

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Fairness)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Opening doors

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care); Rights (Fairness)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Home security

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.

Issues: Group home; Rights (Good care); Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Sound the alarm

A vendor complained to us after attempting to bid on a school board’s fire alarm testing contract.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Time to reconsider

A college student in an online learning program sought our help after he lost access to one of his courses.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Section connection

A Francophone student complained to us that his French-language high school couldn’t provide him with a “section 23” program, which is support provided through the ministries of Education and Children, Community and Social Services to students who cannot attend school due to identified social, emotional, behavioural or mental health needs.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Going the extra mile

A mother complained to us that her child’s school bus route was far too long, averaging four hours per day.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Permanent solution

A man was trying to renew a health card on behalf of his son, who has a disability and does not have a driver’s licence.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Positive test result

A pregnant woman who had tested positive for an infection contacted us when she received the results from Public Health Ontario and realized that the wrong follow-up test had been done.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

At your service

A mother sought our help when a DriveTest centre wouldn’t let her daughter bring her certified service dog on her road test.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Name shame

A mother contacted us in frustration about the conduct of a driving instructor towards her son, a student driver.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Wurst case scenario

An aspiring hot dog vendor complained to us after waiting for two years for a letter from the Ministry to confirm that his custom-built propane-fueled hot dog cart did not require a vehicle identification number or licence plate.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Tricky ticket

A woman contacted us after a difficult experience trying to resolve a traffic ticket.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Birth displace

A woman who was born in Ontario but living in Quebec applied for a name change after discovering that her birth registration listed the wrong name.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Copy that

A woman applied for a replacement birth certificate for her adult son, who has a disability, but her request was cancelled because her ex-husband had also applied for a birth certificate for him (ServiceOntario does not permit individuals to have two birth certificates).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

What’s in a name?

A woman who immigrated to Canada as a child sought our help in changing her name on official documents.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Wait for it

A woman who had been approved for a second payment of $10,000 from the Ontario Small Business Support Grant program, sought our help after months of waiting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Expense suspense

An injured worker had been approved by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to see a doctor some distance from his home.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Dues blues

A Francophone man in Quebec had been told he still owed dues for his trade licence, dating back to when he lived in Ontario a decade ago.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2023

5 October 2023

Flood of concern

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 2, 2023

2 October 2023

Submission to the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s consultation regarding training for peace officers and use of force by police services

The Ministry of the Solicitor General has requested public and stakeholder input on various proposed regulations made under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 20, 2023

20 September 2023

Municipality of Callander

The Ombudsman received complaints about meetings held by the Committee of Adjustment; the Culture, Heritage and Tourism Committee; the Events Committee; and the Implementation and Beautification Advisory Committee in the Municipality of Callander.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 7, 2023

7 September 2023

Lessons for the Long Term

Investigation into the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s oversight of long-term care homes through inspection and enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 7, 2023

7 September 2023

Municipality of West Elgin

The Ombudsman received a complaint that members of the public could not access the live broadcast of a meeting of council for the Municipality of West Elgin after council returned to open session from a closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 22, 2023

22 August 2023

Submission regarding the Five Year Review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 25, 2023

25 July 2023

Watchful help

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Group home; Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 12, 2023

12 July 2023

Township of Alberton

Our Office received a complaint from a person who was removed from the Township of Alberton’s May 11, 2022 hybrid council meeting because they refused to identify themselves on Zoom. The Township has a requirement that all attendees of council meetings, whether in person or virtual, must identify themselves. The purpose of this requirement in the context of virtual council meetings is to prevent “Zoom bombings”, in which uninvited individuals join a meeting and act in a disruptive manner.

The Ombudsman concluded that by removing the complainant from the meeting on May 11, 2022, the Township contravened the open meeting rules. Municipalities have an obligation to ensure that members of the public can freely access and observe open meetings and must be careful about placing conditions on their ability to do so. While not all such conditions will necessarily be a violation of the open meeting rules, in this case, requiring the public identification of all attendees was an overly intrusive measure that was not proportionate to the objective of preventing “Zoom bombings”.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 7, 2023

7 July 2023

Township of Adjala-Tosorontio

The Ombudsman reviewed complaints that council for the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio contravened the open meeting rules on June 29, 2021, and March 1 and 7, 2022.

The Ombudsman found that discussions with Township solicitors about a development project and a specific agreement fit within the exception for solicitor-client privilege. However, he found that several resolutions to close the meeting to the public did not include a general description of the topic to be discussed in camera. He also found that council failed to formally vote on a resolution to move in camera. Finally, the Ombudsman found issues with the Township’s procedural by-law, which did not adequately address public notice for special meetings of council, and with the Township’s minutes, which fell short of the requirements outlined in its procedural by-law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 5, 2023

5 June 2023

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint alleging that the Board of Trustees for the Hamilton Waterfront Trust contravened the open meeting rules on February 21, 2023 when it discussed a letter outlining the Ombudsman’s findings about previous closed meeting complaints in closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 1, 2023

1 June 2023

Municipality of Calvin

The Ombudsman received two complaints about electronic meetings held by council for the Municipality of Calvin on May 10 and June 14, 2022. The complaints alleged that the Municipality did not provide the public with proper public notice or the means to observe these two electronic council meetings, contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipality’s procedure by-law.

The Ombudsman found that council for the Municipality of Calvin contravened the open meeting rules by failing to ensure proper notice was provided for the May 10 and June 14, 2022 meetings. Additionally, the Ombudsman found that council contravened the Act on June 14, 2022, by failing to ensure that the public could observe the meeting in real time.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 30, 2023

30 May 2023

Bringing a smile

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).

Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA); Rights (Good care)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 19, 2023

19 May 2023

Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport Commission

The Ombudsman received complaints that the Niagara Central Dorothy Rungeling Airport Commission lacked a procedure by-law and held meetings that did not comply with the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 17, 2023

17 May 2023

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint alleging that council for the Town of Amherstburg held an illegally closed meeting over dinner on June 13, 2022 in between a scheduled in camera meeting and a scheduled open meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 15, 2023

15 May 2023

Town of Huntsville

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding the September 28, 2022 meeting of the Town of Huntsville’s General Committee.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 12, 2023

12 May 2023

City of London

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding the January 23, 2023 meeting of the City of London’s Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 10, 2023

10 May 2023

Township of Douro-Dummer

The Ombudsman received a complaint that a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Douro-Dummer did not fit within the open meeting exceptions.
 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 9, 2023

9 May 2023

Submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 98, Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, 2023

The Ombudsman of Ontario is appointed under the Ombudsman Act as an independent and impartial Officer of the Ontario Legislature.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 4, 2023

4 May 2023

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 Tenant Board

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 13, 2023

13 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 children’s aid society to ensure the safety of “Misty”

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 28, 2023

28 March 2023

Municipality of Arran-Elderslie

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie held meetings that did not comply with the Municipal Act 2001’s open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 20, 2023

20 March 2023

Grey Bruce Health Unit

The Ombudsman investigated a special closed meeting held by the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s Board of Health on May 12, 2021 and a closed meeting held by the Board’s Executive Committee on May 10, 2021. The Ombudsman found that the Board of Health fits within the definition of a “local board” under the Municipal Act, 2001, while the Executive Committee fits within the definition of a “committee”, and accordingly, both are subject to the open meeting rules.

The Ombudsman found that the discussions of the Executive Committee and the Board of Health on May 10 and 12, 2021 fit within the exceptions for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege and litigation or potential litigation. He also found that the Board’s discussion on May 12, 2021 fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual. However, the Ombudsman found that both the Board of Health and the Executive Committee contravened the open meeting rules by passing resolutions to move into closed session without providing a general description of the matters to be discussed and by failing to keep a record of all matters discussed in the meeting minutes.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 3, 2023

3 March 2023

City of Greater Sudbury

The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the City of Greater Sudbury on July 12, 2022, during which council received detailed information and legal advice about two third-party bids for a proposed municipal project.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 24, 2023

24 February 2023

City of London

The Ombudsman received a complaint that members of council for the City of London met improperly behind closed doors ahead of a meeting of the city’s Corporate Services Committee (“the Committee”) on October 12, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 22, 2023

22 February 2023

Submission regarding proposed regulations for special constables

The Ministry of the Solicitor General has requested public and stakeholder input on four proposed regulations under the Community Safety and Policing Act, 2019 regarding special constables.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 16, 2023

16 February 2023

Township of Emo

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint about a training session held by council for the Township of Emo on May 28, 2022. The complaint alleged that council contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 and its procedure by-law when it held a budget training in a closed session without providing notice to the public.

The Ombudsman found that council for the Township of Emo did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 or its own procedure by-law when it held a training session in camera on May 28, 2022. The session fit into the “education and training” exception since council received training on the new budget format and did not materially advance its business or decision-making.  Additionally, the Township was not required to post notice of the training session, as it did not constitute a meeting under the Municipal Act, 2001, and was therefore not subject to the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 9, 2023

9 February 2023

Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 on June 20, 2022, by failing to admit a member of the public to a meeting that was held virtually, using Zoom.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 8, 2023

8 February 2023

City of Cornwall

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding closed meetings held by the City of Cornwall’s Municipal Grants Review Committee / Working Group on November 9 and November 30, 2021. The complaint raised concerns that these meetings were closed contrary to the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman found that the Committee is a committee of council and must comply with the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that the Committee’s discussion on November 9, 2021 did not fit within any exception to the open meeting rules. The Committee also contravened the Act on November 30, 2021, as only some of its in camera discussion fit within a prescribed exception to the Act’s open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 6, 2023

6 February 2023

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received complaints about the Hamilton Waterfront Trust’s meeting practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 1, 2023

1 February 2023

Township of Adjala-Tosorontio

The Ombudsman received a complaint about gatherings held by the newly elected council for the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio on November 15, 24, and 29, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 30, 2023

30 January 2023

Township of McKellar

The Ombudsman reviewed complaints that council for the Township of McKellar contravened the open meeting rules during meetings on August 24, August 31, and September 9, 2021, and April 12, 2022 relating to the public’s ability to observe meetings of council.

The Ombudsman found that the Township contravened the Municipal Act, 2001, on August 24, 2021, when audio and connectivity issues prevented the public from observing the livestreamed meeting, and on August 31, 2021, when it failed to publicly livestream the meeting after council came out of closed session. Council also contravened the open meeting rules when it provided contradictory information about the time and location of its September 9, 2021 meeting and the location of its April 12, 2022 meeting in public notices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 30, 2023

30 January 2023

Township of Nipissing

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint about numerous closed meetings held by the Township of Nipissing. The complaint alleged that council’s in camera discussions did not fit within any of the closed meeting exceptions under the Municipal Act, 2001, and should have occurred in open session. The Ombudsman determined that council for the Township of Nipissing did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 during in camera meetings on February 17, March 9, April 6, May 18, June 8, and August 3, 2021. The Ombudsman found that these in camera discussions were permissible under the Act’s closed meeting exceptions. However, the Ombudsman found that the Township contravened the Act on July 13, 2021, when it discussed the Township’s hiring plan in camera. This discussion did not fall within any of the Act’s closed meeting exceptions, and could have been parsed from the rest of council’s in camera discussion.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 23, 2023

23 January 2023

Municipality of Casselman

The Ombudsman received complaints alleging that council for the Municipality of Casselman contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it discussed the purchase of an identified property during a closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 18, 2023

18 January 2023

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the City of Hamilton’s Working Group of the Physician Recruitment and Retention Steering Committee violated the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001 when it held meetings on January 12, September 14, October 14, October 29, November 23, and December 14, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 4, 2023

4 January 2023

Township of Prince

The Ombudsman reviewed two complaints about an emergency closed meeting held by council for the Township of Prince on March 15, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 3, 2023

3 January 2023

City of Sault Ste. Marie

The Ombudsman reviewed complaints about meetings held by the Cultural Vitality Committee and the Tourism Board of the City of Sault Ste. Marie. The Ombudsman determined that the Cultural Vitality Committee contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 on November 17, 2021, by holding a meeting that did not comply with the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman found that the meeting was not open to the public, as the Committee did not provide the public with information about how to attend the virtual meeting. However, the Ombudsman found that the Cultural Vitality Committee’s resolution to proceed in camera was sufficiently descriptive to provide information to the public without undermining the reason for excluding the public. The Ombudsman also found that the Tourism Board contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 on November 25, 2021 by holding a meeting that did not comply with the open meeting requirements. The meeting was not open to the public, as the Board did not provide the public with information on how to attend the virtual meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 19, 2022

19 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, 2018

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 13, 2022

13 December 2022

Norfolk County

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding closed meetings held by council for Norfolk County on March 8, April 12, and May 10, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Translation audit-y

A man noticed a post in French on the Office of the Auditor General’s Twitter account, announcing the release of its annual report on the environment.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Language integrity

A man saw a post in French on Twitter from the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, indicating that the latest report from the Integrity Commissioner was available, with a link to the report “Re: The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, President of the Treasury Board.”

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Equivalent access to information

A woman seeking a review as part of her work visited the website of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

“Please speak in English”

A man shared with us his family’s experience after their dying mother was admitted to a designated hospital in Northern Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Positive result

A man complained to us about the lack of French language services at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Services in French at home

A woman contacted us because she was unable to obtain home care services in French for her spouse, who had lost the ability to speak English due to health problems.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Skills in French required

A crane operator attempted to contact Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) to request an explanation regarding an invoice and was unable to obtain services in French.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Entitled to inclusion

We were contacted by a Francophone mother whose child identifies as female – which represented a change from the gender assigned to the child at birth.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

“Help wanted” in both languages

A man filed a complaint about Ontario Health’s job postings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2022

12 December 2022

Without subtitles

A woman informed us that French subtitles had disappeared from the videos on the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s Facebook page entitled “Lieux de travail de l’Ontario [Ontario At Work].”

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 9, 2022

9 December 2022

Town of Wasaga Beach

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the Coordinated Committee for the Town of Wasaga Beach contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 on July 21, 2022, when it moved in camera to discuss a report pertaining to the redevelopment of Town-owned property.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2022

7 December 2022

2021-2022 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario

Commissioner's Message - The future begins now

This is already my third Annual Report as French Language Services Commissioner, within the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario.

When I reflect on the progress we have achieved since May 1, 2019, I am proud of the work we have accomplished. My objective with this report is to take stock and to seize the opportunity to look to the future, in light of possibilities arising from the modernization of the French Language Services Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 24, 2022

24 November 2022

Uninterrupted visits

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.
 

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 11, 2022

11 November 2022

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the City of Niagara Falls held a closed meeting on April 12, 2022 that did not comply with the requirements in the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 26, 2022

26 October 2022

Submission to the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s consultation regarding equipment and use of force by police services

The Ministry of the Solicitor General has requested public and stakeholder input on proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 926/90 concerning equipment and the use of force by police services.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 18, 2022

18 October 2022

Help is en route

A Francophone man who wanted some information about renewing his licence plate contacted our Office because he was unable to obtain service in French from a ServiceOntario office in a designated area.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 29, 2022

29 September 2022

Continuing education

A woman contacted us to complain about her experience with inadequate French services from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, both during telephone conversations and in written communications in response to her access to information request.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 26, 2022

26 September 2022

Township of Minden Hills

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding closed meetings held by council for the Township of Minden Hills in 2021 and 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 13, 2022

13 September 2022

Town of South Bruce Peninsula

The Ombudsman received two complaints alleging that the Town of South Bruce Peninsula voted in closed session on April 28, 2022, contrary to the requirements in the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 7, 2022

7 September 2022

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding a meeting held by the Heritage Permit Review Sub-Committee on March 15, 2022, and a meeting held by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Advisory Committee on March 29, 2022, for the City if Hamilton.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 31, 2022

31 August 2022

City of Pickering

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the City of Pickering violated the open meeting rules found in the Municipal Act, 2001 on January 10, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 31, 2022

31 August 2022

Dufferin County

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding a closed meeting held by Dufferin County’s Infrastructure and Environmental Services Standing Committee on April 28, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 19, 2022

19 August 2022

Municipality of Casselman

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Municipality of Casselman contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 during a meeting on October 26, 2021, by failing to pass a resolution describing the general nature of the matter to be discussed in closed session before moving in camera. The Ombudsman found that council contravened subsection 239(4) of the Act when it failed to state by resolution the general nature of the matter to be considered in camera. The Ombudsman also noted that the minutes did not accurately reflect the proceedings of the meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 19, 2022

19 August 2022

Municipality of Casselman

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Municipality of Casselman held a closed session on May 27, 2021, when three members of council participated in a video call pertaining to a development project with a neighbouring municipality. The presence of two members of council was never disclosed to other participants on the video call. The complainant was concerned that this gathering constituted an illegal meeting under the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman found that the video call did not contravene the Act because the discussions during the call were technical and informational in nature and did not materially advance council business or decision-making. However, the Ombudsman strongly encouraged the Municipality to maximize the transparency of its practices by disclosing the presence of all participants at any virtual gathering.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 15, 2022

15 August 2022

City of Brockville

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that council for the City of Brockville contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it went in camera on October 13, 2021. Council’s in camera discussions pertained to an employee’s performance in their role and to the employee’s conduct. The complaint also raised concerns relating to public notice for the meeting on October 13, 2021, and also for a meeting on October 18, 2021. The Ombudsman found that council’s in camera discussion on October 13, 2021 was permissible under the exception at paragraph 239(2)(b) of the Act, personal matters about an identifiable individual. However, council contravened the Act by failing to state in its resolution the general nature of the matter to be considered, as required by subsection 239(4). The Ombudsman also found that council did not comply with subsection 238(2.1) of the Act on October 13 and October 18, 2021 because its procedure by-law fails to provide for public notice about the calling, place and proceedings of special meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

2021-2022 Annual Report

Ombudsman's Message - A gradual return
It is with cautious optimism that my colleagues and I turn the page on 2021-2022 and plan for a gradual return to the activities and methods of operation that we were forced to curtail with the onset of COVID-19 more than two years ago.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

The right to know

After an inmate complained to us that he was pushed to the ground and attacked by several correctional officers, we intervened to verify that a local investigation had been conducted.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Supplemental care

An inmate with HIV complained that he hadn’t been receiving testosterone and other supplements he required to prevent muscle deterioration.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Email retrieved

A man contacted us in frustration after his application to have his issue heard by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) was dismissed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Voting rights – and wrongs

A man who was in jail awaiting sentencing complained to us that correctional officials had told him he could not vote in the September 2021 federal election, even though he was eligible.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Culvert conundrum

A homeowner complained to us that her municipality was demanding she pay more than $5,000 in fees for a permit for a culvert that had been built under her driveway years ago.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Personal reasons

A man seeking a property tax deferment complained to us that council had unfairly rejected his request because there wasn’t time to consider it.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Triple trouble

A woman complained to us that she had no idea why her water bill had tripled in a few months with no change to her consumption, and the municipal billing department would not help.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Paying the piper

After water rates were increased in a small municipality, we received 48 complaints from local residents who disagreed with the increase.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Far and unfair

We received a complaint from the father of a student with disabilities who resides during the week at a provincial demonstration school in southern Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Vaccination pass

A university student who was exclusively enrolled in online courses and as an online teaching assistant complained to us that he was “unenrolled” because he did not provide proof that he had received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Conversion confusion

A man who had accidentally submitted incorrect information to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) sought our help when OSAP converted his $32,000 grant to a loan.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Please remain seated

A man studying online for his real estate certification complained to us after he was accused of leaving his seat during a virtual exam and then locked out of the program.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Power arrangers

A woman who was behind on her hydro bills asked Ontario Works (OW) for help to avoid getting disconnected.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Found money

A mother had been waiting for months to access support funding to assist with her nine-year-old son’s developmental mental health conditions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Breaking the bank

A woman who was owed more than $10,000 in support payments from her ex-husband complained to us that she had provided documents to the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) proving that he had the money in a bank account, but the FRO would not take action.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Voicemail jail

An Ontario Works (OW) recipient urgently needed help when her benefits were suspended because she submitted some paperwork late.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Post-mortem refund

A man who had continued to make regular family support payments to his former mother-in-law, who had cared for his now-adult daughter, complained to us after he learned the older woman had been dead for more than a year.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Slow-speed cheque

A man contacted our Office after waiting almost two years for the Ministry of Transportation to return a $5,000 security deposit.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Clean record

A woman who needed to drive to visit her husband in hospital sought our help after ServiceOntario told her she could not renew her licence.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Fax confirmed

A woman complained to us that the Ministry of Transportation had suspended her licence even though she had faxed in her eye test results a month earlier for special review.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Address unknown

A woman sought our help when she found out her driver’s licence had been suspended for medical reasons five years earlier, without her knowledge.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Form fix

We heard from a man who was still waiting for his semi-annual grant for ostomy supplies from the Ministry’s Assistive Devices Program.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Deductible decision

A man contacted our Office after trying unsuccessfully to have his Trillium Drug Program deductible increased.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Tell us more

A man contacted us on behalf of his father, who was immunocompromised and receiving cancer treatments.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Extension explained

A woman whose husband was killed in a workplace accident complained to us that she had heard nothing about the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development’s investigation of the incident for more than a year.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Second chance

After receiving the first of two Small Business Support Grant payments, a business owner was told he was no longer eligible for the second.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Delay of name

A mother complained to us about delays in obtaining long-form birth certificates for her two university-aged children, who needed the documents to apply for post-secondary education funding.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2022

10 August 2022

Apply, return, repeat

A mother contacted us in frustration after waiting several months for her son’s name change to be processed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 29, 2022

29 July 2022

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman received complaints alleging that council for the Town of Amherstburg violated the open meeting rules found in the Municipal Act, 2001 when it held in camera meetings on August 8, September 13, November 8, and November 16, 2021.

The Ombudsman found that the Town did not contravene the Act’s open meeting requirements in closing these meetings to the public. However, the Town contravened section 239(4)(a) of the Act on September 13 and November 16, 2021 by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in camera. The Town also contravened the requirements of section 239(7) of the Act by failing to keep a record of what occurred in camera on November 8 and November 16, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 29, 2022

29 July 2022

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a special council meeting held by the Township of Russell on January 10, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 20, 2022

20 July 2022

Timely help

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 14, 2022

14 July 2022

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding a closed meeting held by the Governance Committee for the Niagara Falls Downtown Business Improvement Area on January 12, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2022

6 July 2022

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the Committee of the Whole for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it received an update about negotiations with a commercial partner during a closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 30, 2022

30 June 2022

Please try again later

We received a complaint from a Francophone who contacted the Ministry of Finance regarding provincial property taxes in an unorganized territory in Northern Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 20, 2022

20 June 2022

Township of Lanark Highlands

The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Lanark Highlands on December 7, 2021. Council proceeded in camera to discuss the performance of an individual in the context of their employment with the Township. Council also discussed the Township’s finances, which would typically occur in open session. However, the Ombudsman found that it would have been impractical for council to parse its discussion of the Township’s finances from its discussion about the performance of an employee. The Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 since the meeting fit under the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 15, 2022

15 June 2022

Town of Pelham

The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Town of Pelham on April 19, 2021, during which council discussed future management and potential development of the local airport. The Ombudsman found that council contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it met in closed session since the discussion did not fit under any exceptions to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman also found that council contravened the requirements of section 239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001 when it failed to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in camera.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 9, 2022

9 June 2022

Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that the Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it went in camera during a meeting on September 27, 2021. The Ombudsman found that the Commission’s discussion about an agreement with a client was permissible under the exception for plans and instructions for negotiations. However, the Commission contravened the Act when it discussed an agreement with municipalities and the related withdrawal process, as well as financial information. Moreover, prior to moving into closed session, the Commission failed to state in its resolution the general nature of the matter to be considered as required by subsection 239(4) of the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2022

31 May 2022

Helping displaced Ukrainians obtain driver's licences

As large numbers of Ukrainians have sought refuge in Ontario in the wake of Russia’s invasion of their country, Ontario has made efforts to help them settle. However, we recently heard of some having difficulty in obtaining driver’s licences.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 24, 2022

24 May 2022

City of Owen Sound

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the City of Owen Sound violated the open meeting rules found in the Municipal Act, 2001 on March 14, 2022.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 20, 2022

20 May 2022

Bruce County

The Ombudsman received a complaint about four meetings of Bruce County’s Executive Committee on September 21, 2017, August 2 and September 6, 2018, and January 10, 2019. The complaint alleged that the Committee contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it closed these meetings to the public and failed to report back in open session about its discussions.

The Ombudsman found that the Committee did not contravene the Act when it proceeded in camera on August 2, 2018. However, the Committee contravened the Act on September 21, 2017, and September 6, 2018. The Committee’s brief in camera discussion on January 10, 2019, about a new position for a specified individual fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual, however, this matter could have been parsed from the rest of the Committee’s discussion, which did not fit within any of the closed meeting exceptions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 19, 2022

19 May 2022

French connections

A person complained that some LinkedIn accounts of the Ontario government and its agencies, including those of the Ministry of Transportation and Ontario Health, showed a unilingual English logo and title.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 12, 2022

12 May 2022

Township of Huron-Kinloss

The Ombudsman received a complaint about three closed meetings held by council for the Township of Huron-Kinloss.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 5, 2022

5 May 2022

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that meetings of the Board of Directors of the Niagara Falls Hydro Holding Corporation constitute meetings of City council, and that consequently, these meetings do not comply with the Municipal Act, 2001’s open meeting requirements because they are not open to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 29, 2022

29 April 2022

ID help

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 29, 2022

29 April 2022

Transit news, now bilingual

A man informed us that although he had chosen to receive the Metrolinx e-newsletter about the Ontario Line in French, it was still being emailed to him in English every week.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 26, 2022

26 April 2022

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 13, 2022

13 April 2022

City of Kawartha Lakes

The Ombudsman received a complaint about two working group meetings of the Off Road Vehicle Task Force of the City of Kawartha Lakes held on February 19 and March 4, 2021. The complainant alleged that the meetings were held in violation of the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001 because they were not open to the public. The Ombudsman found that the Task Force was a committee of council and was therefore required to comply with the open meeting rules. It was determined that there was quorum and the business of the Task Force was materially advanced at the February 19 and March 4, 2021 working group meetings. In closing these meetings to the public, the Task Force violated the requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 5, 2022

5 April 2022

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that council for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it went in camera on August 11, 2020. Council’s in camera discussion pertained to a study report and a funding application, both related to an internet broadband project.

The Ombudsman found that council’s discussion about the study report was permissible under the exception at s. 239(2)(j), information belonging to the municipality. However, council contravened the Act by discussing the funding application in camera and by holding a vote by consensus on this matter. Furthermore, prior to moving into closed session, council failed to state in its resolution the general nature of the matter to be considered as required by s. 239(4).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 31, 2022

31 March 2022

Strengthening the Designation: A Collaborative Effort

Investigation into Laurentian University’s cuts to French-language programming during restructuring and into the administration of the university’s designation by the Ministry of Francophone Affairs and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 28, 2022

28 March 2022

Town of Hawkesbury

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of Hawkesbury met in closed session on November 8, 2021, contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 28, 2022

28 March 2022

Township of McMurrich/Monteith

The Ombudsman investigated two closed meetings held by council for the Township of McMurrich/Monteith on June 8 and July 6, 2021. The Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 when it held a closed meeting on June 8, 2021 since part of the discussion fit under the exception for solicitor-client privilege and the rest of the discussion fit under the exception for plans or instructions for negotiations. The Ombudsman found that the delegation to council during the closed meeting on July 6, 2021 did not fit under any closed meeting exceptions while council’s subsequent discussion fit under the exception for litigation or potential litigation. Accordingly, the Ombudsman found that council contravened the Municipal Act because it would have been possible for council to parse the delegation portion of the meeting from its subsequent discussion.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 23, 2022

23 March 2022

In French, please, Your Honour

We were contacted by a person who requested a bilingual hearing at a courthouse in Northern Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 23, 2022

23 March 2022

A helping hand

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care); Rights (Get help)

 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 15, 2022

15 March 2022

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Niagara Falls contravened the open meeting rules when it discussed the process for establishing a Chief Administrative Officer recruitment sub-committee in closed session on November 17, 2020. The discussion did not fit within any exception under the Municipal Act, 2001.

The Ombudsman also found that council failed to describe the subject to be discussed in closed session in its resolution to proceed in camera. Council further contravened the Act when it passed a resolution to go in camera during a portion of the meeting that was effectively closed to the public, as the public was unable to attend in person or observe a live broadcast.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 25, 2022

25 February 2022

Refusal reversed

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA); Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 8, 2022

8 February 2022

Municipality of St.-Charles

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the Environmental Services Committee for the Municipality of St.-Charles held a closed session on August 17, 2021, when the two members sitting on the Committee attended a gathering with residents relating to garbage collection issues.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 2, 2022

2 February 2022

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint about an electronic meeting held by the City of Hamilton’s Board of Health on August 11, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 31, 2022

31 January 2022

Overcoming obstacles

A youth in care sought our help in filing a complaint about staff at her residential placement.

Issue: Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 28, 2022

28 January 2022

For follow-up in French, press 2

A man contacted the provincial COVID-19 vaccine system by phone and chose the “French” option to request his proof of vaccination by mail.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 25, 2022

25 January 2022

Township of Pelee

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed session held by council for the Township of Pelee on June 22, 2021. The Ombudsman found that since council did not discuss a matter in a way that materially advanced business or decision-making, the gathering was not a meeting subject to open meeting rules under the Municipal Act. The Ombudsman found that even if the gathering had been a meeting, it was permissible to have the discussion in camera under the exception for education or training.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 21, 2022

21 January 2022

Town of Collingwood

The Ombudsman reviewed two closed meetings held by council for the Town of Collingwood on February 6 and June 11, 2018. The Ombudsman found that legal fee quotes containing specific information, such as suggested strategy, constitute advice subject to solicitor-client privilege. The Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 since both meetings fit under the exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 5, 2022

5 January 2022

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received complaints about the meeting practices of the Board of Directors for the City of Hamilton Farmers’ Market.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 29, 2021

29 December 2021

Township of Nairn and Hyman

The Ombudsman reviewed meetings held by the Investigation Committee in the Township of Nairn and Hyman. The Ombudsman found that the municipality contravened the open meeting rules when it did not provide public notice of Investigation Committee meetings and when council did not state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be discussed in camera. The Ombudsman recommended that the Township ensure it provides public notice for all committee meetings, and that resolutions to proceed in camera provide a general description of the issues to be discussed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 16, 2021

16 December 2021

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Township of Russell contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it proceeded in camera on November 16, 2020 to discuss an infrastructure project. The complaint contended that the discussion did not fit within any exception to the open meeting rules. After investigating the matter, the Ombudsman held that council’s discussion was permissible under the exceptions at s. 239(2)(c), acquisition or disposition of land, and s. 239(2)(k), plans and instructions for negotiations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 13, 2021

13 December 2021

Town of Wasaga Beach

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Town of Wasaga Beach contravened the Municipal Act, 2001’s open meeting requirements on September 22, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 10, 2021

10 December 2021

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Russell to discuss information received in confidence from another level of government.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 9, 2021

9 December 2021

Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint alleging that the Saugeen Municipal Airport Commission contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it did not provide consistent public notice of its electronic meetings, including instructions on how to access the meetings. The complaint further alleged that the Commission contravened the open meeting rules because members of the public were unable to rejoin meetings after the commissioners rose from closed session. The Ombudsman found that the Commission is a local board and contravened the Municipal Act when it held meetings without providing adequate public notice, and by failing to pass a procedure by-law governing its meetings. The Commission also contravened the Municipal Act when it failed to adequately notify members of the public about how to request readmission to the portion of an open meeting following a closed session. The Ombudsman recognized that the Commission did not intend to exclude the public and commended the Commission’s efforts to increase transparency through changes to its public notice process and adoption of a formal procedure to ensure that observers are adequately informed about how to observe portions of a meeting occurring after a closed session. The Ombudsman recommended that the Commission adopt a procedure by-law governing its meetings and providing for public notice of all meetings. The Ombudsman further recommended that the Commission ensure the public is able to observe all open portions of meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 9, 2021

9 December 2021

Town of Espanola

The Ombudsman received a complaint in May 2021 that a quorum of council for the Town of Espanola, made up of the Mayor and three councillors, improperly met on January 31, 2019 behind closed doors after the regular council meeting had concluded, contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2021

7 December 2021

2020-2021 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario

Commissioner's Message - Taking Care of Ontario's Linguistic Health
This is the second Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner presented by the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario. As we look back on the past year, we are more motivated than ever by the opportunity we have, even amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to find effective solutions to the challenges we confront.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2021

7 December 2021

Errors identified

In February 2021, the government launched an online consultation to get ideas and feedback on its plan to introduce a digital ID (digital identification).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2021

7 December 2021

The award goes to…

We were contacted by a person who watched the Trillium Awards ceremony on Facebook on June 17, 2020, which was held in English only.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2021

7 December 2021

Improvements on track

We were contacted by a Francophone woman after she tried to call Metrolinx. Although she chose the French phone line, she said the agent who took the call could only speak English.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2021

7 December 2021

Cured by translation

We were contacted by a person who visited the Ontario Health Data Platform website to learn more about a Ministry of Health research project – only to discover the site was only available in English.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2021

7 December 2021

Problem extinguished

A man working at a French-language school board contacted us because he wanted to obtain the French version of the Fire Code (Regulation 213/07 of the Fire Protection and Prevention Act) in order to know the provisions that apply to school facilities.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2021

7 December 2021

Electrifying solution

We were contacted by a person living in a designated area of Eastern Ontario who requested the French version of an inspection report conducted by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 6, 2021

6 December 2021

Loyalist Township

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for Loyalist Township improperly held a closed session on May 3, 2021, when a council member conducted a series of individual phone calls with other council members ahead of a committee meeting concerning a grant policy.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 1, 2021

1 December 2021

Municipality of Temagami

The Ombudsman received a complaint about closed meetings held electronically by council for the Municipality of Temagami on March 8, 2021 and March 25, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 29, 2021

29 November 2021

Duty to report

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.

Issues: Duty to report; Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 29, 2021

29 November 2021

Call Waiting

A woman told us that she wanted to get physiotherapy care for her father.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 19, 2021

19 November 2021

Township of South Algonquin

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Township of South Algonquin contravened the Municipal Act, 2001’s open meeting requirements on September 8, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 27, 2021

27 October 2021

Online schooling okayed

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.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Disability; Rights (Good care); Rights (Identity)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 27, 2021

27 October 2021

Clinical error

A Francophone woman complained to us that a dermatology clinic at an eastern Ontario hospital did not provide services in French when she booked her appointment on the phone, at reception or during the medical examination.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 20, 2021

20 October 2021

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Town of Fort Erie contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on July 26, 2021 when it met in closed session to discuss the disposition of a fire station.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 18, 2021

18 October 2021

Township of Lucan Biddulph

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint alleging that meetings held by the Baconfest Committee and two workings groups in the Township of Lucan Biddulph contravened the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman found that the Baconfest Committee fell within the Township’s definition of “committee” and that council contravened the open meeting rules when it did not provide notice, or record meeting minutes, of Baconfest Committee meetings. The Ombudsman applauded the Township’s proactive choice to dissolve the two working groups, which was done prior to his investigation, and replace them with one committee. The Ombudsman recommended, as a best practice, that the Township formally establish all committees by by-law, and ensure that all meetings are conducted in accordance with the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 14, 2021

14 October 2021

Town of South Bruce Peninsula

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula improperly met in closed session on March 16, 2021, to receive a delegation  contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 5, 2021

5 October 2021

Submission to the Ministry of Education’s consultation regarding school board governance

The Ontario Ombudsman oversees the administrative conduct of more than 1,000 public sector organizations, including the province’s 72 school boards and 10 school authorities, as well as provincial and demonstration schools.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 1, 2021

1 October 2021

Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on October 8, 2019. The complaint alleged that council’s discussion did not fit within the exception for litigation and potential litigation under the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman’s investigation found that council’s discussion was permissible under this exception, as it related to a matter before an administrative tribunal. However, the Ombudsman found that the Township failed to record minutes of the closed session or state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in camera. The Ombudsman recommended that the Township keep minutes of all open and closed meetings, ensure the integrity of any audio recordings of meetings, and make a number of amendments to bring its procedure by-law in line with the requirements under the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 29, 2021

29 September 2021

Township of South Frontenac

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Township of South Frontenac contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on July 13, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 29, 2021

29 September 2021

Alerting all at once

The French Language Services Unit has received several complaints about the Amber alert system.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 9, 2021

9 September 2021

Municipality of West Nipissing

The Ombudsman received complaints alleging that council for the Municipality of West Nipissing contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on May 12, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 4, 2021

4 September 2021

Township of Lanark Highlands

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Township of Lanark Highlands contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on September 22, 2020. The complaint alleged that council’s discussion did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman’s investigation found that council’s discussion was permissible under the Municipal Act’s closed meeting exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual in s.239(2)(b). As a best practice, the Ombudsman recommended that the Township ensure that its meeting minutes reflect the council’s discussion on all substantive matters and that closed sessions are recorded.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 3, 2021

3 September 2021

Township of Lanark Highlands

The Ombudsman received a complaint about the meeting practices of the Joint Planning Committee (JPC) for the ConnectWell Community Health Centre in the Township of Lanark Highlands.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 25, 2021

25 August 2021

Submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Since January 1, 2016, my Office has had the authority to review complaints about municipalities, including municipal boards and corporations. Between January 1, 2016 and March 31, 2021, we received more than 14,000 complaints about municipalities. Through our review and investigation of complaints, we often identify best practices and suggestions to improve municipal processes and strengthen local governance and accountability. Most municipalities appreciate the information that we provide, and are happy to implement improvements locally.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 24, 2021

24 August 2021

The right words

A Francophone education professional complained to us about the inadequate quality of French on some of the forms for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), a school-to-work transition program offered in high schools across the province.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 4, 2021

4 August 2021

Township of McKellar

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Township of McKellar improperly met in closed session on June 24, 2021, to discuss the West Parry Sound Pool and Wellness Centre contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 4, 2021

4 August 2021

Township of McKellar

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that three councillors for the Township of McKellar improperly met with the incoming CAO/Clerk on March 3, 2021, contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 14, 2021

14 July 2021

Township of Bonfield

The Ombudsman found that the Township of Bonfield violated the open meeting rules when it held meetings in May and June 2020 over Zoom, without broadcasting or otherwise making the meetings accessible to the public. The Ombudsman recognized that these were the first meetings held by the Township during the COVID-19 pandemic, but noted that the pandemic did not alter the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman also found that the Township failed to include information about topics discussed in the meeting minutes, including resolutions that were voted on but failed to pass. He recommended that, as a best practice, the Township improve its minute-taking practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 8, 2021

8 July 2021

Town of Kirkland Lake

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Town of Kirkland Lake contravened the open meeting requirements in the Municipal Act, 2001, when it met in closed session on August 25, 2020. The Ombudsman found that council’s closed session discussion involved scrutinizing individuals’ conduct and job performance and that the employee-employer relationship was central to the discussion. Accordingly, the Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the ‘personal matters’ and ‘labour relations’ exceptions to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that council for the Town of Kirkland Lake contravened the requirements of s.239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001, by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in camera.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 8, 2021

8 July 2021

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held by council for the City of Niagara Falls on October 6, 2020. The complaint alleged that council discussed the designation of the Niagara River as a protected wetland in closed session. The Ombudsman found that this topic fit within the exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege as council received legal advice from the City solicitor about the potential designation. However, the Ombudsman found that council’s resolution to go in camera was not broadcast live. The Ombudsman recommended that the City ensure that the public is able to observe all open portions of electronic meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 29, 2021

29 June 2021

2020-2021 Annual Report

Ombudsman’s Message - Essential Lessons from a Pandemic Year

At this time last year, reporting on the impact of the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ontario public services, I observed that in mid-March 2020, “everything changed.”

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Long-term loan

A man with ALS complained that when he moved into a long-term care home in 2017 due to his deteriorating condition, he become ineligible for the ventilator that he had been provided through the province’s Ventilator Equipment Pool program.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Un-fur treatment

A First Nations trapper sought our help in obtaining a refund from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for licences to sell furs commercially, and a mandatory humane trapping course.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Upstream battle

A homeowner complained to us about a pipe outlet on his property that was leaking foul-smelling fluid. His municipality referred him to the Ministry of Transportation, which denied responsibility.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Home safe

A group home worker raised health and safety concerns with us after he and a few colleagues contracted COVID-19.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Exclusion explanation

A personal support worker contacted us in frustration when he and his colleagues were denied “pandemic pay,” despite being in close contact with patients.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Open and shut case

A woman who was waiting for the Fair Practices Commissioner (FPC – the WSIB’s internal ombudsman) to assist her with a loss-of-earnings assessment and prescription cost refund sought our help early in the pandemic.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Family connection

A woman contacted us in frustration over delays and a lack of communication from the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) regarding her brother, who was an OPGT client.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Find us online

Several people who work as title searchers complained to us about the province’s decision to end in-person services at all 54 of its Land Registry Offices in October 2020.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Bad form

A father whose child was born through a surrogate mother complained to us after the Registrar General asked him to resubmit the paperwork for registering the birth, and include an additional form swearing that his statements were true.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Double time

A man complained to us about long delays in getting ServiceOntario and the Registrar General to correct a name error on his mother’s death certificate.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Checked and re-chequed

A woman contacted us after she missed several cheques from the province’s Assistive Devices Program (ADP), which she required to cover the cost of ostomy supplies.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Information, please

A woman who has several health issues and relies on Ontario Disability Support Program benefits complained to us that her request for coverage of her medications had been denied by the Ontario Drug Benefit program.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Healthy extension

A woman who had lived in Canada for 76 years sought our help when she attempted to renew her health card and discovered she did not have Canadian citizenship.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

No surrender

A driver complained to us after he was told the Ministry had no record of the licence he had surrendered to them 30 days earlier.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Experience counts

A man who had driving experience in India and in British Columbia sought our help after he tried to obtain an equivalent Ontario driver’s licence.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Kept in suspense

A driver whose licence was suspended as a result of a criminal charge successfully appealed the charge and had it removed from his record.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Letter imperfect

The mother of a 21-year-old woman with developmental disabilities complained to us that she had not been reimbursed by the province’s Passport program for support services that she purchased for her daughter.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Failed to send

An Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipient complained to us that her benefits had been cut off twice without warning.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

After-life support

An unemployed woman who had been paying child support to her children’s father complained to us that the Family Responsibility Office was still intercepting 50% of her unemployment benefits, even though the man had died and the children were now in her care.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Dogged determination

After a youth living in a treatment home complained that his request for a service dog was refused, we followed up with his CAS worker.

Issues: Disability; Rights (Identity)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Talk or else

A 13-year-old in a group home complained that staff were forcing him to talk to them and share his feelings, rather than respecting his privacy.

Issues: Group home; Rights (Good care); Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Culture change

A Black 16-year-old complained that her CAS worker was dismissive of her requests for hair and skin products that met her cultural needs, making her feel like she was being treated differently because of her race.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Black youth; Rights (Identity); Rights (Get help); Rights (Fairness)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Trucker stop

A would-be commercial truck driver complained to us after the private career college where he took his Mandatory Entry Level Training course was suspended by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Slow off the marks

A college graduate seeking to pursue studies at a university sought our help when he was unable to provide official transcripts from the college, whose offices were closed in spring 2020 due to COVID-19.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Process upgrade

A university student who had completed two years of courses applied for late withdrawal because of a previously undiagnosed mental illness.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Cleared up

After a woman told us her drinking water was discoloured and she feared it was unsafe to drink, we contacted her municipality and the Ontario Clean Water Agency, which runs its water system.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Information flow

More than 30 people from the same municipality sought our help with concerns about leaking water pipes.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Bad signs

A man who received a ticket for stopping in a “no stopping” zone complained that only a “no parking” sign was visible from the spot.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Process undermined

Residents who live close to an open-pit mine contacted us in frustration after complaining to their municipality about noise, dust, and emissions for years.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Under the gun

We received numerous complaints in 2020-2021 about delays in approvals by Ontario’s Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) for transfers of restricted firearms.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Report duty

An inmate sought our help after he was involved in an altercation with another inmate and then pepper sprayed and assaulted by correctional officers.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Search terms

Several inmates in the same facility complained to us that they were strip searched in a main hallway, in view of security cameras.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Restraints cause concern

A youth revealed to us that her concerns about being physically restrained at her group home were not being heard.

Issues: Group home; Physical restraints; Death and Serious Bodily Harm Report (DSBH); Rights (Safety); Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

A difficult day

Our Office checked on a youth after we heard she was hurt when her group home staff physically restrained her self-injurious behaviour.

Issues: Group home; Physical restraints; Death and Serious Bodily Harm Report (DSBH); Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Restraining restraints

Our staff reached out to a youth after we learned that he had his arm broken while being restrained by staff at his group home.

Issues: Group home; Physical restraint; Police involvement; Disability; Death and Serious Bodily Harm Report (DSBH); Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Rethinking reliance on police

Our Office made inquiries when we learned that a children’s aid society (CAS) asked the police to bring back a youth who had left her foster home without permission to return to her family home.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Police involvement; Death and Serious Bodily Harm Report (DSBH); Rights (Get help); Rights (Fairness)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Whistleblower heard

A whistleblower came to us with several disturbing allegations about a group home serving children and youth who are medically fragile or have other vulnerabilities.

Issues: Group home; Quality of care; Rights (Good care); Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2021

28 June 2021

Delivered at last

A woman who had been granted full custody of her niece – with the support of a children’s aid society (CAS) – contacted us after waiting four months for a certified copy of the original court order, which she needed in order to apply for a health card and other important items for the girl.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Your file)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 23, 2021

23 June 2021

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received complaints about vote results displayed to the public during electronic meetings held by the City of Hamilton.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 26, 2021

26 May 2021

For service in French, dial OO

A Francophone student seeking information about scholarships via the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) contacted us when he discovered there was no option to select services in French in the automated phone system of the OSAP department he called.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 20, 2021

20 May 2021

Oversight 911

Investigation into how the Ministry of Health oversees patient complaints and incident reports about ambulance services

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 14, 2021

14 May 2021

Municipality of Grey Highlands

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Municipality of Grey Highlands held a closed session on October 7, 2020, that did not fit within the closed meeting exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001. Council discussed plans to proceed with negotiations to enter into a joint venture with a third party and provided staff with directions on a series of matters related to the negotiations. The Ombudsman found that the discussion was permissible under the Act’s closed meeting exception for plans and instructions for negotiations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 14, 2021

14 May 2021

Submission in response to the Ministry’s consultation on proposed changes to Regulation 778

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s proposed amendments to Regulation 778 related to segregation, inmate discipline and misconduct, and mandatory training for correctional officers.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 12, 2021

12 May 2021

City of Greater Sudbury

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held by council for the City of Greater Sudbury on January 12, 2021 via electronic participation. The complaint alleged that council discussed an entertainment district in closed session. The Ombudsman found that council did not discuss the entertainment district. The Ombudsman found that the topics discussed in closed session fit within the exception for personal matters and information supplied in confidence by a third party. However, the Ombudsman found that council’s resolution to go in camera was not broadcast live. The Ombudsman recommended that the City ensure that the public is able to observe all open portions of electronic meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 30, 2021

30 April 2021

Repairing wrongs

A woman sought our help after her two foster children disclosed to her that their former foster parent had been physically and verbally abusive toward them.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Duty to report; Quality of care; Rights (Get help); Rights (Fairness)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 30, 2021

30 April 2021

Landing test

A woman returning from an overseas trip complained to us that she was not served in French during the COVID-19 test she was required to undergo at Toronto Pearson airport.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 22, 2021

22 April 2021

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint about an electronic meeting held by the LGBTQ Advisory Committee for the City of Hamilton. The Ombudsman found that the public livestream of the meeting was not available for approximately 23 minutes. As a result, the Ombudsman found that the public was excluded from the meeting contrary to the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 15, 2021

15 April 2021

Township of the North Shore

The Ombudsman received a complaint about two closed meetings held by council for the Township of the North Shore on October 8 and October 29, 2020.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 14, 2021

14 April 2021

Town of Grimsby

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held by council for the Town of Grimsby on February 16, 2021.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 31, 2021

31 March 2021

City of Richmond Hill

The Ombudsman received complaints about in-person closed meetings held by council for the City of Richmond Hill on April 16 and May 14, 2019, and about electronic council meetings held on April 1, April 22, and May 14, 2020. The Ombudsman found that at each meeting where it was discussed, council’s discussion in camera about a land use planning matter that had been appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal fit within the exception for litigation or potential litigation. However, the Ombudsman found that on April 22 and May 14, 2020, council’s resolution to go in camera was not broadcast live. The Ombudsman recommended that the City ensure that the public is able to observe all open portions of electronic meetings, including the resolution to go in camera and any business conducted after rising from closed session, even when the only item on the agenda is an in camera matter. The Ombudsman also recommended that the City ensure that information on how to access the live broadcast of an electronic meeting is provided in all meeting notices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 30, 2021

30 March 2021

Better bilingual service for landlords and tenants

While the Ombudsman’s systemic investigation into delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is ongoing, we have resolved many individual complaints, including from landlords and tenants who had difficulty receiving services in French.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 30, 2021

30 March 2021

Payment received

A mother complained to us because she was not receiving any family support payments from her children’s father, even though the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) had the ability to garnish his wages.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 29, 2021

29 March 2021

Town of Hawkesbury

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that on June 15, 2020, a quorum of councillors for the Town of Hawkesbury discussed council business that they intended to introduce and vote on at a council meeting scheduled for the next day. The complaint alleged that this discussion amounted to a “meeting” and was improperly closed to the public contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman found that the Town did not violate the Act’s open meeting requirement because the Mayor’s sequential discussions did not constitute meetings under the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 29, 2021

29 March 2021

Township of Lake of Bays

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held on August 19, 2020, by council for the Township of Lake of Bays.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 17, 2021

17 March 2021

County of Norfolk

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the County of Norfolk met in closed session to discuss the budget under the exceptions for personal matters, labour relations and acquisition or disposition of land. The closed session discussion focused on reducing service levels in the municipality by eliminating staff positions. Ombudsman found that council discussed items that fit under the exceptions for personal matters and labour relations. The Ombudsman also found that council’s discussion about selling municipal land to raise capital fit within the “acquisition or disposition of land” exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 12, 2021

12 March 2021

Village of Westport

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding two meetings held by council for the Village of Westport on September 15, 2020. The complaint alleged that due to a technical issue, council did not livestream the virtual committee of the whole or special council meeting for the public. The complaint alleged that, as a result, these meetings were closed to the public contrary to the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman confirmed that the public was excluded from these meetings due to technical issues and that as a result, they were improperly closed to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 2, 2021

2 March 2021

City of Sault Ste. Marie

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held by council for the City of Sault Ste. Marie on July 13, 2020.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 25, 2021

25 February 2021

Seeking the right support

After her second suicide attempt, a 15-year-old girl contacted us from the hospital.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Disability; Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 25, 2021

25 February 2021

Easier to complete

A French-speaking member of the board of directors of a small housing co-op in northern Ontario sought our help when he had trouble completing an annual form from the Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 23, 2021

23 February 2021

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Russell on September 8, 2020.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 10, 2021

10 February 2021

Town of Plympton-Wyoming

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Town of Plympton-Wyoming held a meeting on June 24, 2020 that did not fit within the closed meeting exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman found that council contravened the Act when it discussed how to fill the council vacancy in closed session. The Ombudsman found that this portion of the discussion did not fit within the exception cited under the Act for “personal matters”. Further, because the discussion was not permitted to be closed to the public, council contravened the Act when it decided, in camera, to fill the vacancy by appointment rather than by holding a by-election. The Ombudsman found that council’s closed session discussion regarding two individuals interested in filling the council vacancy fit within the “personal matters” exception under the Act. The Ombudsman also found that council’s vote to consider a motion in open session was a direction to staff and permitted under the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 3, 2021

3 February 2021

Municipality of Temagami

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Municipality of Temagami discussed matters during two closed meetings that did not fit into the exceptions in the Municipal Act. Council met in closed session on June 13, 2019 to discuss a harassment complaint under the personal matters exception. The Ombudsman found that the discussion only focused on the fact that a complaint had been made and did not include any personal information about identifiable individuals. Council met in closed session on November 7, 2019 to receive the findings of an Integrity Commissioner investigation and harassment investigations. During the meeting, council received legal advice from a lawyer. The Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the exceptions for personal matters and advice subject to solicitor-client privilege.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 2, 2021

2 February 2021

Township of Lanark Highlands

The Ombudsman received complaints about the audio quality of a teleconference meeting held on August 11, 2020, by the committee of the whole for the Township of Lanark Highlands.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 29, 2021

29 January 2021

The right balance

A 16-year-old youth complained to us that staff at his group home threatened to lock the refrigerator after he helped himself to food at night when he was hungry.

Issues: Group home; Rights (Good care); Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 29, 2021

29 January 2021

Email fail

After requesting information from the Ministry of Health in French and receiving answers in English twice, a Francophone journalist complained to our Office.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 29, 2021

29 January 2021

Keep on truckin’

A truck driver who crosses the Canada-U.S. border weekly as an essential worker complained to us that a ServiceOntario location would not let him in and demanded he self-isolate for 14 days because he had recently crossed the border.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 28, 2021

28 January 2021

Town of Greater Napanee

The Ombudsman received several complaints related to the meeting practices of the Board of Management for the Greater Napanee Business Improvement Area (the Greater Napanee BIA), which is a local board in the Town of Greater Napanee. The complainants alleged that the Board of Management made a decision about charging a levy without holding a properly constituted board meeting. They also alleged that on June 24, 2020, board members met in private at a local business, contrary to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements.

The Ombudsman found that the board did not violate the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements with regard to the levy decision or the social gathering. The Ombudsman also did not support the complainants’ contention that the then-Chair acted unilaterally regarding the levy.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 13, 2021

13 January 2021

Township of Johnson

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the committee of the whole for the Township of Johnson discussed matters during a closed session of a special council meeting on October 29, 2019, that did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act. Further, the complainant alleged that the Township did not provide notice for the special council meeting. The Ombudsman found that the committee’s discussion about the employment history and qualifications of identifiable individuals fit within the personal matters exception to the Municipal Act’s open meeting rules. Further, the Ombudsman found that the Township of Johnson provided sufficient notice for the special council meeting. However, the Ombudsman found that the committee of the whole violated the open meeting rules when it had a vote in closed session to recommend a candidate to fill the council vacancy.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 22, 2020

22 December 2020

Township of Stone Mills

The Ombudsman received complaints regarding meetings held by the Township of Stone Mills between August 10, 2020 and October 27, 2020.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 10, 2020

10 December 2020

2019-2020 Annual Report of the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario

Commissioner's Message - Two watchdogs, one access point
On January 13, 2020, I officially took up my duties as French Language Services Commissioner, following a rigorous selection process conducted across the country by the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 1, 2020

1 December 2020

Township of Southgate

The Ombudsman found that the Township of Southgate Fire Department Advisory and Support Committee held a meeting on October 22, 2019 that was not illegally closed to the public. However, the Ombudsman found that by proceeding to discuss fire services more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start time of the meeting, the township contravened its procedure by-law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 24, 2020

24 November 2020

Keeping watch

A woman worried about the health and safety of a young relative complained to us that the local children’s aid society (CAS) had done “nothing” in response to her concerns.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Quality of care

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 24, 2020

24 November 2020

You have the choice

Our French Language Services Unit received two complaints from people who called the general DriveTest phone line to book driving tests and were obligated to listen to a 90-second message in English only.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 24, 2020

24 November 2020

At your service

A small business owner reached out to us after he was unable to update the information attached to his business licence through ServiceOntario, despite several attempts.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 5, 2020

5 November 2020

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held by the General Issues Committee for the City of Hamilton on August 10, 2020.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 29, 2020

29 October 2020

Right-ing on the wall

A 16-year-old who has a developmental disability and lives in a group home contacted us to raise questions about his rights.

Issues: Group home; Disability; Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 29, 2020

29 October 2020

A better way

A 13-year-old racialized youth complained to us after her children’s aid society (CAS) called the police to transport her to a new group home – which they did by handcuffing her and placing her in the back of a police vehicle.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Police involvement; Rights (Identity)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 13, 2020

13 October 2020

Township of Emo

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Township of Emo contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on June 23, 2020. The complaint alleged that council’s discussion relating to a “Council Code of Conduct” matter did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman’s investigation found that council’s discussion was permissible under the Municipal Act’s closed meeting exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual in s. 239(2)(b). However, the Ombudsman found that the Township contravened the requirements of section 239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in camera.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 29, 2020

29 September 2020

To be or not to be… in French

A woman in Thunder Bay decided to go to a local ServiceOntario to update her home address on her driver’s licence, after first checking the website to confirm the service location offered services in French.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 28, 2020

28 September 2020

Family feud

A 16-year-old youth living in a group home complained to our Office that staff at the home were not allowing him to contact certain members of his family because his mother – his legal guardian – did not want him speaking to them.

Issues: Group home; Rights (Good care)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 28, 2020

28 September 2020

Vote for fairness

A young person in custody contacted us last year to complain that he wasn’t able to vote in the federal election, although he had expressed his interest in voting to the youth facility’s staff members.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 25, 2020

25 September 2020

Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers

We received a complaint that council for the Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers discussed matters in a closed meeting on September 25, 2019 that did not fit into the exceptions in the Municipal Act. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussions about a bidder on a request for proposals, and about candidates for an internship, fit within the exception for personal matters. The complaint also alleged that, prior to entering closed session, the mayor announced that the meeting was over – but council reconvened after the closed session to conduct additional business. The Ombudsman found that council violated the open meeting rules by failing to ensure that the public could observe the portion of the meeting that followed the closed session. The Ombudsman made several recommendations to the township to improve its meeting practices, including ensuring that minutes are complete and accurate, and that votes are limited to directions to staff or procedural matters.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 23, 2020

23 September 2020

City of Pickering

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting held by council for the City of Pickering on August 10, 2020.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 9, 2020

9 September 2020

Loyalist Township

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for Loyalist Township contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on July 8, 2019, related to an in camera vote. The complaint also raised concerns about the amount of information that council shared in its report back following the closed session. The Ombudsman’s investigation found that council’s discussion was permissible under the Municipal Act’s closed meeting exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege in s. 239(2)(f). However, the Ombudsman found that due to confusion and inadvertence, council’s in camera vote was neither procedural nor a direction to staff contrary to the Act’s voting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 31, 2020

31 August 2020

Municipality of West Nipissing

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that closed meetings held by council for the Municipality of West Nipissing on April 20th and May 26th were not audio or video recorded, contrary to requirements in the municipality’s procedure by-law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 28, 2020

28 August 2020

No longer a loan

After being injured and hospitalized, a college student was unable to complete his one-year course, so the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) converted his $15,000 grant to a loan.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 28, 2020

28 August 2020

Right to review

We helped a parent who was refused an identification, placement and review committee (IPRC) to assess her daughter’s giftedness in kindergarten.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 28, 2020

28 August 2020

A message in French will follow

With the current pandemic and the necessity to work from home, using conference call lines has become the norm in many organizations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 28, 2020

28 August 2020

A cry for help

A 15-year-old emailed us that she was being physically and verbally abused by her mother, and had started to self-harm and even attempted suicide as a result.

Issue: Children’s aid society

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2020

10 August 2020

Town of Saugeen Shores

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of Saugeen Shores contravened the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements on July 22, November 11 and November 25, 2019. He also received a complaint that council held an informal private gathering that amounted to an illegal closed meeting on February 24, 2020. The Ombudsman’s investigation found no contraventions of the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 31, 2020

31 July 2020

Proven parenthood

A father whose wife died in childbirth sought our help in obtaining a birth certificate and Social Insurance Number for the new baby, which he needed in order to claim survivor benefits.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 31, 2020

31 July 2020

Opportunity granted

A former master’s student who began to work in her field just before she completed her degree complained to us that the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) had deemed her ineligible for an Ontario Student Opportunities Grant, due to unreported income.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 31, 2020

31 July 2020

Safe slumber

A 16-year-old living in a foster home sought our help when she was invited to spend the night at a friend’s house, but her foster care agency denied her request, citing COVID-19 restrictions.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 31, 2020

31 July 2020

Fish story

When new signs were installed at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's Fish Culture Station in North Bay, some Francophone residents noticed something fishy - the signs were in English only.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 9, 2020

9 July 2020

Township of The North Shore

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding the April 15, 2020, closed meeting of council for the Township of The North Shore.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Whose sewage

A trailer park owner contacted us when a dispute arose about responsibility for the municipal sewage system servicing the park.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

After the fire

After firefighters used foam containing PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) to put out a fire at her property, a woman complained to us about how long it was taking to ensure her water was safe to drink.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Post-mortem correction

A woman sought our help in getting the Registrar General to help her correct an error she made on her mother’s death certificate.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Starting anew

A man complained to us after trying for years to resolve a name discrepancy with ServiceOntario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Debt free

A man sought our help when he was contacted by a collections agency many years after receiving funding from Second Career – a program now operated by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Sorry process

We have resolved several complaints over the past three years about the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), which nominates skilled immigrant workers for permanent residency.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Record time

A driver who moved to B.C. sought our help after waiting for a copy of his driving record from Ontario for 7 weeks.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Presto change

When attempting to reload her Presto card, a transit rider purchased a monthly Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) pass by mistake. She contacted Metrolinx, which referred her to the TTC, which in turn referred her to Metrolinx.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Claiming responsibility

A man whose vehicle was damaged by a large pothole complained to us after the Ministry of Transportation’s adjuster denied his claim and the road construction company denied responsibility.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Lost in the mail

A woman came to us in frustration after trying several times to obtain her renewed driver’s licence. Each time she visited ServiceOntario, she was given a temporary licence and told a permanent one would be mailed to her.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Wrongly charged

A patient contacted us after being told by their physician that a non-cosmetic dermatological treatment was not covered by OHIP, and could only be provided if the patient paid.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Insured in time

A cancer patient who had appealed OHIP’s decision to deny him coverage complained to us when he did not receive a response within the Ministry of Health’s posted deadline.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Worth the trip

A woman sought our help after her application for an overnight accommodation allowance was denied by the Northern Health Travel Grant because she did not meet the minimum distance requirement.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Course completed

A transgender student at a college of applied arts and technology complained to us that she had experienced harassment, bullying, and a lack of accommodation.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Second chance

A federal inmate who was taking university courses sought our help with submitting a grade appeal. He had tried to submit it to the university’s senate committee, but received no response because he sent it directly to his professor instead of the registrar.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Language barrier

An English-speaking mother whose child attends a French-language school was facing barriers when attempting to raise concerns with the school principal.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Northern resources

A woman in a remote northern community complained to our Office that her grandson, who has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), had been excluded from school for four months due to escalating violent behaviour. When the child was allowed back to school, he was only allowed to attend for two hours per day, four times a week. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Overtaxed

A homeowner sought our help after learning that his property type had been incorrectly recorded by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) when it was first assessed almost a decade earlier.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Loan protection

After a woman under the guardianship of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) took out two short-term, high-interest loans without the OPGT’s knowledge or consent, we asked for more information about how it prevents unauthorized loans and other dissipation of clients’ assets.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Help with the bill

A recipient of Ontario Disability Support Program benefits contacted us when he discovered his monthly natural gas and water tank rental fees had not been paid since 2016 and he owed $2,000 in outstanding fees.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Long overdue

A man with significant medical issues contacted us with the help of his social worker because he was experiencing financial hardship due to the Family Responsibility Office garnishing his Canada Pension Plan benefits for past child support arrears – although his children were now in their 30s.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Address unknown

A woman complained to us that she had not received any family support payments in over a year, despite submitting paperwork to the Family Responsibility Office asking that she receive them via direct deposit rather than by mailed cheque.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Sensitive subjects

We received three complaints about a chaotic meeting of council for the Municipality of West Nipissing in March 2019.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Out-of-town breakdown

As noted in last year’s Annual Report, we received 77 complaints in February 2019 about a City of Hamilton committee’s decision to meet outside of the city – the highest number of complaints we have ever received in a single closed meeting case.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Per-pet-ual licence

A dog owner who went to renew the licences for her pets complained to us when the municipality also charged her to renew the licence of a dog that had died six months earlier.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Fair warning

A man who moved a trailer onto a property while he waited for a permit to build a house on it complained that the municipality had removed the trailer without notice.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

How much?

A man complained to us that he was charged $123.79 for the installation of a new water meter at his cottage, even though the municipality’s fees by-law listed the fee for water meter replacement as $34.38.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Unreasonable search

A group of Indigenous inmates complained to us that they were strip-searched before attending a smudging ceremony, leaving them feeling violated, discriminated against and targeted because of their Indigenous spirituality.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Needed support

An inmate who uses a customized wheelchair to support his spine sought our help because he was being repeatedly transferred to a second institution without his chair.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Misconduct-ed

An inmate complained to us after a sergeant at his facility penalized him by taking away 30 days of earned remission (time off his sentence) for refusing a transfer to another facility.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Right to safety

An 11-year-old told us she felt unsafe in her group home after another resident threatened her with a knife.

Issues: Group home; Rights (Safety)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2020

6 July 2020

Not as planned

A young person who was serving a youth sentence at an adult correctional facility complained to us that he was not being provided CAS access to services required by his court-ordered plan.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Good care)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 30, 2020

30 June 2020

2019-2020 Annual Report

Ombudsman's Message - A year like no other

As mandated by the Ombudsman Act, this report reviews the main trends and highlights of the 26,423 cases my Office handled between April 1, 2019 and March 31, 2020. In other words, most of the resolutions and investigations described herein took place long before the first cases of novel coronavirus were confirmed in Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 19, 2020

19 June 2020

Municipality of Callander

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council discussed a matter that was not listed on the agenda during a closed session on November 19, 2019, and that council held an informal gathering on November 18, 2019 during which they made a decision.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 10, 2020

10 June 2020

Town of Pelham

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that a quorum of councillors for the Town of Pelham informally met to discuss a possible donation from a cannabis producer on January 9, 2020, contrary to the open meeting rules of the Municipal Act, 2001. The complaint also alleged that councillors subsequently voted via email on whether they would be in favour of accepting the possible donation. The Ombudsman found that the informal discussion and subsequent email did not contravene the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements as these exchanges did not constitute meetings under the Municipal Act. However, the Town of Pelham acted without legal authority when it decided to inform a third-party organization that it was not in favour of accepting a potential donation from a cannabis company. By failing to act through resolution and confirming by-law passed at a properly constituted council meeting, the municipality tried to shield its decision-making process from public scrutiny. These actions were contrary to law and wrong under section 21(1) of the Ombudsman Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 29, 2020

29 May 2020

Proof of identity

A man complained to us after he wore a non-medical mask to prevent coronavirus spread inside his local Liquor Board of Ontario (LBCO) outlet, and staff there asked him to remove it so they could verify his identity.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 29, 2020

29 May 2020

Broken telephone

Our staff helped a woman who was having trouble reaching a manager at the Family Responsibility Office (FRO), due to recent changes to its phone system.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 29, 2020

29 May 2020

Extended parking

A woman sought our help after she was provided with a temporary accessible parking permit with a duration of only six months, when she had previously had one that lasted five years.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 29, 2020

29 May 2020

Our opinion matters

An education worker complained to our French Language Services Unit about a unilingual English survey about technology that was being conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 30, 2020

30 April 2020

Parked at home

A man complained to us about his municipality issuing parking tickets during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 30, 2020

30 April 2020

Paid upfront

A cancer patient who is an Ontario Disability Support Program recipient told us she was about to have surgery and urgently needed funds to pay for transportation, but could not reach her caseworker.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 30, 2020

30 April 2020

Essential licence

A woman whose job was deemed an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic sought our help when her driver’s licence was suspended due to a medical matter and she was temporarily unable to get to work.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 22, 2020

22 April 2020

Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding the November 25, 2019 closed meeting of council for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 17, 2020

17 April 2020

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a special meeting held by the Township of Russell on April 2 by electronic participation due to COVID-19. The complaint alleged that the meeting agenda did not provide a link to the website where the meeting would be broadcast. The Ombudsman found that council for the Township did not violate the open meeting rules. The Township provided notice to the public that the meeting would be held via electronic participation and posted a link to the broadcast on its website and on social media prior to holding the meeting.

The Ombudsman commended the Township of Russell for taking additional steps to ensure that information about how to observe and participate in electronic meetings was widely available to the public. The Ombudsman urged all municipalities to do as much as possible to facilitate access by the public to any meetings held electronically during a declaration of emergency. This was the first time the Ombudsman conducted an investigation into a municipal meeting following the passage of the Municipal Emergency Act, 2020, which allows for additional flexibility in holding electronic meetings during an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 14, 2020

14 April 2020

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman received complaints regarding a closed session discussion held by council for the City of Niagara Falls on July 29, 2019.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 31, 2020

31 March 2020

A cut above

A Black youth living in a rural group home with little access to public transit complained to us that staff would not drive him to get a haircut.

Issues: Group home; Black youth; Rights (Identity)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 27, 2020

27 March 2020

Failing the test

A man visited a London DriveTest centre with his son, who wanted to take the theory component of the road test, and requested services in French.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 26, 2020

26 February 2020

Left out in the cold

The mother of a teenager with developmental disability complained to us about an incident involving her daughter at a group home.

Issues: Group home; Police involvement; Disability

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 31, 2020

31 January 2020

Hold, s’il vous plaît

A francophone man complained to our French Language Services Unit that he waited an hour on the phone for service in French when he called the disability eligibility decision unit of the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 31, 2020

31 January 2020

The right process

A mother called our Children and Youth Unit after her local children’s aid society told her it would not review her complaint due to a lack of information.

Issue: Children’s aid society

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 9, 2020

9 January 2020

City of Welland

The Ombudsman reviewed a meeting of council for the City of Welland held on September 17, 2019.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 29, 2019

29 November 2019

Au revoir, not goodbye

A woman complained to our French Language Services Unit that the Superior Court in Toronto could not serve her in person in French, resulting in a wasted trip and frustration.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 29, 2019

29 November 2019

On her own

A 16-year-old youth in care of a children’s aid society felt that her needs were not being met since she had a change in caseworkers.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Voluntary Youth Services Agreement (VYSA); Rights (Good care); Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 29, 2019

29 November 2019

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

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 31, 2019

31 October 2019

Website faux pas

A French-speaking woman sought our help after she encountered difficulties with the website of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 31, 2019

31 October 2019

Right to complain

When a woman complained to us about how she and her family were treated by a children’s aid society, we first advised her to contact her caseworker and raise the issue through the society’s internal process.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 29, 2019

29 October 2019

Norfolk County

The Ombudsman determined that council for Norfolk County did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001, when it went in camera on March 26 and April 2, to discuss the hiring of an interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 4, 2019

4 October 2019

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received 77 complaints that closed meetings held by the City Manager Recruitment Steering Committee for the City of Hamilton were held in violation of the Municipal Act and the city’s procedure by-law. The complainants alleged that the public was denied access to these meetings, which were held outside city limits at a private venue. They also alleged that meeting times had been changed without notice and that the committee had denied public delegations. The Ombudsman determined that the public had been improperly prevented from attending the open portions of one meeting, contrary to the Municipal Act, and that the city failed to update the meeting time on its website. However, he determined that the location of the meetings was permissible. Exercising his general jurisdiction under the Ombudsman Act to review administrative concerns about municipalities, the Ombudsman determined that the city did not violate its delegation policy by refusing to permit members of the public to delegate during one of the meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 3, 2019

3 October 2019

Township of Carling

The Ombudsman received a complaint about three meetings of council for the Township of Carling, held on July 27, October 10, and November 13, 2018.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 3, 2019

3 October 2019

Municipality of St.-Charles

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the Committee of the Whole for the Municipality of St.-Charles inappropriately met in closed session on April 3, 2019, to discuss documents and recommendations about the municipality’s finances. The Ombudsman determined that the committee contravened the Municipal Act, 2001, when it went in camera to discuss the steps necessary to rectify errors and discrepancies in its accounting software. This discussion did not fit within the exception for personal matters, or any exception, to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 3, 2019

3 October 2019

Municipality of West Nipissing

The Ombudsman determined that the council for the Municipality of West Nipissing inappropriately met in closed session on March 19, 2019, under the exception for personal matters in the Municipal Act, 2001 to discuss “Municipal Act/Roles & Responsibilities”. The Ombudsman’s investigation found that council’s in camera discussion was unrestricted and covered a wide range of topics, but did not involve any personal information that would have brought the discussion within the personal matters exception. The Ombudsman also found that the tone of the discussion – which was described as toxic, chaotic and disrespectful – was not a basis for closing the discussion under the personal matters exception. In addition, the Ombudsman determined the discussion, although intended to educate and train council members on their roles, did not actually involve any education or training. The discussion therefore did not fit within the narrowly construed exception for education and training.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 30, 2019

30 September 2019

That's the place

Unhappy with his placement at a foster home, a 17-year-old asked his children’s aid society caseworker for a placement change, only to be told the home he was staying in was best for him.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Rights (Get help); Rights (Fairness)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 30, 2019

30 September 2019

Lacking language

A man who was following the complaints process regarding a bilingual community legal clinic reached out to us after receiving an English-only version of the clinic’s complaints policy.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 23, 2019

23 September 2019

Submission in response to the Ministry’s consultation on proposed changes to Regulation 778, regarding segregation reviews

My team and I appreciate the opportunity to comment on the Ministry of the Solicitor General’s three proposed changes to Ontario Regulation 778.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 30, 2019

30 August 2019

The road to French services

We received a complaint from a man who had recently moved to Canada. Although his motorcycle licence was valid in his home country, he was required to re-take the test in Ontario. The man had been assigned an English-speaking examiner for his motorcycle road test, even though he requested a French-speaking examiner in advance at a designated DriveTest centre.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 15, 2019

15 August 2019

Municipality of The Nation

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that resolutions to proceed in camera passed by council for the Municipality of The Nation at three separate meetings were not sufficiently detailed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 2, 2019

2 August 2019

Municipality of Lambton Shores

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a gathering that two council members attended on April 14, 2019, and a special meeting of council held on April 15, 2019, without prior public notice.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 31, 2019

31 July 2019

Review askew

A 16-year-old girl living in a group home told us she had asked her children’s aid society worker to initiate a review of her placement because she felt unsafe, but the caseworker didn't follow up with her.

Issues: Children’s aid society; ; Group home; Rights (Safety); Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 17, 2019

17 July 2019

Lessons Not Learned

Transparency of Near North District School Board’s decision to close Widdifield Secondary School after the 2016-2017 Pupil Accommodation Review process.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 12, 2019

12 July 2019

Township of Springwater

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding a closed special meeting held on April 29, 2019. Council closed the meeting to the public to discuss a legal letter.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 4, 2019

4 July 2019

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the doors to Hamilton city hall were locked during part of a meeting of council on February 14, 2019, and that the doors to city hall were barricaded during part of a meeting of the city’s Audit, Finance and Administration Committee on April 18, 2019.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 4, 2019

4 July 2019

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint that a vote by the City of Hamilton’s Selection Committee during a March 1, 2019 closed meeting was not permitted by the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2019

28 June 2019

Township of Wollaston

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding the attendance of three councillors at an April 30, 2019 public proceeding of the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

A parent error

A father complained to us that FRO had collected thousands of dollars of support payments from him for 14 years, even though his daughter was no longer in the care of her mother but had been made a Crown ward.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

2018-2019 Annual Report

Ombudsman’s message - A defining moment
In many ways, this past year has been a defining one for the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario. Without question, fiscal 2018-2019 was one of the busiest years in this Office’s 44-year history in terms of complaints handled – 27,419, representing an increase of almost 30% over the previous year. It was also historic in terms of our mandate, which was expanded by government for the second time in four years.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Without further delay

A woman who had been pursuing her case at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario for several years sought our help after she learned that the adjudicator assigned to her case was no longer able to continue.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Re: Vision

An inmate complained to us that staff at his correctional facility had taken his eyeglasses and refused to return them.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

A time to mourn

An inmate sought our help in reaching the appropriate correctional officials after her father passed away and she could not get a response to her request to attend his funeral.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Not on board

An Ontario Works recipient sought our help when he received a letter saying he would have to repay $1,835 to Ontario Works, and that his monthly income would be reduced by $202.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Auto-threat

A pensioner who had a longstanding agreement to pay her family support arrears off at $50/month complained to us that the Family Responsibility Office (FRO) sent her a letter threatening to garnish half of her monthly income, which would leave her with no money to pay her utility bills.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Credit undo

A mother who receives support for her adult child with disabilities sought our help after she inadvertently provided inaccurate information to FRO, resulting in the termination of her support and a $21,000 credit to the payor.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Sharing the wealth

The family of a man who won $2,000 in the lottery but died before he could collect the prize sought our help in dealing with OLG officials, whom they had contacted several times over the course of four months.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Unsigned but delivered

A woman placed an order with the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) on October 17, 2018, the first day that recreational cannabis became legal in Canada.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Coming up empty

A cannabis purchaser received a delivery from the OCS that turned out to be an empty box.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Cracking the code

A small business owner sought our help after he was ordered to install fire detectors and alarms on his property, noting that he could not access the technical standard of the Ontario Fire Code that was cited in the order.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Fine treatment

A man who wanted to dispute a $40 parking ticket told municipal staff he would call back to schedule a hearing, but when he did so, he was told it had already taken place.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Pothole role

When a snowplow hit a pothole, digging up asphalt and other debris, it dumped the pile in a woman’s front yard and left a larger hole in the road. She complained to us after the municipal crew she called only filled the potholes, leaving the debris in her yard.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Water pressure

A man who received a water bill for more than $700 – around seven times more than his usual charge – called us in frustration when the local water company told him his previous bills were only estimates, but this one was based on actual use, and they could not alter his bill.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Photo proof

After we made inquiries about a man’s complaint that the required notice of a proposed zoning by-law amendment was not posted on the relevant property, the municipality changed its practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Technical difficulty

A Grade 10 student was disappointed to receive a failing grade on the writing component of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Oh brother

In a case that officials called “unprecedented,” a brother and sister complained to us about difficulties in applying to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) – one to attend college, the other university.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Changed course

A student who was close to completing her program at a college of applied arts and technology was unsure if she had all the credits she needed for her diploma, so she enrolled in an extra course just in case.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Mail fail

A commercial truck driver complained to us that his licence had been downgraded and he had not been able to get an explanation or assistance from ServiceOntario or DriveTest.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Passed test

A 74-year-old woman who delayed a required driver’s test so she could have hip surgery sought our help after the Ministry cancelled her driver’s licence. She was required to take several tests to keep her licence after having a car accident.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Proof of payment

A driver who required his licence for work sought our help when it was suddenly suspended due to a fine he had incurred 27 years earlier. He had been convicted of impaired driving in 1990 and fined $735.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Welcome home

A woman who had lived abroad for many years returned to Ontario and applied to exchange her foreign licence for an Ontario licence.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

A second look

A transgender woman complained that the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) had improperly refused her application for prior approval for breast reconstruction surgery.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Uncovered

A concerned social worker at a psychiatric hospital asked us if we could help a patient whose OHIP coverage had been suddenly cancelled.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Caught in the web

A woman complained to us that the Registrar General’s website froze when she was in the midst of applying for death certificates for two family members.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

What to expect

An international student who had completed post-secondary studies in Ontario and was now employed sought our help in communicating with ServiceOntario about getting an Ontario Health card.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Welcome change

A transgender man seeking a name change complained to us when his application was rejected because the sex on his birth certificate differed from the gender on his name change application.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

Harsh choice

A provincial government employee complained to us that the practices of the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Office (WDHP) were onerous and unfair.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

All’s well that ends well

After our staff assisted a Tesla owner in having his Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program application approved, he returned to us for help in February 2019, after he received only half of his $14,000 rebate.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 25, 2019

25 June 2019

On the hook

A woman who runs a commercial fishing business complained that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry had not responded to her request for a refund of more than $31,000 she had overpaid in Crown lease fees over several years.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 21, 2019

21 June 2019

City of Hamilton

We received a complaint about a meeting held by the General Issues Committee for the City of Hamilton. The complainant alleged that committee’s two in camera discussions about the city’s contribution to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ bid for the 2020 or 2021 Canadian Football League Grey Cup Championship game did not fit within the open meeting exceptions for “advice subject to solicitor-client privilege”, “information belonging to the municipality”, or “negotiations”. The Ombudsman found that the first in camera discussion fit within the “advice subject to solicitor-client privilege” exception and the second in camera discussion fit wtihin the “negotiations” exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2019

31 May 2019

Coverage confusion

A pregnant youth called us for help when she went for an ultrasound and was told her health card was cancelled.

Issues: Rights (Good care); Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2019

31 May 2019

Staying connected

A young person in a treatment group home called us, saying she felt like she had no one to talk to.

Issues: Children’s aid society; Group home; Rights (Fairness)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2019

31 May 2019

Moving on

A 15-year-old who had been in a group home for three years sought our help in moving into a foster home where he could become more independent.

Issues: Group home; Rights (Get help)

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 24, 2019

24 May 2019

Township of Wollaston

We received a complaint that council for Wollaston Township did not provide enough information to the public before closing meetings on December 3, 2018 and January 7, 2019, and that council should have used the exception for labour relations instead of the exception for personal matters.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 16, 2019

16 May 2019

Municipality of Temagami

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding the January 10 and March 28, 2019 closed meetings of council for the Municipality of Temagami.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 22, 2019

22 February 2019

City of Hamilton

We received a complaint that members of council for the City of Hamilton contravened the open meeting provisions by exchanging emails relating to a vacant council seat in June 2018. The complaint also alleged that the city’s General Issues Committee contravened the rules by discussing and voting on matters related to the vacant seat in camera on July 9, 2018. The Ombudsman found that the city did not contravene the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001 when they exchanged emails regarding a vacant council seat in June 2018. The new definition of “meeting” in the Act requires that a quorum be present, such that an exchange of emails cannot be considered a meeting subject to the open meeting rules. In the interest of openness and transparency, municipal councils should continue to avoid conducting business outside of a formal meeting. The city’s General Issues Committee also did not contravene the open meeting rules when it discussed advice subject to solicitor-client privilege in camera on July 9, 2018. The committee did not vote regarding the vacant seat in camera on July 9; it did not contravene the voting provisions in the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 14, 2019

14 February 2019

City of St. Catharines

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a meeting held by council for the City of St. Catharines in June 2018.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 6, 2018

6 December 2018

Township of Tehkummah

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding four meetings held by council for the Township of Tehkummah in June 2018.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 3, 2018

3 December 2018

Submission to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs regarding Bill 57

In addressing the changes proposed by Bill 57, I will devote most of my comments to those amendments that affect the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, and the Ombudsman Act. Most notable among these are amendments that will expand the mandate of this office into areas that are presently within the mandate of my fellow Officers of the Legislature, the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth (Child Advocate) and the French Language Services Commissioner.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 22, 2018

22 November 2018

Town of Carleton Place

The Ombudsman received a complaint about the June 12, 2018 closed meeting of the Policy Review Committee for the Town of Carleton Place. The complaint alleged that the committee’s discussion about the sale of two municipally-owned properties and a related discussion regarding water and sewer services did not fit within the “acquisition or disposition of land” exception in the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman found that the closed session fit within the exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 31, 2018

31 October 2018

Municipality of Callander

The Ombudsman received a complaint that one regular meeting of council, four special meetings of council and two committee of the whole meetings were held without posting notice online, as required by the procedure bylaw.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 2, 2018

2 October 2018

City of Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area

The Ombudsman received a complaint about the August 8, 2018 closed meeting of the board of directors for the Owen Sound Downtown Improvement Area.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 27, 2018

27 September 2018

Suspended State

Investigation into the adequacy and effectiveness of the Ministry of Transportation’s notifications and communications with drivers about licence suspensions and reinstatements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 21, 2018

21 August 2018

Village of Casselman

The Ombudsman investigated a complaint about two information sessions on March 7, 2018 attended by a quorum of council for the Village of Casselman. During these sessions, the council members in attendance received information and updates with respect to the business of the municipality. However, his investigation did not uncover evidence that the council members in attendance at the sessions “materially advanced” the business or decision-making of council. These sessions were therefore not “meetings” under the definition in the Municipal Act, 2001 that came into force on January 1, 2018. In the interests of openness and transparency, the Ombudsman suggested that council members receive information and updates about the business of the municipality during public meetings of council.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 15, 2018

15 August 2018

Town of Deep River

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of Deep River held a vote in closed session on May 16, 2018 that did not comply with the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 18, 2018

18 July 2018

Regional Municipality of Niagara

The Ombudsman received complaints about the December 7, 2017 meeting of council for the Regional Municipality of Niagara, including a complaint that the meeting failed to comply with the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 18, 2018

18 July 2018

Press Pause

Investigation into a meeting of council for the Regional Municipality of Niagara on December 7, 2017. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 3, 2018

3 July 2018

Village of Casselman

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed meeting of council for the Village of Casselman on January 9, 2018 and about discussions that took place among council members at town hall on January 11, 2018. The Ombudsman found that council for the Village did not violate the open meeting rules when it went into closed session to discuss human resources matters on January 9, 2018 and when a quorum of councillors had informal discussions at town hall on January 11, 2018. However, the Ombudsman made best practice suggestions relating to the Town’s closed meeting procedures.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 29, 2018

29 June 2018

Township of The North Shore

The Ombudsman received complaints about three meetings of council for The North Shore, alleging that subjects discussed in the December 13, 2017 and February 7, 2018 closed sessions did not fit within the “personal matters” exception, and that the resolution on December 13, 2017, to proceed into closed session did not include all matters discussed. The complaint also alleged the township did not give notice of a special meeting held on February 14, 2018. The Ombudsman found that the subject matters discussed by council on December 13, 2017, fit within the exceptions in the Municipal Act, but that the township  failed to include all subject matters discussed during the closed session in the resolution to proceed into closed session. He also found that council violated the Municipal Act during the closed session on February 7, 2018, when it discussed how to fill a council vacancy. The Ombudsman found that the township did provide public notice of its February 14, 2018 meeting, but recommended that the township amend its procedure bylaw to formalize its general practices for giving notice.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 29, 2018

29 June 2018

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman received three complaints that several closed meetings held by council for the Town of Amherstburg and the Joint Police Advisory Committee did not comply with the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act. The Joint Police Advisory Committee does not fall under the definition of “committee” under the Municipal Act, so the Ombudsman used his general jurisdiction over municipalities to consider whether the committee violated its terms of reference. The Ombudsman found the committee failed to comply with its terms of reference in closing several meetings using the security of the property exception. The Ombudsman found council violated the Municipal Act in closing a meeting under the security of the property exception but did not violate the Act by closing another meeting under the personal matters exception. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 29, 2018

29 June 2018

Township of Front of Yonge

The Ombudsman received a complaint that an informal meeting of council occurred after the April 16, 2018 meeting of council.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2018

27 June 2018

2017-2018 Annual Report

Ombudsman’s Message - The value of independent oversight

In many organizations, an Annual Report is a showcase of numbers, an illustrated balance sheet that carefully quantifies success, growth and value. As I present my third Annual Report as Ontario’s Ombudsman, I can see evidence of all of those things, but they are not easily quantified or reduced to a set of figures.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Identity crisis

An elderly woman needed our help with obtaining new identification after she lost her OHIP card, her primary photo ID.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Family re-covered

We helped a father renew his daughter’s OHIP card after she had gone three years without a valid one and her application had been rejected.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

It’s where you live

A woman who moved to Ontario from Alberta for work sought our help after her application for OHIP coverage was rejected due to inadequate proof that she resided in Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

The long and short of it

A mother of two boys complained to our Office when she had trouble changing her children’s names on their birth certificates, documents they needed soon to make a trip to Disneyland in the U.S.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Born free

An almost-retired man who wanted to get a passport to travel sought our help after three frustrating years of trying to obtain a birth certificate from the Office of the Registrar General.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Month to month

A man sought our help with his local hydro company, which was sending him late notices and charging him interest on his quarterly water heater rental bill.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Connection made

A woman was trying without success to have hydro reconnected at a rental property and was concerned about a delay and lack of communication from the local hydro company.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Builder beware

A man who has physical disabilities and cancer was issued a grant from the province’s Home and Vehicle Modification Program (HVMP) to build a porch lift at his home.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Thanks a lot

A man who built an apartment building on a vacant lot in 2012 sought our help with MPAC regarding the adjusted assessment value of his property.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Cost of living

After waiting many months for a response from Ministry officials about his experience, a man who had to relocate from Northern Ontario to Toronto for a lung transplant finally had his voice heard through our Office.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Split difference

A divorced recipient of Trillium Drug Plan coverage complained to us that his access to the benefit was affected because his ex-wife would not provide a letter stating that he was no longer covered by her private insurance.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

It’s in the (e)mail

A woman contacted our Office after learning her OHIP coverage had been suspended while she was studying outside of Ontario, despite the fact that she had emailed her renewal documents to OHIP several times.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Hits the spot

When a woman hit a pothole on a county road that damaged her vehicle, she tried to seek reimbursement.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Change of address

An inmate who tried repeatedly to get information from the Ministry of Transportation about his driving record and other issues complained that he could not get information from officials during the 20 minutes of phone time he was allowed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Have licence, will travel

A woman seeking to renew her driver’s licence was given a temporary one, valid for three months, and told her new licence would be mailed in 6-8 weeks.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Bugs in the system

An elderly woman contacted us after she was unable to get provincial officials to respond to her about a blocked highway culvert near her home that had become a mosquito breeding ground.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

On the road again

An Ontario man who had temporarily moved to B.C. was told upon his return that his motorcycle licence had been cancelled and he would have to go through the testing process again.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Just missed the mark

A mother of three who was enrolled in a combined college and university nursing program was not allowed to progress to the university portion of the program because her grade in a college course was 1.5% below the required threshold.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Right to appeal

A university student contacted our Office with several concerns, including a stalled academic appeal, the conduct of one of his professors, administrative fees, and the university’s unwillingness to release his official transcript.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Searching for answers

A father contacted us after he went to pick up his daughters at their after-school program and discovered they were off premises without any prior notice.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

To fee or not to fee

Our staff helped two parents whose local school board wanted to charge them more than $6,000 in tuition for their son because his legal guardian lived outside of Ontario – even though the boy did not live with the guardian.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Bus fuss

A mother of two sought our help after she was unable to get a response from her school board about why she could not get busing for her four-year-old son, even though her eight-year-old son was being bused to a school closer to home.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Up to code

A man contacted us after getting no response to a complaint about his local Chief Building Official.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Making it clear

A woman renting a basement apartment sought our help after a municipal construction crew broke a water pipe near her unit, flooding her apartment and damaging her belongings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Faster lane

We helped a man who waited more than a year to hear back from his municipality about purchasing a portion of the laneway behind his house.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Code found

A mall developer told us that local councillors were interfering with the development of her project, but she believed the municipality did not have a code of conduct or integrity commissioner.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Double trouble

A mother and adult daughter, both ODSP recipients who live together, complained to us about a mixup after the daughter successfully applied for ODSP for herself from a different office than the one where her mother was a client.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Mailbox full

A man whose shelter allowance was terminated by the ODSP without notice complained to us after his case worker did not respond to several email messages.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Brother’s keeper

We helped sort out a case of mistaken identity between the FRO and a man who could not insure his house because a writ was registered in his name for unpaid support obligations – even though it was his brother who actually owed support arrears.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Cold case

A man contacted our office after the FRO issued an order to garnish his Old Age Security payments and his federal pension, according to a court order from 1982.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Sharing the wealth

A woman who was owed more than $17,000 in spousal and child support came to our Office for help in liaising with FRO officials.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Clearer definition

An ODSP recipient complained to us about the Social Justice Tribunal of Ontario’s decision on her eligibility for the ODSP’s Work-Related Benefit.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Lost and found

We referred a man to the right internal complaint mechanism at the Office of the Children’s Lawyer so he could voice concerns about delays in receiving documents and in setting his court date, all of which resulted in added legal costs for him.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Weekend schedule

A man serving weekend time in jail who required anxiety medication three times a day sought our help because the correctional facility would not give him his medication on Saturday mornings when he arrived, or on Sunday evenings before he left.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

About time

We helped a woman from Manitoba who had struggled for six months to get Legal Aid Ontario to recognize her approval for legal aid in a custody case in Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2018

26 June 2018

Welcome assist

A woman who broke her collarbone before she was sent to jail complained to us that she had been waiting for eight days for a sling for her arm.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 7, 2018

7 June 2018

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a meeting of council held on May 22, 2018.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2018

31 May 2018

Township of Tehkummah

My Office received a complaint about a special meeting of council for the Township of Tehkummah held on May 15, 2018.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 28, 2018

28 May 2018

Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula inappropriately met in closed session on January 22, 2018 to discuss notice of an application for absolute title under the Land Titles Act for a property located within the municipality. The meeting was closed under the personal matters exception. The Ombudsman found that matters discussed during the closed meeting did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 25, 2018

25 May 2018

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman received a complaint that a non-council member motioned to move into closed session during the Township of Russell’s special meeting on April 19, 2018.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 22, 2018

22 May 2018

Town of Petrolia

We received complaints that the Town of Petrolia held meetings that did not comply with the open meeting rules when it discussed a proposal by the YMCA in camera on September 11 and October 25, 2017, and when it discussed an individual in closed session on November 14, 2017. The Ombudsman found that a presentation given by the YMCA to council on September 11, 2017 did not fit in any of the exceptions to the Act. He found that a discussion that followed the presentation fit in the exception for labour relations or employee negotiations. The Ombudsman found that the discussion on October 25, 2017 also fit within the exception for labour relations, and that the discussion on November 14, 2017 fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 17, 2018

17 May 2018

City of Hamilton

The City of Hamilton’s Waste Management Advisory Committee is a committee of council subject to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman found that the committee contravened the Municipal Act on September 27, 2017 and January 31, 2018, when it held meetings without providing notice to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 9, 2018

9 May 2018

Town of Deep River

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of Deep River inappropriately met in closed session on March 21, 2018, to discuss a development proposal and various fire service issues.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 19, 2018

19 April 2018

Town of Pelham

We received complaints that a closed meeting held by council for the Town of Pelham on September 5, 2017 about town finances did not comply with the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001. We also received a complaint alleging that following the September 5, 2017 council meeting, members of council held a gathering at a local establishment that constituted an illegal meeting. The Ombudsman found that the matters discussed in camera on September 5 fit within the exceptions for labour relations and solicitor-client privilege. He also found that the informal gathering was not a meeting subject to the open meeting rules, as council members did not discuss council business.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 19, 2018

19 April 2018

Submission on Bill 6: Transforming Correctional Services Act

The Ontario Ombudsman has a long history of independently and impartially resolving and investigating concerns about Ontario’s provincial correctional facilities. Of the more than 21,000 complaints we receive each year, close to 4,000 are about correctional facilities. In addition to resolving countless individual matters, my Office has actively monitored and, when necessary, investigated serious systemic issues within the correctional system.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 18, 2018

18 April 2018

Township of Tehkummah

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Township of Tehkummah did not provide proper notice to the public for a special closed council meeting held on December 22, 2017. The Ombudsman found that the township’s discussion fit within the cited “personal matters” exception, as well as the “labor relations” exception.  However, the Ombudsman found that the township contravened the Act and the township’s procedure by-law by failing to provide proper public notice. The Ombudsman also found a number of issues with council’s procedures, and identified best practices and procedural steps to improve the township's meeting practices. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 18, 2018

18 April 2018

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of Fort Erie inappropriately met in camera on December 4, and December 6, 2017 under the “acquisition or disposition of land” exception to the Municipal Act’s open meeting rules. The December 4 and December 6 special closed meetings were to discuss a potential partnership with a post-secondary institution. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussions did not fit within the Act’s “acquisition or disposition of land” exception because council was in the early stages of deciding whether to proceed with the partnership, had not turned its mind to a specific property to purchase or lease, and was not acting with a view to protecting its bargaining position in property negotiations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 11, 2018

11 April 2018

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.
 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 22, 2018

22 February 2018

Oversight Enhanced - Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy regarding Bill 175, Safer Ontario Act, 2017

Since 1974, there have been dozens of cases in which the use of force by police in Ontario – especially the use of lethal force on people in crisis – has raised profound questions about policing standards, training and accountability. As a result, there have been more than a dozen reviews and numerous recommendations for reform. Despite incremental improvements through the years, Ontario’s police oversight system has continued to attract criticism and undermine public confidence in policing. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 9, 2018

9 January 2018

Township of North Huron

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Township of North Huron inappropriately met in closed session on December 11, 2017, to discuss fire personnel issues.
 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 4, 2018

4 January 2018

Township of Lanark Highlands

We received a complaint that council for the Township of Lanark Highlands inappropriately met in camera on July 17, 2017 under the “advice subject to solicitor client privilege” and “personal matters” exceptions to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that council discussed a number of items while in camera that were not included in the closed meeting agenda. Two of the topics of discussion, financial software and council’s interaction and communication structure with staff, did not fit within the closed meeting exceptions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 5, 2017

5 December 2017

City of Cornwall

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the City of Cornwall inappropriately met with council for the Township of South Glengarry in closed session on September 19, 2017, to discuss the Cornwall Regional Airport. The complainant alleged that council for the City of Cornwall discussed matters and provided directions to staff that did not fit within the cited “personal matters” closed meeting exception in the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussion fit within the cited exception to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements, although the resolution to proceed in camera did not state the general nature of the matter to be considered.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 30, 2017

30 November 2017

Township of Russell

We received a complaint that council for the Township of Russell held a meeting that did not comply with the open meeting rules when the public entrance to Town Hall was locked during a portion of a council meeting on July 31, 2017. Although the meeting was intended to be open to the public, a locked exterior public door prevented members of the public from accessing council chambers for the first half of the meeting. As a result, the meeting was closed to the public and the public’s right to observe municipal government in process was frustrated, contrary to the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 24, 2017

24 November 2017

City of Welland

We received a complaint that the City of Welland held an improper vote during a closed session on September 19, 2017, to appoint a new member of council. The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Welland had contravened the Municipal Act, 2001, and the city’s procedure by-law when it discussed voting procedure in closed session under the “personal matters exception”. In addition, the Ombudsman found that council for the City of Welland contravened the Municipal Act and the City’s procedure by-law when it voted in closed session by secret ballot to select a candidate to appoint to the vacant council seat.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 23, 2017

23 November 2017

Town of Georgina

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of Georgina inappropriately met in camera to discuss an organizational review of certain departments within the town administration as part of a larger service delivery review.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 21, 2017

21 November 2017

Town of Kirkland Lake

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding the general meeting practices of the Town of Kirkland Lake’s Recreation Committee. The complaint alleged that the Recreation Committee held closed meetings by not providing proper notice to the public in contravention of the Municipal Act. The Ombudsman determined that the Recreation Committee was a committee of council, and therefore subject to the Act’s open meeting requirements.  The Ombudsman found that the Recreation Committee’s meeting practices contravened these requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 23, 2017

23 October 2017

Town of Carleton Place

On March 14, 2017 the Policy Review Committee for the Town of Carleton place met in closed session to discuss a public statement made by the Mayor, citing the “litigation or potential litigation” exception. The Ombudsman received a complaint that this discussion did not fit within the cited exception. The Ombudsman found that there was not a reasonable prospect of litigation at the time of the closed meeting and the discussion did not fit within the “litigation or potential litigation” exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 3, 2017

3 October 2017

Town of Deep River

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that council for the Town of Deep River inappropriately met in camera on May 17 and 18, 2017 to discuss a police service consultation plan. The complainant also alleged that a police service consultation “working group” formed during the May 18 closed meeting should have been classified as a committee of council subject to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman found that council for the Town of Deep River contravened the Municipal Act when it went in camera to discuss and vote on matters related to the police service consultation plan. The Ombudsman also found that the police service consultation “working group” was not a committee of council and therefore not subject to the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 22, 2017

22 September 2017

City of Hamilton

We received a complaint that the City of Hamilton’s General Issues Committee discussed funding for certain transit routes known as “school bus extras” during a closed session on either March 23 or 24, 2017, contrary to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that the committee technically contravened the open meeting rules when the bus routes issue was raised briefly during a closed meeting on March 24, 2017. Once the committee determined that the issue did not fit within any of the exceptions to the open meeting rules, it ended the discussion. The Ombudsman commended city staff and council members for being mindful of the open meeting rules during the meeting, but recommend the city exercise greater caution when adding items to a closed session agenda in the future, and that the city begin audio or video recording all closed meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 21, 2017

21 August 2017

Public Notice

Investigation into a complaint about the Elliot Lake Residential Development Commission.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 14, 2017

14 August 2017

Municipality of Brighton

The Ombudsman received a complaint that members of council for the Municipality of Brighton discussed council business by phone in advance of a special meeting of council on March 15, 2017. The Ombudsman determined that the Mayor called four councillors in a series of phone calls to discuss an opportunity to sell land in the municipality’s industrial park. During the phone calls, members of council discussed specific terms of a proposal that was ultimately sent to a party interested in purchasing the property. The Ombudsman found that the phone calls contravened the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2017

10 August 2017

The Route of the Problem

Investigation into the Toronto District and Toronto Catholic District school boards’ oversight of student transportation and their response to delays and disruptions at the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 9, 2017

9 August 2017

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman received two complaints that council for the City of Elliot Lake inappropriately met in camera to discuss a motion to rescind a previous resolution regarding the recruitment of a CAO.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 5, 2017

5 July 2017

Norfolk County

On March 14, 2017 council for the County of Norfolk went in closed session to receive a deputation from representatives of the Port Dover Community Health Centre Board and to receive legal advice pertaining to the deputation, citing the “personal matters” and “advice subject to solicitor-client privilege” exceptions. The Ombudsman received a complaint that this discussion did not fit within the cited exceptions. The Ombudsman found that the Board’s deputation did not qualify as personal information and that portion of the closed session meeting did not fit within the “personal matters” exception. The portions of the closed session discussion before and after the deputation fit within the “advice subject to solicitor-client privilege” exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 30, 2017

30 June 2017

Municipality of St.-Charles

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the General Government Committee for the Municipality of St.-Charles inappropriately met in camera on March 6, 2017, to discuss allegations regarding employee municipal credit card abuse. The Ombudsman determined that the committee’s discuss fit within the “litigation or potential litigation” and the “personal matters about an identifiable individual” closed meeting exceptions. The Ombudsman also recommended that the municipality update its procedure by-law to reflect the closed meeting provisions in the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

2016-2017 Annual Report

Ombudsman’s Message - New Era of Oversight
As I report on this, my first full year as Ontario Ombudsman, I am encouraged by several recent developments that signal a trend toward stronger oversight of public sector bodies in this province.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Advisor apology

A man contacted our Office in frustration after the WSIAT heard only one of several claims he had filed, when he was expecting to have them all heard at the same time.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

All wet

After a man complained to us that his municipality had not responded to his letter about flood damage to his basement, municipal staff initially told us they didn’t answer because they deemed the complaint to be without merit.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Better late than never

A mortgage broker sought our help with a delay in renewing his licence through FSCO. His brokerage firm had missed the deadline to pay the $800 renewal fee to FSCO, which in turn failed to process the renewal before his licence expired.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Building good policies

A man who had a complaint about his municipality’s chief building official contacted our Office because his municipality did not have a code of conduct in place, even though this is required by the Building Code Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Cleared to drive

A driver who moved to Ontario from British Columbia complained to our office that his job was at risk because of an impaired driving conviction from 13 years earlier.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Credit deserved

The parent of a high school student with autism spectrum disorder contacted us after she was informed by her son’s school that he would not receive credit for one of his courses because he had not met course expectations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Delay headache

A woman whose migraine medication is covered through the Exceptional Access Program contacted us because she was worried about how long it was taking the program to approve a renewal of her prescription.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Got him covered

A man who had lost all of his identification a few years earlier sought our help because he was unable to get health coverage through OHIP.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Identity issue

A woman who had surrendered her driver’s licence for medical reasons complained to us that she was having trouble obtaining a photo identification card from ServiceOntario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Looking for answers

A student complained to us that his university had failed to respond to him on several matters, including a grade appeal, requests for a bursary and a refund for a dropped course.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Monitors, not medics

The mother of a five-year-old girl with medical needs enrolled her in a special program after she was told a bus monitor would be assigned to administer the child’s medication if needed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Motherhood issue

An inmate who was 29 weeks into a high-risk pregnancy contacted us in fear that she would lose her baby due to lack of care. She complained of delays in being referred to prenatal appointments, in being taken to hospital, and in accessing her health record.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Name changer

In 2001, after years of using his stepfather’s surname, a man decided to revert to his original birth surname. He was issued a short-form Ontario birth certificate reflecting the change.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Not a loan

A student who moved back home to live with her parents in the last semester of her two-year college program complained that her OSAP funding was denied.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Photo finish

A man who needed a new driver’s licence for work complained to our Office that he could not get one because he didn’t have adequate photo identification.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Powerful gesture

A man was upset that it took the Ontario Electricity Support Program six months to process his application, even though its website says it should take 6-8 weeks.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Privacy dependent

The widow of a man killed in a workplace accident complained to us that WSIB would not extend survivor benefits to her son, because it had no evidence that the worker, who was not the boy’s biological father, was his legal parent at the time of the accident.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Rude awakening

A man complained to his municipality after a member of council called him names in an email. He was not satisfied when the mayor offered to bring him and the councillor together for a private meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Security risk

An inmate who had been in segregation for nine months – because the facility had concerns about his and others’ safety and security – complained to our office that it was harming his mental health and he needed to see a psychiatrist.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Sold out

A man contacted our Office after his municipality closed and sold a road allowance adjacent to his property. His family had used the land to access the river, but they were not notified by the municipality or given the chance to purchase a portion of the land, contrary to municipal policy.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Sweet relief

An inmate with diabetes who needed to take insulin before his meals complained to our office that correctional staff could only give it to him after meals.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

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 ends meet without benefits.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

To be fair

A student who had been expelled from university after an academic fraud inquiry complained to us that the university failed to respond to its own ombudsman’s report on his case, which raised concerns about the fairness of the inquiry and the sanctions it imposed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Wires crossed

We received complaints from four residents in one building who each received catch-up bills from their municipal hydro company for $2,000-5,000.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2017

27 June 2017

Zero balance

A student enrolled in a college’s early childhood education program, but was unable to attend. She did inform the college, but because she missed the deadline to withdraw from the course.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 16, 2017

16 June 2017

Township of Tehkummah

The Ombudsman received a complaint regarding five closed meetings held by council for the Township of Tehkummah.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2017

31 May 2017

Counter Encounter

Investigation into a complaint about the Township of Red Rock.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 17, 2017

17 May 2017

Town of Grimsby

We received two complaints that council for the Town of Grimsby held meetings in its capacity as a shareholder of Niagara Power Inc. without providing notice to the public, contrary to the open meeting rules. The complaints alleged that, on November 11 and December 5, 2016, council failed to provide public notice of meetings and did not make meeting minutes available to the public. The Ombudsman found that Council for the Town of Grimsby contravened the Municipal Act and the municipality’s procedure by-law when it discussed council business in camera on November 11, 2016 without providing notice to the public. The town also violated the Act by failing to pass a resolution to close the meeting. Council for the Town of Grimsby did not contravene the Act when it met informally on December 5, 2016, as this was not a “meeting” for the purposes of the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 12, 2017

12 May 2017

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the City of Niagara Falls discussed and voted on the sale of property in camera.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 10, 2017

10 May 2017

Township of Alfred and Plantagenet

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet had held illegal closed meetings in 2016 to discuss an organizational study of the municipality. The complaint also alleged that council improperly voted by email to approve funding related to a grant application. The Ombudsman found that the Township contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 and it procedure by-law when it voted during a closed session on April 4, 2016 and when it held three meetings without following any of the procedural requirements for meetings of council. The Ombudsman also found that the Township contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it approved funding related to a grant application by email and by telephone.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 9, 2017

9 May 2017

City of Timmins

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the City of Timmins held an illegal meeting on March 30, 2015 when it met in closed session to discuss an open procurement project.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 3, 2017

3 May 2017

Township of Russell

On December 12, 2016 council for the Township of Russell went in closed session to discuss naming rights for a new sports facility, citing the “personal matters” and “litigation or potential litigation” exceptions.  The Ombudsman received a complaint that this discussion did not fit within any of the exceptions to the open meeting requirements under the Municipal Act. The Ombudsman found that the general discussion pertained to fundraising, naming rights and advertising for the sports facility, not to personal matters. There also was no discussion of potential litigation. Accordingly, the meeting was not permitted to be closed to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 21, 2017

21 April 2017

City of Timmins

Council for the City of Timmins contravened the Municipal Act on December 19, 2016 when it met in camera with a representative of Northern College to discuss a proposed development agreement with the college. The discussion between council and college’s representative did not fall within the acquisition or disposition of land exception to the Act’s open meeting requirement.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 20, 2017

20 April 2017

Out of Oversight, Out of Mind

Investigation into how the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services tracks the admission and placement of segregated inmates, and the adequacy and effectiveness of the review process for such placements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 11, 2017

11 April 2017

Submission on Bill 68, Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act, 2017

On April 11, 2017, Ombudsman Paul Dubé made a presentation to the Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding Bill 68, Modernizing Ontario's Municipal Legislation Act, 2017.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 3, 2017

3 April 2017

Town of Fort Erie - Board of Management for the Ridgeway Business Improvement Area

We received a complaint that the Board of Management for the Ridgeway Business Improvement Area (BIA) in the Town of Fort Erie discussed a matter in camera on November 2, 2016 contrary to the open meeting rules. BIA boards are local boards subject to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that the matter discussed by the board in camera fit within the exceptions for personal matters about an identifiable individual, and labour relations or employee negotiations. However, the board committed procedural violations by failing to pass a resolution before going in camera, failing to record meeting minutes, and voting in a closed meeting. The Ombudsman recognized that most of the board members were volunteers who had not received training on the open meeting rules, and recommended that the Town of Fort Erie ensure all members of its local boards receive such training.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 6, 2017

6 March 2017

Procuring Progress

Investigation into the City of Brampton’s procurement practices, focusing on the administration of its purchasing by-laws, policies and procedures regarding non-competitive procurements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 1, 2017

1 March 2017

City of London

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the November 1, 2016 meeting of London’s Corporate Services Committee was illegally closed to the public to discuss a general policy matter. The Ombudsman found that, while there is no exception to the open meeting requirements that authorizes general policy discussions to take place behind closed doors, the in camera discussion at this meeting was permitted under the solicitor-client privilege exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 17, 2017

17 February 2017

City of London

The Ombudsman received complaints that the City of London held illegal closed meetings on May 17 and June 23, 2016, to discuss the appointment of an integrity commissioner, and a recent report of the integrity commissioner. The Ombudsman found that the May 17 Committee of the Whole meeting was permitted to be closed to the public under the solicitor-client privilege and personal matters exceptions, and the June 23 council meeting was permitted to be closed to the public under the solicitor-client privilege exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 13, 2017

13 February 2017

Municipality of Brockton

We received complaints alleging that the Walkerton Business Improvement Area and the Municipality of Brockton held three improperly closed meetings on June 13, June 20, and September 27, 2016. The Ombudsman determined that the Walkerton Business Improvement Area did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 on June 13 because the discussion between three board members was not a “meeting” under the Act and was not subject to the Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman also determined that council for the Municipality of Brockton did not contravene the Act on June 20, 2016, when it met in camera to discuss matters that were subject to “litigation or potential litigation”. However, on September 27, 2016, the municipality contravened the Act when a quorum of councillors attended an information session related to a Drainage Act petition.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 9, 2017

9 February 2017

Municipality of Temagami

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the municipality of Temagami held illegal closed sessions on April 28 and August 11, 2016.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 24, 2017

24 January 2017

Township of Laird

We received a complaint that the Laird Fairgrounds Management Board held a meeting that did not comply with the open meeting rules on August 10, 2016.  The board is a committee of the Township of Laird. The committee did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 or the Township of Laird’s procedure by-law when it discussed a matter in camera on August 10, 2016. The discussion fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 23, 2017

23 January 2017

City of Timmins

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the City of Timmins held two illegal closed session discussions on August 8, 2016 and August 29, 2016, about the City’s Canada Day 150 Celebrations. The Ombudsman determined that council contravened the Municipal Act when it went in camera on August 8, 2016 under the solicitor-client advice exception and that council should not have voted during that closed session. The Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the  Municipal Act when it went in camera on August 29, 2016 under the solicitor-client advice exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 23, 2017

23 January 2017

City of Timmins

Council for the City of Timmins contravened the Municipal Act on June 27, 2016 when it went in camera to discuss the recruitment process to replace the retiring CAO. The discussion did not fall within the personal matters exception to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman also found that council should not have voted in closed session to form a hiring committee and voted by way of secret ballot on the membership of council members to that committee. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 20, 2017

20 January 2017

City of Greater Sudbury

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council went in camera to discuss a report regarding contracts between the city and a transit ticket kiosk. The complaint also alleged that council voted while in camera to write off an uncollectible account, prior to voting on the matter in open session on May 31, 2016.

The Ombudsman determined that council did not contravene the Municipal Act when it went in camera to discuss the report on March 2 and March 23, 2016 under the personal matters and solicitor-client privilege exceptions, or on April 26, 2016 under the personal matters exception. The Ombudsman also found that council did not improperly vote on the uncollectible account during a closed meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 19, 2017

19 January 2017

Township of Georgian Bay

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Township of Georgian Bay held illegal closed session discussions on October 13, 2015 and January 11, 2016, about a shoreline structure that did not meet the requirements of the zoning by-law. The Ombudsman determined that council did not contravene the Municipal Act when it went in camera at these meetings under the litigation or potential litigation exception. However, council contravened the Act when it voted during its in camera meeting on October 13, 2015.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 29, 2016

29 December 2016

Niagara District Airport Commission

The Niagara District Airport Commission contravened the Municipal Act on July 14, 2016, when it went in camera to discuss ongoing airport fee negotiations and related airport upgrades. This meeting did not fall within the “advice subject to solicitor-client privilege” exception, or any exception, to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman also made recommendations to improve the commission’s procedure by-law and its process for providing information to the public about closed session discussions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 22, 2016

22 December 2016

City of Elliot Lake

The City of Elliot Lake's Ad Hoc Multi-Use Committee is a committee of council subject to the Municipal Act's open meeting requirements. The committee violated the open meeting requirements and the city's procedural by-law on March 22, 2016 and May 5, 2016 when it held meetings without providing notice to the public. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 13, 2016

13 December 2016

Township of Hornepayne

The Township of Hornepayne’s Nuclear Waste Community Liaison Committee is a committee of council subject to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. The committee contravened the Act and the township’s procedure by-law on January 12, 2016, when it held a meeting without providing any notice to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 14, 2016

14 November 2016

Town of Grimsby

Council for the Town of Grimsby contravened the Municipal Act and the municipality’s procedure by-law when it discussed a municipally-controlled corporation, Niagara Power Inc., in camera on May 2, 2016. The discussion did not fit within any of the exceptions to the open meeting rules. There is no exception in the Act for discussions about sensitive business information.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Guard let down

A man who needed to renew his Ontario Security Guard licence for work contacted our Office for help in speeding up the process with the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Special(ist) case

A transgender man complained to our Office because he was having difficulty obtaining an updated birth certificate from the Registrar General.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

New identity

After living on the streets for many years, a man sought our help in obtaining valid identification so he could apply for full-time work.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Sorry situation

A man with a visual impairment complained to our Office that an LCBO cashier would not sell him wine unless his 19-year-old son, who was not making a purchase but only accompanying him to provide assistance, showed identification.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Costly mistakes

After members of her family complained to our Office, we discovered the OPGT had made numerous errors in managing a woman’s affairs – failing to pay her mortgage and utilities for several months.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Signal co-ordination

After narrowly escaping being hit by an Ontario Northland Railway train near her home, a woman requested an automatic signal be installed to prevent future incidents.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

System error

After a 30-day suspension, a woman visited a ServiceOntario office and paid the $150 fee to have her licence reinstated.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Bureaucratic brake

A senior complained that after he sent a medical report to the Ministry as required for his driver’s licence, he was told it could not be found and he would have to submit it again.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Welcome home

A senior contacted our Office after restrictions were placed on his visits with his wife at her long-term care home, after he raised concerns with a nurse about his wife’s care.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Fire protection

A man whose home and important documents were destroyed by fire complained that he was having trouble renewing his Ontario health card.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Retroactive relief

After the Trillium Drug Program denied a woman drug benefits that she had previously received, our staff raised the case with a senior analyst at the Ministry, who found the information she had submitted about her private insurer’s drug coverage had been inconsistent.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Finding compassion

A woman complained to our Office on behalf of her 34-year-old daughter, who requires a specially-made drug at a cost of $200 per month.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Timely medicine

A mother whose son has a developmental disability and is medically fragile complained that her son’s medication costs were no longer being covered since he had been placed in a group home funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Unfinished business

A man complained to our Office about the WSIB after he had not received an update on his compensation application for almost a year.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Billing bungle

A man complained after he received a municipal hydro bill of $1,300, when his normal monthly bill was around $29.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Fee factor

A homeowner complained that a $1,950 fee he paid to make a severance application was not refunded when his application was denied.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Snow problem

A man told our Office he had tried for 10 years to find out why the municipality removed the snow from the sidewalk in front of his neighbours’ homes, but not his.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Distance discount

A distance education student complained he was asked to pay fees for various services only available on campus, such as student lifestyle fees.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Admit one

A would-be Bachelor of Education student complained that he was denied admission because of a mistake in his application due to a miscommunication with the university.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Fail safe

A student complained that he had failed a course due to false information provided to his professor by a teaching assistant.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Second chance

A PhD student who was given no opportunity to repeat his final exam when he failed on his first try after 16 months of course work complained to our Office that he had hit a dead end in the university’s appeal process.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Teachable moment

After a teacher-in-charge kept a student out of class for more than two hours over an incident, the student’s mother complained to us about the board’s response to her concerns.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Better, not late

The mother of a kindergarten student with special needs complained that her son’s bus was repeatedly late and that he had once been dropped off at the wrong address.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

The safer way

The mother of a Grade 4 student was concerned for her son’s safety because he had to cross a busy intersection on his walk to school.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

No place like home

A mother of a teenage boy with autism sought our Office’s help after her son was restricted to 45 minutes of school per day due to behavioural issues.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Cars curbed

A woman complained to us after trying for months to get a school board to respond to her safety concerns about vehicles regularly driving up onto a curb on school property near an entrance for young children.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Back in action

An Everest College student who was away from the school on medical leave when it abruptly closed was turned down for assistance in enrolling in a new program because his college record did not list him as an active student at the time of the closure.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Too far to go

A mother who had been commuting two hours every day to attend classes at an Everest College campus applied for funding to resume her studies elsewhere after the college closed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Buy the book

A student who bought $1,000 worth of textbooks for her studies at the suddenly-closed Everest College complained that foot-dragging by officials at the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities caused her to miss a deadline to receive a 60% refund on the books, which were now worthless to her.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Pressed for cash

A college student who was taking “compressed” courses over the summer questioned why she didn’t qualify for full-time OSAP funding, as her college had previously determined that her compressed course load made her eligible.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

No answer

A woman on a waiting list for a popular, limited-enrolment college program called our Office for help when she could not get any information from the college about whether she had been accepted.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Painful delay

A woman who was seriously injured in a car accident complained that she waited seven months to receive her application for ODSP benefits.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

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.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Justice delayed

An inmate complained that he had sat in jail for days after becoming eligible for parole because a parole hearing had not been scheduled for him.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2016

8 November 2016

Best defence

A senior who was charged with threatening police complained that Legal Aid Ontario told him he was no longer eligible for their services after the Crown decided it would not seek to put him in jail if convicted.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 7, 2016

7 November 2016

Norfolk County

The Ombudsman received complaints that council for the County of Norfolk met illegally in a closed meeting on May 24, 2016 to discuss the development of a site-specific zoning by-law for an area in the county known as Hastings Drive. The complaints also alleged that council improperly voted during the closed meeting to remove an option for the zoning by-law from consideration. The Ombudsman determined that council did not contravene the Municipal Act when it went in camera on May 24, 2016 under the litigation or potential litigation exception and the solicitor-client privilege exception. The Ombudsman also found that council did not improperly vote during the closed meeting. One of the complaints alleged that the resolution to proceed in camera was vague. Given the nature of the discussions (solicitor-client privileged advice), the Ombudsman found that the resolution to proceed in camera was sufficient.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 3, 2016

3 November 2016

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the City of Niagara Falls violated the Municipal Act when it voted in closed session to commit $10 million towards a proposed partnership with a post-secondary institution. The Ombudsman found that the discussion did not fit within any of the closed meeting exceptions and that as a result, council was not entitled to vote in closed session on a resolution directing staff to proceed with the partnership.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 2, 2016

2 November 2016

2015-2016 Annual Report

Ombudsman's Message - Expanding our Horizons
It is an honour and a privilege for me to serve as Ontario’s seventh Ombudsman. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to lead such a remarkable team; one I have long held in high esteem. Collectively, we are dedicated to serving the people of Ontario and passionate about our role in enhancing governance and promoting administrative fairness.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 27, 2016

27 October 2016

Submission to the Independent Police Oversight Review

Since 1974, police oversight in Ontario has been the subject of more than a dozen reviews, generating hundreds of recommendations for reform. In response, successive governments have introduced legislative amendments aimed at enhancing independent oversight of police. However, finding the right balance between effective policing and public accountability has proven elusive. Today, Ontario’s oversight system continues to attract criticism that threatens to undermine public confidence in policing.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 19, 2016

19 October 2016

Outside the zone

A father contacted us when the principal at his daughter’s school told him she could no longer attend the school, since the family lived outside the catchment area.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 30, 2016

30 September 2016

Uncredited

A man complained to us that he received a water bill and a late payment penalty even though he had a $600 credit with the utility. Our staff contacted the municipality and discovered that the man’s original account had been closed and a new account had been set up without the credit being transferred over.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 27, 2016

27 September 2016

Municipality of West Nipissing

We received a complaint that the Municipality of West Nipissing failed to provide sufficient notice to the public in advance of a July 21, 2016 special council meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 14, 2016

14 September 2016

Town of Goderich

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the Recreation Board of Management and Board’s Ad Hoc Committee in the Town of Goderich held meetings in 2015 and 2016 that did not comply with the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act. The Ombudsman found that the Recreation Board of Management falls within the Municipal Act’s definition of a “local board” and is subject to the Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman cautioned the Board to be vigilant in adhering to the requirements of the Municipal Act in the future when it forms committees. The Ombudsman noted that, the Board and the Ad Hoc Committee include volunteer members who acted in good faith for the benefit of the community. A number of recommendations were made to assist the Board in improving its open meeting practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 8, 2016

8 September 2016

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands had discussed a zoning by-law application over email. The Ombudsman determined that council violated the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act by discussing council business over email and recommended that council cease its practice of discussing council business using quorum emails or any other electronic format.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 8, 2016

8 September 2016

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands discussed reassignment of the Chief Administrative Officer’s duties during a closed meeting held on April 18, 2016.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 31, 2016

31 August 2016

Rental funding issues

A woman applied for Ontario Works benefits and was told she qualified for $1,850 to cover the first and last month's rent payments for an apartment she was moving into in August.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 31, 2016

31 August 2016

A matter of exposure

A student complained that one of his female classmates was refused entry into class for having her shoulders exposed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 31, 2016

31 August 2016

Entry Prohibited

A woman complained to us after she and her husband received a ‘Notice of Prohibition of Entry’ from a board in October 2012, with no end date or written rationale provided.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 24, 2016

24 August 2016

Nowhere to Turn

Investigation into the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ response to situations of crisis involving adults with developmental disabilities.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 11, 2016

11 August 2016

Township of Woolwich

The Ombudsman received a complaint that committee of the whole for the Township of Woolwich held an improper closed meeting between the closed and open sessions on March 22, 2016 at which they made a decision on an upcoming delegation. The Ombudsman found no evidence that a quorum of the committee discussed the delegation as a group behind closed doors, or laid the groundwork for a decision on the delegation.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 5, 2016

5 August 2016

Municipality of Brockton (Walkerton BIA)

The Ombudsman received a complaint that on June 8, 2016, the board of directors for the Walkerton Business Improvement Area discussed matters that did not fall within the exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 2, 2016

2 August 2016

City of Sault Ste. Marie

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the City of Sault Ste. Marie discussed matters that did not fall within the exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001 during a closed meeting on October 13, 2015. During the meeting, council received a presentation by the City’s Fire Chief. The Ombudsman determined that the meeting fit within the exception for labour relations or employee negotiations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 29, 2016

29 July 2016

A processing predicament

A woman complained to us after her acceptance into a university program through the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC), was somehow not processed, meaning she lost her spot and was put on a wait list.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 29, 2016

29 July 2016

No parking

A ​woman who was working temporarily in Ontario and renting a house with no private parking complained to us when the municipality denied her a street parking permit because her vehicle had out-of-province plates.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 19, 2016

19 July 2016

City of Brockville

Our Office received two complaints about the March 7, 2016 meeting held by the OPP Contact Adhoc Committee for the City of Brockville. Both complaints alleged that the committee’s meeting with representatives of the Ontario Provincial Police did not come within the Municipal Act's closed meeting exception for “education and training” sessions. The Ombudsman determined that the committee did not contravene the Act when it went in camera to acquire education and training about the OPP costing process. However, in addition to receiving this general information from the OPP, the committee decided to advance the costing process by voting to direct staff to approach an audit firm to assess the OPP costing proposal once the city receives it. This discussion and direction to staff advanced the committee’s business and decision-making and did not fall within the “education and training” exception, or any exception, to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman also identified various procedural issues with the committee's practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 19, 2016

19 July 2016

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received a complaint that the Election Compliance Audit Committee for the City of Hamilton held a “deliberation” on July 15, 2015 that was illegally closed to the public. The Ombudsman determined that the city's Election Compliance Audit Committee falls within the Municipal Act’s definition of a “local board” and is subject to the Act’s open meeting requirements. The committee contravened the Act on July 15, 2015, when it met in private to deliberate on various applications that were before the committee. Notice of the meeting was not provided, no procedure was followed to close the meeting to the public, and even if this procedure had been followed, the committee’s discussion did not fall within any of the Act’s closed meeting exceptions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 19, 2016

19 July 2016

City of Oshawa

The Ombudsman received four complaints about a meeting held by council for the City of Oshawa on December 17, 2015. Each complaint alleged that council’s meeting with the Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation on that date did not come within the Municipal Act’s closed meeting exception for “education and training” sessions. The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Oshawa contravened the Municipal Act on December 17, 2015, when it went in camera to obtain information about a proposed merger between OPUC and Veridian. This meeting did not fall within the “education and training” exception, or any exception, to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. A number of recommendations were made to assist the city in improving its open meeting practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2016

6 July 2016

Town of Amherstburg

We received a complaint that council for the Town of Amherstburg discussed approval of the town’s accounts payable over email during December 2014 and January 2015. We also received complaints that council discussed items in closed meetings on October 14 and 26, 2015 that did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 30, 2016

30 June 2016

Taking the long way home

A mother felt that her daughter's school board didn't follow its own rules after she tried to appeal a change to her daughter's school bus route, which effectively doubled the amount of time her daughter spent on the bus.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 16, 2016

16 June 2016

A Matter of Life and Death

Investigation into the direction provided by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services to Ontario’s police services for de-escalation of conflict situations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 6, 2016

6 June 2016

Norfolk County

We received complaints that council for Norfolk County discussed matters that did not fall within the exceptions in the Municipal Act, 2001 during closed meetings on January 19 and February 16, 2016.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 3, 2016

3 June 2016

Town of Midland

The Ombudsman found that council for the Town of Midland violated the Municipal Act on September 14, 2015 when it discussed in camera matters relating to a housing development that did not fit within any exception to the open meeting rules. References during the discussion to personal matters about an individual were not the focus of the conversation and did not justify holding the discussion in camera. Council also contravened the Act when it voted on the housing matter during an illegal closed meeting.

The Ombudsman found that Midland council did not contravene the open meeting rules on October 13, 2015, as its discussions fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual.

On both dates, council for Midland violated a procedural requirement in the Act by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the matters to be considered in the closed sessions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2016

31 May 2016

Bus stop safety concerns

A parent complained to our office after a school board decided to move their child's bus stop 300 metres to a busier intersection.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 19, 2016

19 May 2016

City of Greater Sudbury

Our Office received a complaint that Greater Sudbury's council held an illegal closed meeting on April 7, 2016 when it attended a roundtable with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 10, 2016

10 May 2016

Norfolk County

Our Office received a complaint that Norfolk County's council-in-committee held an illegal closed meeting on December 1, 2015 when it went in camera to discuss whether to approve a legal services contract extension with two law firms. Our investigation determined that the majority of the committee's discussion did not fall within any of the exceptions to the Municipal Act’s open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman made a number of recommendations to improve local practices in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 9, 2016

9 May 2016

Segregation: Not an Isolated Problem

No matter what you call it – segregation, solitary confinement, isolation, or separation – the practice of confining inmates to a cell, alone, for 22 hours or more a day for prolonged periods has increasingly come under fire.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 6, 2016

6 May 2016

The Nation Municipality

Our Office received a complaint that council for The Nation Municipality held an illegal closed meeting on August 31, 2015 when it restricted access to a council meeting to those who could fit inside the Town Hall, and prohibited individuals from using a microphone and speakers to broadcast the meeting proceedings outside in the parking lot.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 29, 2016

29 April 2016

Clarifying our jurisdiction

A town clerk contacted our office after the local council, which was considering establishing a code of conduct, expressed the view that it did not need to appoint an Integrity Commissioner, because any complaints related to the code of conduct could be forwarded to the Ombudsman for review.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 29, 2016

29 April 2016

A learning experience

A would-be Bachelor of Education student complained that he was denied admission because he included a one-on-one teaching experience in his application - he said the university did not make it clear that he should not do so.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 29, 2016

29 April 2016

Clarifying the process

A parent complained to our office after the school board looked into her conflict-of-interest complaint about two trustees who participated in decisions to close a local high school.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 19, 2016

19 April 2016

Township of Russell

We received a complaint that council for the Township of Russell discussed items in closed session on December 7, 2015, that did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that council contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it discussed councillor remuneration in closed session. However, council did not contravene the Act when it went in camera to discuss changes to township employee compensation. Portions of the discussion relating to the salaries of identified municipal employees fell within the closed meeting exception for personal information about an identifiable individual. Other portions of the discussion relating to the township’s compensation strategy and proposed changes to the salary grid fell within the closed meeting exception for labour relations or employee negotiations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 31, 2016

31 March 2016

Rural bus route dilemma

A woman contacted our Office when she discovered the school board would only bus her granddaughter to a school that was more than twice as far away as the next closest option.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 31, 2016

31 March 2016

Denied assistance

A homeless teenager who could not live with either parent was denied assistance through Ontario Works and was not provided with anything in writing about how to appeal the decision.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 29, 2016

29 February 2016

Calculated distance

We received a complaint that several students in the same neighbourhood were deemed ineligible for busing despite believing they lived within the school's distance requirements policy, and that the board would not provide the walk distance calculation to the complainant or other parents.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 29, 2016

29 February 2016

Lack of clear mechanism

We received complaints of alleged violations of the councillor code of conduct in a township.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 24, 2016

24 February 2016

City of London

We received two complaints that council for the City of London held an illegal closed meeting on June 10, 2015. Shortly after the meeting began, there was a disruption in the public gallery and members of the public were asked to leave the building. Once the security issue was resolved, the doors to City Hall remained locked to the public.

While the Mayor and council believed that the meeting was open to the public, the public was not actually free to enter the building in order to access council chambers to observe the meeting. Those attempting to watch the meeting did not have access to council chambers for a significant period of time while the front doors to city hall remained locked. During this time period, the meeting was not open to the public as it should have been.

The Acting Ombudsman advised the City to ensure that the public has unimpeded access to council chambers in order to observe all open meetings of council and committees, and to ensure that a formal written policy is created and implemented that sets out security protocols during meetings of council or committees.

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February 23, 2016

23 February 2016

Town of Fort Erie

We received a complaint that on December 14, 2015, a locked security door prevented the public from accessing the room where council for the Town of Fort Erie was holding what they thought was an open meeting of council. The Acting Ombudsman found that the locked door effectively prevented the public from accessing the meeting room. As a result, the meeting was improperly closed to the public and the public’s right to observe municipal government in process was frustrated. A number of recommendations were made to assist the town in improving its open meeting practices. ​

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 4, 2016

4 February 2016

Municipality of St.-Charles

We received a complaint that council for the Municipality of St.-Charles discussed items in closed meetings on May 15, 2012, June 19, 2013, and May 29, 2014 that did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules. The Ombudsman found that council for St.-Charles contravened the Municipal Act when it discussed audit reports, management letters, and other auditor findings and recommendations in closed session during each of the three meetings. Discussions of individual staff performance and conduct, which ensued as a result of the review of the audit report and management letter, fell within the exceptions for personal matters and labour relations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 29, 2016

29 January 2016

Village of Casselman

Our office found that discussions of a consultant's report on July 3 and July 14, 2015 fit within the personal matters exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 29, 2016

29 January 2016

Home school solution

A teenage boy with autism who was only permitted to attend class for 45 minutes a day due to aggression issues was refusing to return to school because of an incident when police were called.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 5, 2016

5 January 2016

Township of Russell

We received complaints about two closed meetings held by council for the Township of Russell during the afternoon and evening of August 10, 2015. Our review found that council did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001​ on the afternoon of August 10 when it went in camera to receive training on strategic planning because the discussion fell within the exception for education or training sessions. We also found that one matter discussed on the evening of August 10 fell within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual. However, our review found that three of the closed session matters discussed the evening of August 10 did not fall within any of the Act's exceptions to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 31, 2015

31 December 2015

In need of a space

A primary school student with special needs was put on a waiting list for placement in a support program for children with autism. The boy's mother was told that a spot was unlikely to become available soon. Concerned that her child's needs were not being met, she escalated her concerns with the school board and then called our Office.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 4, 2015

4 December 2015

Township of McKellar

We received a complaint that the Economic Development Committee for the Township of McKellar held an illegal meeting over email in April 2015 and in person on May 5, 2015. Our review found that the committee contravened the Act and the township's procedure by-law by holding a closed meeting and vote over email between April 22 and 24, 2015. We also found that the committee discussed a matter in camera on May 5 that did not fit within the exceptions in the Act. The Ombudsman noted that, at the time of the meetings, the committee was comprised entirely of volunteer members who acted in good faith while trying to deal with a difficult relationship with council. A number of recommendations were made to assist the township in improving its open meeting practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 1, 2015

1 December 2015

Heads of Council in West Parry Sound

We received a complaint that the heads of council for seven municipalities in West Parry Sound (the Township of Carling, the Municipality of Whitestone, the Town of Parry Sound, the Township of The Archipelago, Seguin Township, the Municipality of McDougall, and the Township of McKellar) have been holding illegal closed meetings, including on February 19, 2015. Our review found that the heads of council gatherings are not meetings for the purposes of the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman encouraged the heads of council to consider opening their gatherings to the public, given the public interest in many of the matters they discuss.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 30, 2015

30 November 2015

Improving busing services

The mother of a kindergartner with special needs contacted the Office with concerns about busing services.

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November 28, 2015

28 November 2015

Regional Municipality of Niagara

We received a complaint that the May 13, 2015 inaugural meeting of the Long Term Care Task Force for the Niagara Region was illegally closed to the public. Our investigation found that this meeting contravened the open meeting provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001 and the region's procedure by-law. Notice of the meeting was not provided, no procedure was followed to close the meeting to the public, and, even if this procedure had been followed, the task force's discussion did not fall within any of the closed meeting exceptions. A number of recommendations were made to assist the task force in improving its open meeting practices. ​

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 26, 2015

26 November 2015

City of Owen Sound

The Ombudsman found that the May 25 and June 15, 2015 social gatherings attended by councillors for the City of Owen Sound did not contravene the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001. In addition, the Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the Act on April 27, 2015 when it went in camera to receive legal advice to related to council’s faith blessing. The Ombudsman did not make any recommendations to council.

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November 23, 2015

23 November 2015

Township of Bonfield

The Ombudsman found that the May 19 and June 2, 2015 closed session discussions of the Public Works Committee for the Township of Bonfield did not violate the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001.  However, the Ombudsman did identify several procedural violations and made a number of recommendations to improve local practices in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 23, 2015

23 November 2015

Township of West Lincoln

The Ombudsman found that the June 15, 2015 closed session discussion of the Administration/Finance/Fire Committee of the Township of West Lincoln did not violate the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman also found that the June 22, 2015 closed session discussion by council for the Township of West Lincoln did not violate the Act’s open meeting provisions. Both meetings fell within the exception for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege. However, the Ombudsman identified several issues with the township's closed meeting procedures and made recommendations to improve council's practices.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 20, 2015

20 November 2015

Town of Amherstburg

We received complaints that council for the Town of Amherstburg held illegal closed meeting on January 10 and June 2, 2015. Our review found that the discussions on January 10 fit within the exceptions for personal matters about an identifiable individual and solicitor-client privilege. We found that the discussions on June 2 fit within the exceptions for personal matters about an identifiable individual, solicitor-client privilege, and labour relations or employee negotiations.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 19, 2015

19 November 2015

City of Port Colborne

We received a complaint that council for the City of Port Colborne held illegal meetings on March 8, 2010, January 27, 2014, and December 8, 2014. Our review found that the council discussions on March 8, 2010 fit within the exceptions for acquisition or disposition of land and personal matters about an identifiable individual. Discussions on January 27, 2014 fit within the exceptions for personal matters, acquisition or disposition of land, and advice subject to solicitor-client privilege.

On December 8, 2014, the city held an illegal closed meeting. Council's discussions regarding corporate expansion projects, a non-profit organization, and the disposition of city-owned shares in a company did not fit within any of the exceptions to the open meeting rules. Our Office advised the City to cite the proper exception to close a meeting, provide more specificity in the resolution to close a meeting, and avoid talking about matters in camera that do not fit within an exception in the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 9, 2015

9 November 2015

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman found that the council for the City of Niagara Falls did not violate the open meeting provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001 when it informally discussed the council prayer on April 28, 2015.

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November 9, 2015

9 November 2015

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Elliot Lake did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 during in-camera meetings on April 13 and April 17, 2015. In addition, there was no evidence that an informal meeting took place on April 17, 2015 following the meeting of council. The Ombudsman also found that an April 20, 2015 gathering of three members of council was not a meeting for the purposes of the open meeting requirements of the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 2, 2015

2 November 2015

Township of Russell

Our Office found that council for the Township of Russell held an illegal closed meeting on June 1, 2015 when it went in camera to view a rebranding presentation for the township. The rebranding presentation did not fall within the exception for education and training sessions, or any other exception, to the open meeting requirements. We also found that the municipality violated section 239(4)(a) of the Act by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the topics to be considered in closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 2, 2015

2 November 2015

Municipality of Brighton

Our Office found that the discussions held by council for the Municipality of Brighton on May 28, 2015 fit within the closed meeting exceptions in the Municipal Act. However, council technically contravened the voting provisions of the Municipal Act and the township’s procedure by-law when it voted on five resolutions in camera. While the purpose and effect of the resolutions was to provide direction to staff, they were not worded as such. Our Office also found that the municipality violated section 239(4)(a) of the Act by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the topics to be considered in closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 30, 2015

30 October 2015

Town of Essex

The Ombudsman found that the Town of Essex held an illegal closed meeting when it exercised its authority and decided through a series of emails in April 2015 to modify the council prayer. The Ombudsman acknowledged that council and staff acted in good faith in order to ensure compliance with the law as clarified by the Supreme Court of Canada. In their haste, however, they failed to turn their minds to the need for transparency and the open meeting requirements contained in the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 28, 2015

28 October 2015

Village of Burk's Falls / Armour Township

The Ombudsman found that, when councils for Armour Township and the Village of Burk’s Falls met in camera on January 16, 2015, parts of the discussion did not fit within the exceptions to the open meeting rules in the Act. The councils also failed to comply with a number of procedural rules in the Act and their respective procedure by-laws. A number of recommendations were made to each municipality to improve local practices in the interest of transparency and accountability.

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October 6, 2015

6 October 2015

Town of South Bruce Peninsula

The Ombudsman received a complaint that council for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula voted illegally during several closed sessions discussing the Wiarton Keppel International Airport, all of which were closed under the “acquisition or disposition of land” exception to the open meeting provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001 (the Act). The complaint also alleged other procedural irregularities, informal gatherings and a serial meeting by email. The Ombudsman found that the town did not contravene the open meeting requirements of the Act, though he did identify best practices and procedural step to further improve the town's meeting practices.

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August 31, 2015

31 August 2015

Written Submission to the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services - Carding

Whatever label you choose – street checks, community contacts, or carding  – the practice of police officers arbitrarily stopping individuals on the street, requesting personal identification and information, and maintaining a record of the encounter for possible future use, has increasingly come under scrutiny.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2015

10 August 2015

Township of Woolwich

The Ombudsman found that council for the Township of Woolwich contravened the Municipal Act during in-camera discussions on January 13, January 20 and February 3, 2015, as well as when it voted to direct staff while in camera on January 20 and February 3, while discussing matters that were not permitted in camera. Council did not contravene the Act during an in camera discussion related to litigation or potential litigation at an August 11, 2014 committee meeting.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

A sign of relief

A mother was concerned about the lack of support and funding for her 19-year-old son, who has autism and aggressive behavioural issues. He had recently been taken to hospital by police after an incident when he became agitated and violent.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Burden of proof

A woman turned to the Ombudsman for help when she had trouble renewing her Ontario Health Insurance Plan coverage. She had been living with friends and was struggling to provide proof that she was an Ontario resident so she could renew her OHIP card before it expired on September 30.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Electrifying error

A woman was frustrated and confused by a dramatic increase in her electricity bills after her meter was changed in August 2013 – from $244 that July, to $403 in August, and up to $1,700 in January 2014.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

2014-2015 Annual Report

Ombudsman's Message - A decade of progress
This annual report is a milestone for the Ombudsman’s Office. We are approaching our 40th anniversary, and I have had the honour of serving Ontarians as Ombudsman for just over 10 of those years. The past decade has been a time of remarkable change and progress in government accountability. Even more lies ahead in the coming months, with the historic expansion of our mandate to municipalities, universities and school boards.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Overbill overkill

A farmer was concerned about the high electricity bills he received for the first six months of 2014, even though his corn dryer – the machine on his farm using the highest amount of electricity – wasn’t in use. His bills were close to $9,000, including $843 in delivery charges on $112 worth of electricity.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Handling with care

The aunt and uncle of a 16-year-old boy with Down Syndrome needed help finding the boy a place to live after his mother died of cancer. They were concerned that they would not be able to care for him because they lived 270 kilometres away, both worked odd hours, and, due to their age, wouldn’t be able to look after him on a long-term basis.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Pearly rights

A woman whose teeth had been damaged as a result of physical abuse by her partner years earlier contacted the Ombudsman for help in obtaining funds to have them fixed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Insuring a house is in order

Three months after his partner died, a widower contacted us because he had not received the coroner’s report, despite writing the local coroner’s office twice. His partner had died of what appeared to be a drug overdose and he needed the coroner’s report to obtain life insurance payments.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Wrong, wrong, wrong

A woman complained to the Ombudsman in May 2013 that her ex-husband owed $46,000 in spousal support and the FRO was not enforcing a court order that he pay it.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Labour pain

A woman came to us after she could not reach her ODSP case worker for two months. The woman was receiving Employment Insurance benefits of $295 per week, which were deducted from her monthly ODSP cheque of $1,842, but they had ended two months earlier. Despite this, the ODSP continued to take deductions from her cheque.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Return to sender, address unknown

A man contacted our Office in frustration when the Ministry repeatedly sent mail to his address for a former tenant. He had returned the envelopes several times with a note stating “this person does not reside at this address,” but the Ministry mail did not stop.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Good medicine

A woman who was experiencing a third occurrence of HER2-positive breast cancer was denied funding by the Ministry for the chemotherapy drug Kadcyla, although it was prescribed by her oncologist. The Ministry would fund the drug for women experiencing a second occurrence of the disease, but not a third – despite scientific evidence that women with third and even fourth occurrences did benefit from the drug.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Lost in the mail

A 62-year-old woman with Crohn’s disease required infusions every eight weeks at a cost of $4,542.76 per treatment. The woman’s private insurance covered 80% of the costs, while the Trillium Drug Program reimbursed her for the remainder, but she was reaching the lifetime maximum for her private insurance coverage and it was about to end.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Failure to communicate

After the removal of a benign brain tumour, a woman in her 20s suffered a stroke that left her unsteady on her feet, needing assistance to use the bathroom, and with speech difficulties. She had to be hospitalized several times and was placed in the complex care unit of a local hospital for four months.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

No time to lose

An inmate was told after a colonoscopy that he likely had bowel cancer and would need surgery immediately – within a week. However, the jail’s doctor told him the facility had no paperwork from the specialist, and it would be up to four weeks before he could even get an appointment for surgery.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Tuition restitution

A student from outside of Canada, who was married to a Canadian citizen, chose to enter the country on an international student visa because it would be processed faster than her spousal visa.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Past the due date

The mother of a young man with significant mental health problems came to the Ombudsman because her son, who was receiving ODSP benefits, had been threatened with eviction from his group home because his rent had not been paid via ODSP.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Crisis of care

The family of a 69-year-old woman with developmental disabilities contacted the Ombudsman because they could no longer care for her. She was in hospital after she was assaulted at her day program, but would have nowhere to live after she was discharged.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Misplaced identity

A new driver complained to our Office after waiting six months for his permanent driver’s licence. He had passed the written test and turned over his Ontario-issued government photo ID to ServiceOntario, expecting a replacement card in the mail, but he never received it.

 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

New drug, new hope

After a woman was denied funding for a drug to treat neuropathic pain, her husband came to the Ombudsman for help. The woman has a rare neurological disease and her condition, which is considered palliative, means she has considerable muscle and nerve pain. One of the drugs that helped her pain, Sativex, was only approved for patients with multiple sclerosis, or palliative cancer patients with refractory pain.

 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Excruciating wait

An inmate had been waiting for months to have a wisdom tooth extracted and was in severe pain, to the point where he had fainted and had to be sent to hospital.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Settling an account

A man contacted our Office because he suspected the Family Responsibility Office had miscalculated the amount he owed for child and spousal support by almost $3,800. He had written the FRO three times in the past 18 months, but it did not acknowledge his letters or adjust his account.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Your call is important

A 65-year-old man had his driver’s licence suspended in May 2014 after hospital staff reported to the Ministry of Transportation that he had suffered a fall that knocked him unconscious. After this incident, the man provided the Ministry with letters from three different doctors confirming he was in good health, but two months later, his licence was still suspended.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Going the distance

The owner of a home for adults with mental health issues contacted the Ombudsman, frustrated that he couldn’t get ODSP or Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) to provide funding to take one of his residents to her cancer treatments.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

A matter of time

After signing up for “Back on Track,” a remedial program for people convicted of impaired driving, a man phoned the program to book a one-hour assessment interview. He was given the choice of several time slots. He arrived at 3:30 on the appointed day, believing he was half an hour early for the 4 p.m. slot. Instead, he was told the interview had actually been booked for 3 p.m.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Way out west

A single mother complained to the Ombudsman that she hadn’t received child support payments in six months, despite her daughter, a post-secondary student, still living at home. The father lived in B.C., and as long as the daughter attended school and lived with her mother, he was required to pay monthly support payments.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Rehab reset

A mother complained to the Ombudsman after she was forced to pay $7,000 for a spot for her adult daughter in a residential treatment program for women with substance abuse issues.

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July 28, 2015

28 July 2015

Bullied and baffled

A mother contacted us in frustration because she couldn’t get help for her nine-year-old daughter, who had been severely bullied and injured at school, and was expressing thoughts of self-harm.

 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 10, 2015

10 July 2015

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The Ombudsman found that council did not contravene the Municipal Act or its procedure by-law by laying the groundwork for future decision-making. However, he did find that the information provided by email and in person prior to this meeting came very close to the line. The only reason the councillor's attempts to lay the groundwork for an upcoming decision of council did not rise to the level of a closed meeting for the purposes of the Act is that he was unsuccessful in his attempt to discuss the matter with a quorum of council.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 8, 2015

8 July 2015

Township of Chamberlain

The Ombudsman was unable to confirm that closed meetings held in November and December 2013 were justified under the Municipal Act, due to the lack of meeting records and available witness information. However, the Ombudsman found that council for the Township of Chamberlain did not violate the Act when it closed part of its June 3, 2014, February 3, 2015, and February 6, 2015 meetings to the public. The Ombudsman made a number of recommendations to assist council to improve its practices with respect to open meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 6, 2015

6 July 2015

Township of McMurrich-Monteith

The Ombudsman found that the discussions held by council for McMurrich-Monteith fit within the exceptions in the Municipal Act. The Ombudsman found that the township violated section 239(4)(a) of the Act by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the topics to be considered in closed session on January 12 and February 9. The Ombudsman also found that the township violated its procedural by-law by extending a closed meeting past its 11 p.m. curfew. Further, the township is not following best practices by failing to provide enough information in its agendas about matters to be discussed in closed session, and by failing to ensure that its agendas and resolutions correctly cite the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 24, 2015

24 June 2015

Municipality of Magnetawan

The Ombudsman found that council for the Municipality of Magnetawan contravened the Act and its own procedure by-law by failing to provide advance notice of the February 28 meeting. Due to the lack of notice, the public was unable to attend the meeting, such that the meeting was effectively closed. The discussions that took place did not fit within any exceptions in the Act. The Ombudsman found that the discussions held in closed session on March 4 fit within the exception for personal matters about an identifiable individual.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 12, 2015

12 June 2015

City of London

We received a complaint that London's Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee illegally closed a meeting to discuss proposals from developers hoping to purchase and redevelop land owned by the City. The Ombudsman found that the discussions fit within the exceptions for acquisition or disposition of land and solicitor-client privilege.

Following the publication of this report, the City of London informed our Office that Councillor Tanya Park was not present during the closed session on March 2, 2015. The report states that all members of council were present. The City did not correct this information when our Office reviewed the draft report with them by phone prior to publication. For the benefit of the record, the City has provided the This link opens in a new tabattached letter, which states: "...the Ombudsman Report entitled "Investigation into whether the City of London's Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee held an illegal meeting on March 2, 2015", dated June 2015, states that "All members of the committee were present during the closed session", which is not correct. As noted on the 13th Report of the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee, Councillor Park declared a pecuniary interest on the above­ noted matter and was not in attendance in the meeting room when this matter was discussed and therefore, did not participate in any discussion regarding this matter. As requested, I can confirm that City of London representatives did not raise the error during our teleconference with you, held on June 8, 2015 in which you provided a verbal overview of the findings, noting that a written copy of the preliminary report was not made available to the City of London representatives at that time."

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 5, 2015

5 June 2015

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands - “Re: The Naughty Topic”

The Ombudsman found that discussions held in person and over email by councillors-elect for the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands prior to their swearing in did not constitute illegal meetings under the Act because there was technically no quorum of council involved.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 25, 2015

25 May 2015

In the Dark

Investigation into the transparency of Hydro One’s billing practices and the timeliness and effectiveness of its process for responding to customer concerns.

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April 27, 2015

27 April 2015

Town of Cochrane

The Ombudsman found that council for the Town of Cochrane did not violate the Municipal Act when it closed part of its January 27, 2015 meeting under the "advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege" exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 24, 2015

24 April 2015

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Elliot Lake did not contravene the Municipal Act when it proceeded in camera at meetings held on December 1 and December 15, 2014, and January 5 and February 9, 2015. However, council did contravene the Act when it considered a matter in camera at its December 22, 2014 meeting that did not fit within the "personal matters" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 22, 2015

22 April 2015

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman found that the City of Hamilton did not contravene the Municipal Act when it closed a meeting to the public on December 10, 2014, under the "acquisition or disposition of land" and "a matter under another act" exceptions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 16, 2015

16 April 2015

Village of Casselman - “Restaurant Roundtable”

The Ombudsman found that council for the Village of Casselman violated the open meeting requirements at a lunchtime gathering with developers on January 8, 2015.

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April 13, 2015

13 April 2015

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman found that council for the Town of Amherstburg violated the Municipal Act when it discussed bank signing authorities in closed session under the "personal matters" exception on December 10, 2014.

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April 13, 2015

13 April 2015

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman found that the Town of Fort Erie did not contravene the Municipal Act when it held a closed meeting on December 10 for the purpose of "education or training". However, the "acquisition or disposition of land" exception, which also was cited, did not apply to the discussions held on December 10.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 6, 2015

6 April 2015

Municipality of Central Huron - "Recording Unavailable"

The Ombudsman found that council for the Municipality of Central Huron did not contravene the Municipal Act when it closed a portion of its January 12, 2015, meeting under the "personal matters" exception. However, the Ombudsman found that council violated its procedure by-law when it failed to audio or video record the closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 18, 2015

18 March 2015

Town of Bracebridge

The Ombudsman found that council for the Town of Bracebridge did not contravene the Municipal Act when it closed portions of the December 9 and December 17 meetings under the "personal matters" exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 5, 2015

5 March 2015

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman found that Council for the City of Niagara Falls held an illegal meeting on October 8, 2013. The matter discussed did not fit within any permissible exceptions to the open meeting requirements, and no public notice of the closed session was provided.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 5, 2015

5 March 2015

City of Niagara Falls - "Park Protest"

The Ombudsman found that the in camera discussion held by council for the City of Niagara Falls on May 29, 2012 with respect to Marineland fit within the solicitor-client privilege exception to the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman also found that informal "operational" meetings in 2011, 2012 and 2013 did not constitute meetings for the purposes of the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman made recommendations to improve the City of Niagara Falls’ procedure by-law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 3, 2015

3 March 2015

Village of Casselman - "Sign Here"

The Ombudsman found that a dinner on November 11, 2014, attended by the newly elected council did not violate the open meeting requirements. However, the Ombudsman found that the signing of a letter on November 6, 2014, by a quorum of council in office at the time was an exercise of council authority in a sequential or serial manner, in violation of the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 2, 2015

2 March 2015

Municipality of South Huron

The Ombudsman found that council for the Municipality of South Huron did not contravene the Municipal Act during seven meetings held between November 2008 and December 2013.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 13, 2015

13 February 2015

Village of Westport

The Ombudsman found that council for the Village of Westport contravened its procedure by-law by failing to provide adequate notice of the October 28, 2014 council meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 23, 2015

23 January 2015

City of Thorold

The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Thorold did not contravene the Municipal Act during individual discussions held between November 3 and November 28, 2014.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 12, 2015

12 January 2015

Town of Cochrane

The Ombudsman found that discussions held by council for the Town of Cochrane at its February 12, 2013 meeting fit within the personal matters exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 9, 2015

9 January 2015

Township of Black River-Matheson - “Location, Location, Location”

The Ombudsman found that the September 2, 2014 meeting of the Committee of the Whole of the Township of Black River-Matheson violated the open meeting requirements, because public notice of the changed location of the meeting was not provided.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 9, 2015

9 January 2015

City of Clarence-Rockland - “Access Denied”

The Ombudsman found that the August 27, 2014 meeting of council for the City of Clarence-Rockland was improperly closed to the public when council moved to a small conference room that could only accommodate council and select members of the media. The Ombudsman further found that the September 15, 2014, meeting was an open meeting of council and did not violate the requirements of the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 15, 2014

15 December 2014

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman found that discussions held by council for the Town of Amherstburg at its July 7 and September 8, 2014 meetings fit within the cited exceptions to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 12, 2014

12 December 2014

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman found that a July 25, 2014 closed-door meeting between members of Hamilton's Government Relations Contact Team and two Members of Provincial Parliament did not constitute a meeting of council or a committee of council for the purpose of the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman recommended that the city clarify the membership, role and authority of the Government Relations Contact Team.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 9, 2014

9 December 2014

Township of Baldwin - “Secret Ballot”

The Ombudsman found that closed session discussions held by council for the Township of Baldwin on September 8, 2014 were permissible under the exceptions to the open meeting requirements. However, council took an illegal vote during the closed session in violation of the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 19, 2014

19 November 2014

City of Owen Sound - “A Contentious Lot”

An email of August 9, 2014, and a gathering of August 13, 2014, did not constitute meetings for the purposes of the open meeting provisions of the Municipal Act, 2001. In neither case was there an exercise of the authority of council or laying of the groundwork to exercise such authority.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 18, 2014

18 November 2014

Municipality of Whitestone

The Ombudsman found that in camera discussion held by council for the Municipality of Whitestone on February 4, 2014 fit within the personal matters and labour relations exceptions to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 18, 2014

18 November 2014

City of Welland - “Property and Propriety”

The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Welland held illegal closed sessions on March 18, April 15, and May 6. At these meetings, council discussed matters in closed session that were not permissible under the exceptions to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 10, 2014

10 November 2014

City of Elliot Lake - "Around the Table"

The Ombudsman found that a July 2, 2014 gathering of three members of council for the City of Elliot Lake at a Sustainable Development Roundtable did not constitute a meeting for the purpose of the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 27, 2014

27 October 2014

City of Elliot Lake - Finance and Administration Committee

The Ombudsman found that discussions held by the Finance and Administration Committee for the City of Elliot Lake on July 7, 2014 fit within the acquisition or disposition of land exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 22, 2014

22 October 2014

Careless About Child Care

Investigation into how the Ministry of Education responds to complaints and concerns relating to unlicensed daycare providers.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 8, 2014

8 October 2014

Municipality of Killarney - “At the Wharf”

The Ombudsman found that a gathering of councillors at a local wharf on April 25, 2014, was a meeting of council for the purpose of the open meeting requirements, and that this meeting was not closed to the public in violation of the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 8, 2014

8 October 2014

Township of Billings - "On the Waterfront"

The Ombudsman found that the Waterfront Improvement Committee for the Township of Billings was a committee of council, as described by the Township's procedure by-law. Although the Committee was already holding open meetings, the Ombudsman encouraged the Township to formalize the Committee's terms of reference, as well as the notice procedures for the Committee's meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 8, 2014

8 October 2014

Township of Billings - "Let's Flip For It"

In his report "Let's Flip For It", the Ombudsman found that a closed session in the Township of Billings - in which council tossed a coin to choose a new councillor - was an illegal closed meeting under the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 7, 2014

7 October 2014

Town of Hawkesbury

The Ombudsman found that Council's consideration in closed session of a letter of interest for a vacant lot fell within the "acquisition and disposition of land" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 19, 2014

19 September 2014

City of London - "Turning Tables"

The Ombudsman concluded that a gathering of 12 council members in the City Hall cafeteria between meetings on June 24, 2014 - prior to a vote to fill a vacant council seat the next day - did not violate the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 9, 2014

9 September 2014

Town of Moosonee

In reviewing a complaint about four closed meetings held by council for the Town of Moosonee, the Ombudsman found that the subject matter of the August 26, 2013 closed session did not fit within the "education or training" exception, or any exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 8, 2014

8 September 2014

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman found that some discussions held by council for the City of Elliot Lake during an October 25, 2013 closed session fell within the "personal matters" exception to the open meeting requirements, as they related to unproven allegations against an identified member of council.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 29, 2014

29 August 2014

City of Elliot Lake - Parks and Recreation Committee

The Ombudsman found that the Committee's March 25, 2014 in camera discussion regarding the possibility of having a junior hockey team in the City did involve some personal information.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 21, 2014

21 August 2014

Township of Joly

In reviewing a complaint about closed meetings of Council held in December 2013, March and April 2014, the Ombudsman determined that the December gathering complained of did not constitute a "meeting" under the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 18, 2014

18 August 2014

Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan

The Ombudsman found that discussions held by council for the Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan during two closed sessions on March 19, 2014 fit within the "education and training" and "personal matters" exceptions to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 15, 2014

15 August 2014

Municipality of West Nipissing

The Ombudsman found no evidence that Council members for the Municipality of West Nipissing met behind closed doors with the engineers working on a drainage project in violation of the open meeting requirements in December 2011.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 8, 2014

8 August 2014

Township of Russell

The Ombudsman found that council for the Township of Russell discussed three items in closed session on May 5, 2014 under the "security of the property" exception that did not fit within that exception, or any exception to the open meeting requirements. The Ombudsman also cautioned that council should ensure that all matters discussed in closed session fit within the exceptions cited in the resolution to proceed in camera.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 25, 2014

25 July 2014

City of Oshawa

The Ombudsman did not uncover any evidence that a quorum of council met secretly prior to the May 21 or September 3, 2013 public council meetings to discuss  the appointment of a third party investigator or the elimination of the Auditor General's office. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 22, 2014

22 July 2014

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman found that council's March 31, 2014 discussion regarding a grant to the Fort Erie Racetrack did fit within the "acquisition or disposition of land" exception, because the grant was directly related to a potential land acquisition, such that both matters could not be discussed separately.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 27, 2014

27 June 2014

Township of Adelaide Metcalfe

The Ombudsman found that council's April 16 closed meeting discussion regarding comments made by a councillor about staff performance did fit within the "personal matters" exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 23, 2014

23 June 2014

Town of Midland

The Ombudsman determined that Midland Council's March 17, 2014 closed meeting discussion about the Chief Administrative Officer's absence and workload coverage during the absence fell within the "personal matters" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 23, 2014

23 June 2014

Deadline Driven

A driver who suffered what he believed to be a seizure in April 2013 was diagnosed by a neurologist and, as required by the Ministry of Transportation, had his licence suspended pending a medical review. On October 28, 2013, his doctor faxed documentation to the Ministry to prove that he had been seizure-free for six months, and thus eligible to have his licence reinstated.

 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 23, 2014

23 June 2014

2013-2014 Annual Report

Ombudsman’s Message - Reaching new heights
This year has been an exceptional one for my Office, for both the sheer volume of public complaints and systemic investigations that we managed, and the historic progress that was achieved towards modernizing our mandate.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 12, 2014

12 June 2014

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint that meetings of the Board of the Northern Institute of the Arts was a "local board" of the City of Elliot Lake, subject to the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001 (the "Act").

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 5, 2014

5 June 2014

City of Owen Sound

The ombudsman found that council for the City of Owen Sound violated the Municipal Act, 2001 when it went in camera to discuss and vote on funding for an MRI campaign on March 23, 2011.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 30, 2014

30 April 2014

Better Safe Than Sorry

Investigation into how the Ministry of Transportation administers the process for obtaining and assessing information about drivers who may have uncontrolled hypoglycemia.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 24, 2014

24 April 2014

City of London

The Ombudsman found that two separate in camera meetings involving City of London council were closed appropriately.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 10, 2014

10 April 2014

Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh did not violate the Municipal Act, 2001 when it went in camera on February 18, 2014 to discuss potential litigation with respect to a wind energy company's discharge of water onto a municipal road allowance.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 9, 2014

9 April 2014

City of Timmins

The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Timmins did not violate the Municipal Act when it went in camera on September 25, 2013, to discuss "potential litigation" with respect to the wastewater treatment plant upgrade.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 28, 2014

28 March 2014

Town of Ajax

The Ombudsman found that the Ajax General Government Committee's May 23, 2013 closed door discussion about the disposition of municipal lands (potential lease or sale of lands) fell within the "acquisition or disposition of land" exception to the open meeting requirements. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 5, 2014

5 March 2014

Municipality of Killarney

The Ombudsman found that closed meetings held by the Municipality of Killarney's Ad-Hoc Committee between June and August 2013 contravened the municipality's procedure by-law because, under the by-baw, all committee meetings must be open to the public unless the subject matter falls within one of the open meeting exceptions of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 4, 2014

4 March 2014

Niagara District Airport Commission

The Ombudsman found that the Niagara District Airport Commission did not hold a "secret" meeting to discuss and decide handling of Freedom of Information requests that were before the Commission.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 4, 2014

4 February 2014

Town of Midland

The Ombudsman found that council's July 22, 2013 discussion of a Council member's request for indemnification for legal fees incurred as a Police Services Board member did not qualify for closed meeting consideration under the open meeting exceptions as the subject matter pertained to the Council member's activities in his professional role and the invoice considered did not reveal any privileged communications between solicitor and client. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 3, 2014

3 February 2014

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman determined that a quorum of Council's November 1, 2013 meeting with Chief Day of the Serpent River First Nation violated the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 24, 2014

24 January 2014

Town of Orangeville

The Ombudsman determined that Council's September 9, 2013 closed meeting discussion with the owner of a local sports bar about the terms of a lease agreement violated the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 16, 2014

16 January 2014

Town of Carleton Place

The Ombudsman found that Council's July 23, 2013 closed meeting with its Solicitor to receive advice about litigation filed against the Town in relation to a building permit/development dispute, was permitted under both the "solicitor client privilege" and "litigation or potential litigation" exceptions to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 14, 2014

14 January 2014

Township of Nairn and Hyman

The Ombudsman did not uncover any evidence to support the complaint that council members for the Township of Nairn and Hyman discussed a community investment proposal from a mining/explosives company behind closed doors.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 9, 2014

9 January 2014

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman found that Council's closed meeting discussion with its Solicitor on November 19, 2013 to seek advice on the terms of an outstanding Agreement of Purchase and Sale, which was also subject to an appeal before the Land Registry Tribunal, was permitted under the "solicitor-client privilege" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 19, 2013

19 December 2013

Municipality of Bluewater

The Ombudsman found that Council's August 27, 2013 closed meeting discussion with the Municipality's Solicitor about a proposed building by-law, being considered in response to litigation filed against the Municipality, was permitted under the "solicitor-client privilege" and "litigation or potential litigation" exceptions. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 19, 2013

19 December 2013

Municipality of Markstay-Warren

The Ombudsman found that Markstay-Warren council's closed meeting discussions in July and August 2013 about a proposed land acquisition were permitted in closed session.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 9, 2013

9 December 2013

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Town of Amherstburg did not violate the Municipal Act, 2001 when it held an emergency closed meeting on October 21, 2013.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 6, 2013

6 December 2013

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The Ombudsman found that a majority of council met illegally in November 2012 before decorating a float for local Christmas parades. He also found that a February 2013 committee meeting was appropriately closed to discuss “employee negotiations” – however, it violated the Act because no public notice was given. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 20, 2013

20 November 2013

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman found that an October 31, 2010 gathering including one incumbent Council member and four Councillors-elect with the lawyer for the Fort Erie Waterfront Association was not subject to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 14, 2013

14 November 2013

City of Timmins

The Ombudsman found that council for the City of Timmins did not violate the Municipal Act when it held a closed meeting on June 17, 2013 to consider a complaint  against a resident with respect to allegations of a zoning by-law infraction.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2013

8 November 2013

Township of Ryerson

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Township of Ryerson improperly discussed the Thompson quarry/pit zoning application in closed meetings held on September 24, 2012 and July 9, 2013 and, during the September 24, 2012 closed meeting Council improperly introduced a topic without referencing the matter in the resolution to proceed in camera.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 30, 2013

30 October 2013

Township of Bonfield

The Ombudsman found that members of the Personnel Committee for the Township of Bonfield did not violate the open meeting requirements with respect to an October 8, 2013 closed session at which the Committee received an update on an on-going municipal labour dispute, a pending Labour Relations Board hearing, and employment matters pertaining to specific municipal employees were discussed.  

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 29, 2013

29 October 2013

Town of Mattawa

The Ombudsman did not uncover evidence that the Council for the Town of Mattawa held a secret meeting to discuss extending the Mayor's duties and increasing his pay for a limited period, a decision that was unanimously passed by Council at a June 24, 2013 public Council meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 23, 2013

23 October 2013

Township of North Dumfries

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Township of North Dumfries did not violate the open meeting requirements with respect to an August 19, 2013 closed session at which Council received an update from the Township Solicitor on matters before the Ontario Municipal Board.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 22, 2013

22 October 2013

City of London - “In the Back Room”

Investigation into whether members of Council for the City of London held an improper closed meeting on February 23, 2013. The Ombudsman concluded that an illegal closed meeting occurred on February 23, 2013, in violation of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 11, 2013

11 October 2013

City of Sault Ste. Marie

Ontario Ombudsman does not find that the Procedure By-Law Review Committee held an illegal closed meeting between May 14 and June 24, 2013.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 20, 2013

20 September 2013

Niagara Central Airport Commission

Based on the Ombudsman's review, it appears the Commission is a local board subject to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 17, 2013

17 September 2013

Acton Business Improvement Area Board

The Ombudsman found that the Acton Business Improvement Area Board's June 18, 2013 consideration of a lease agreement qualified for closed meeting consideration.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 12, 2013

12 September 2013

Town of Amherstburg

In a reviewing a complaint about five closed meetings between October 2012 and March 2013, the Ombudsman found that the subject matter discussed during each of the in camera sessions was permitted under the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 10, 2013

10 September 2013

Township of Bonfield

The Ombudsman found that there had been no secret meetings of council at the township landfill site on August 3 and August 7, 2013, preceding the cancellation of a number of council and committee meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 28, 2013

28 August 2013

Township of McMurrich-Monteith

The Ombudsman found that Council improperly introduced and discussed a Councillor cost reimbursement policy in a May 7, 2013 closed meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 16, 2013

16 August 2013

Township of Tiny

The Ombudsman did not find that there had been secret meetings involving members of Council prior to the passage of a by-law regarding wind turbines at the January 14, 2013 Council meeting. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 1, 2013

1 August 2013

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman found that the CAO's February 19, 2013 announcement to a quorum of Council about the resignation of a senior staff's resignation did not constitute a "meeting" for the purposes of the open meeting requirements, as no substantive discussion of Council business took place.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 1, 2013

1 August 2013

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman found that Elliot Lake Council's June 4, 2013 in camera discussion on the status of negotiations between a Joint Relations Committee and the Serpent River First Nation, which was attended by non-Council members of the Committee, was permitted under the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 16, 2013

16 July 2013

2012-2013 Annual Report

Ombudsman's Message - The Multipurpose Ombudsman
The stories in this report, arising from the 19,726 cases we received in 2012-2013, demonstrate how my Office uses a variety of tools to resolve individual and systemic concerns. Picture a “Swiss Army”-style knife with all sorts of useful accountability gadgets: A barometer, a horsefly, an oil can, a safety valve and more.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 28, 2013

28 June 2013

City of Oshawa

The Ombudsman found that Council's consideration of a matter involving disposition of city-owned lands in a May 21, 2013 closed session was permitted under the Act, and that the city did not violate the open meeting requirements during a meeting on March 20.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 17, 2013

17 June 2013

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman found that Council did not violate the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001 when it met behind closed doors on January 23, 2013 to seek legal advice about a contract with a consultant.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 12, 2013

12 June 2013

Village of Casselman

The Ombudsman determined that Council did not violate the open meeting requirements in relation to pre-meeting gatherings held on July 10, 2012 and March 12, 2013.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 11, 2013

11 June 2013

The Code

Investigation into the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ response to allegations of excessive use of force against inmates.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 10, 2013

10 June 2013

Town of South Bruce Peninsula

The Ombudsman determined that the Town of South Bruce Peninsula did not violate the open meeting requirements when it went in camera on seven occasions between September 4, 2012 and January 15, 2013.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 13, 2013

13 May 2013

City of Sault Ste. Marie

The Ombudsman found that the City of Sault Ste. Marie's Procedure By-Law Review Committee violated the open meeting requirements and its procedure by-law when it held closed meetings on November 1, 2012 and January 28, 2013.  

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 9, 2013

9 May 2013

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman found that Fort Erie Council's February 4, 2013 closed meeting discussion of the mayor's alleged breach of the Town's Code of Conduct was not authorized under the "personal matters" exception of the Municipal Act, as the subject matter discussed was about the mayor in a professional context, and did not involve consideration of 'personal' information. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 2, 2013

2 May 2013

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman found that Council for the City of Elliot Lake did not violate the Municipal Act or its Procedure By-Law when it held a special closed meeting without advance public notice in order to discuss an urgent matter with its solicitor. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 17, 2013

17 April 2013

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman found that the Elliot Lake Economic Development Committee's January 29, 2013 closed meeting discussion included the evaluation and assessment of individual qualifications, experience, and character traits, and, therefore, qualified for closed meeting consideration under the "personal matters" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 16, 2013

16 April 2013

Town of Larder Lake

The Ombudsman found that the September 10, 2012 meeting of the Planning Committee for the Town of Larder Lake was open to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 16, 2013

16 April 2013

Town of Larder Lake

The Ombudsman found that the September 10 meeting of the Planning Committee for the Town of Larder Lake was open to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 16, 2013

16 April 2013

Town of Pelham

The Ombudsman found that the Town of Pelham did not improperly vote on an Environmental Protection by-law in closed session, and that Council's March 4 closed session to discuss the by-law fell within the "advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 5, 2013

5 April 2013

City of St. Catharines

The Ombudsman found that St. Catharines Council's December 17, 2012 closed meeting discussion about potential cuts to identifiable employees in the City of Thorold's Fire Service qualified for closed meeting consideration under the "personal matters" exception.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 21, 2013

21 March 2013

Niagara District Airport Liaison Committee

The Ombudsman found that the September 12, 2012 meeting among six of the seven members of the Niagara District Airport Liaison Committee did not violate the Municipal Act

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 13, 2013

13 March 2013

Municipality of Central Huron

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Municipality of Central Huron contravened the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act during meetings held in May and July, 2012, but that a closed meeting on June 11 was justified based on the exceptions contained in the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 10, 2013

10 March 2013

Township of Adelaide Metcalfe

The Ombudsman found that the Township of Adelaide Metcalfe did not contravene the Municipal Act during two closed meetings in March 2012.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 22, 2013

22 February 2013

Niagara District Airport Commission

The Ombudsman found that the Niagara District Airport Commission held improper in camera discussions on May 3 and May 17, 2012, in violation of the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 14, 2013

14 February 2013

City of Greater Sudbury

The Ombudsman determined that Council's review of information related to an ongoing Ontario Municipal Board appeal during a closed meeting on November 10, 2010 was permitted in a closed meeting under the "litigation or potential litigation" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 14, 2013

14 February 2013

City of Greater Sudbury

The Ombudsman did not find that council for the City of Greater Sudbury violated the open meeting requirements when it closed two meetings in June 2012 to the public in order to discuss the contract of an identified member of staff.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 14, 2013

14 February 2013

Niagara District Airport Commission

The Ombudsman found that a gathering of four of the nine Niagara District Airport Commission members and four of thirteen St. Catharines Council members on December 9, 2012, was not a "meeting" for the purposes of the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 11, 2013

11 February 2013

Town of Midland

The Ombudsman found that the Planning and Development Committee's consideration of a zoning dispute in its November 7, 2012 closed meeting was permitted under the "potential litigation" exception to the open meeting requirements, as there was a very real potential that litigation would occur if the particular zoning matter was not resolved.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 6, 2013

6 February 2013

Municipality of Powassan

In reviewing a number of closed meetings held between November 2011 and September 2012, the Ombudsman found that council contravened the open meeting requirements at the November 1, 2011 meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 1, 2013

1 February 2013

Township of Tiny

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Township of Tiny improperly discussed one item in closed session at its October 29 meeting, in violation of the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 31, 2013

31 January 2013

Township of Woolwich

The Ombudsman found that Council's closed meeting with the Township Solicitor on November 12, 2012 to discuss the status of an Ontario Municipal Board appeal fell within the "litigation or potential litigation" exception to the open meeting requirements.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 28, 2013

28 January 2013

Municipality of Lambton Shores

The Ombudsman did not find that council for the Municipality of Lambton Shores violated the open meeting requirements when it closed a November 13, 2012 meeting to the public in order to discuss an identified member of staff.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 16, 2013

16 January 2013

Municipality of Leamington

The Ombudsman found that a series of e-mails sent by Municipality of Leamington council members in response to a resident's inquiry and copied to all Council members did not constitute an (electronic) meeting that was subject to the open meeting requirements. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 4, 2013

4 January 2013

Township of Ryerson

The Ombudsman found that Council in the Township of Ryerson's discussion of matters pertaining to a quarry zoning application was not permitted within a closed meeting, with one exception - Council's review of written legal advice at the end of hour and forty-five minute meeting did qualify for closed meeting consideration under the "solicitor-client privilege" exception of the Act. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 18, 2012

18 December 2012

Town of Hearst

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Town of Hearst's review of five applications/letters of interest for the Council seat vacancy was permitted under the Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 11, 2012

11 December 2012

Town of Blind River

The Ombudsman found that council in the Town of Blind River did not violate the Municipal Act when it held a closed meeting on September 17, 2012.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 8, 2012

8 November 2012

City of Sarnia

The Ombudsman found that the Centennial Celebration Committee, comprised of the Mayor of Sarnia, City Manager, and no less than seven citizens, did not meet the definition of "committee" under the Municipal Act and, therefore, was not subject to the open meeting requirements. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

October 24, 2012

24 October 2012

In the Line of Duty

Investigation into how the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services have addressed operational stress injuries affecting police officers.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 28, 2012

28 September 2012

Municipality of Magnetawan

The Ombudsman found that Council's agenda and resolution to proceed in camera did not accurately reflect the substance of the closed meeting on May 9, 2012.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 21, 2012

21 September 2012

Town of Midland

The Ombudsman found that Council for the Town of Midland discussed issues in closed session on multiple occasions between December 2011 and March 2012 in circumstances that were not permitted under the exceptions to the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 7, 2012

7 September 2012

United Townships of Head, Clara and Maria

The Ombudsman found that Council for the United Townships of Head, Clara and Maria did not contravene the Municipal Act at meetings held in October and November 2011. The Ombudsman provided some best practice recommendations to help improve the transparency of closed meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 30, 2012

30 August 2012

City of Greater Sudbury

The Ombudsman found that the City of Greater Sudbury did not contravene the open meeting requirements during meetings on October 3 and 12, November 9 and December 14, 2011, during which a personal matter related to an identifiable individual was discussed. However, he did strongly criticize council members for their reluctance to co-operate with the investigative process.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 30, 2012

30 August 2012

Municipality of Morris-Turnberry

In reviewing complaints that Council in Morris-Turnberry improperly discussed in closed meetings the development of a local fire department, the Ombudsman found that Council did not always accurately or clearly identify the subject matter to be discussed or the exceptions authorizing the closed meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 27, 2012

27 August 2012

Regional Municipality of Niagara

The Ombudsman found that the Regional Municipality of Niagara's notice practice for advisory committee meetings did not comply with its Procedure By-Law in that agendas were not posted on the website prior to meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2012

10 August 2012

City of Elliot Lake

The Ombudsman found that Council for the City of Elliot Lake violated the Municipal Act when a quorum of council attended a meeting of the Elliot Lake Residential Development Commission on April 16, 2012, and a meeting of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization on April 26, 2012.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 2, 2012

2 August 2012

City of London

The Ombudsman found that the City of London did not contravene the open meeting requirements when six members of council met for lunch at a local restaurant on February 21, 2012, prior to a budget meeting and several committee meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 20, 2012

20 July 2012

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman found that the Town of Amherstburg did not contravene the open meeting requirements when it received advice subject to solicitor-client privilege in a closed session on January 9, 2012, or when it went in camera on February 13, 2012.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 3, 2012

3 July 2012

Town of Fort Erie

The Ombudsman found that Fort Erie Council complied with the open meeting requirements in regard to closed meetings held on July 9 and 16, 2012, however, they violated the open meeting requirements at two closed meetings in April and May, 2012.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 24, 2012

24 May 2012

Township of Tiny

The Ombudsman found that the Township of Tiny's Committee of the Whole's March 26, 2012 closed meeting discussion about the public's reaction to a court decision was not permitted in a closed meeting under the exception "litigation or potential litigation."

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 23, 2012

23 May 2012

Township of Adelaide Metcalfe

The Ombudsman found that the Township of Adelaide Metcalfe did not contravene the Municipal Act during two closed meetings in March 2012.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 23, 2012

23 April 2012

City of Niagara Falls

The Ombudsman reviewed three closed meetings in late 2011 and early 2012 and found that the matter discussed was permitted in a closed meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 18, 2012

18 April 2012

Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

The Ombudsman found that Council of the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands violated the open meeting requirements when it considered and voted to approve an increase in Council remuneration behind closed doors.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 19, 2012

19 March 2012

City of London - “Occupy London”

The Ombudsman found that London councillors did not violate the Municipal Act when they met in camera to discuss the "Occupy London" protest last November.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 22, 2012

22 February 2012

City of Hamilton

The Ontario Ombudsman cautions City of Hamilton councillors they were on thin ice - but finds their breakfast with the Edmonton Oilers' president and local hockey coach didn't break the open meeting law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 30, 2012

30 January 2012

City of Clarence-Rockland

The Ontario Ombudsman reviewed several complaints alleging that improper closed meetings had occurred in Clarence-Rockland between November 2010 and June 2011.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 6, 2012

6 January 2012

Town of Amherstburg - “Behind Closed Doors”

The Ombudsman confirmed that the council for the Town of Amherstburg repeatedly contravened the Municipal Act and its own procedure by-law. Council discussed issues in closed session that were not permitted under the exceptions to the Municipal Act, and also routinely engaged in improper voting behind closed doors.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 28, 2011

28 December 2011

City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman found that the City of Hamilton held two improperly closed sessions on June 27, 2011, during which the dissolution of the Board of Directors of Hamilton Entertainment Convention Facilities Inc., as well as a grant request from McMaster University, were discussed.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 14, 2011

14 December 2011

Oversight Undermined

Investigation into the Ministry of the Attorney General’s implementation of recommendations concerning reform of the Special Investigations Unit.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 9, 2011

9 December 2011

Municipality of Lambton Shores

The Ombudsman determined that a meeting arranged by municipal staff to allow community members to discuss concerns about a sewage expansion project with the consulting firm leading the project was not subject to the open meeting rules, as it did not involve the exercise of council's authority or laying the groundwork for future council decision making.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 29, 2011

29 November 2011

Town of Larder Lake

Our Office found that the Township of Larder Lake held an emergency meeting on September 1, 2011, without following the necessary procedural requirements, including providing notice to the public and passing a resolution to proceed in camera.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 21, 2011

21 September 2011

Municipality of Grey Highlands

Our Office found that members of council of the Municipality of Grey Highlands did not contravene the open meeting provisions when they had lunch with staff from a developer of commercial wind turbines.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 2, 2011

2 September 2011

Township of Russell

Our Office reviewed a complaint that notice of a Minor Variance Committee meeting was not provided. We found that, although notice of this particular meeting was provided, the Committee did not have its own procedure by-law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 26, 2011

26 July 2011

Township of Howick

Our Office found that Howick Township Council contravened the open meeting requirements when it met behind closed doors to discuss changes to a proposed agreement between the Township and the local Agricultural Society.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 19, 2011

19 July 2011

Town of South Bruce Peninsula

The Ombudsman reviewed meetings held by Council for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula between January and March 2011, and found several violations of the open meeting provisions.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 14, 2011

14 July 2011

Town of Kearney

The Ombudsman found that the Town of Kearney's Ad Hoc Personnel Committee violated the Municipal Act when it held a closed meeting in April 2011.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 12, 2011

12 July 2011

Township of Georgian Bay

Our Office found that Council for the Township of Georgian Bay contravened the open meeting requirements when it met with a local association representing the interests of cottagers.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 10, 2011

10 June 2011

Non-emergency medical transportation services

Investigation into complaints about patient safety, infection control and other issues involving the vehicles that transport non-emergency patients, focusing on whether adequate measures are in place to protect the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 12, 2011

12 May 2011

Limited funding of Herceptin

Investigation into the province’s limited funding of Herceptin.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 17, 2011

17 March 2011

Town of Amherstburg

The Ombudsman found that the Town of Amherstburg improperly held a vote during an emergency closed meeting in February 2011 regarding rescinding naming rights for a local recreation complex from a convicted sex offender.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 3, 2011

3 February 2011

City of Sault Ste. Marie

The Ombudsman found that Sault Ste. Marie’s Agenda Setting Review Committee, comprised of three council members and two municipal employees, was obligated to comply with the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 17, 2011

17 January 2011

Town of Kearney

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the Town of Kearney’s newly elected council improperly held closed meetings on November 5 and November 26, 2010.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 11, 2011

11 January 2011

Town of Mattawa

The Ombudsman determined that the Town of Mattawa’s Ad Hoc Heritage Committee held a series of improperly closed meetings.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 21, 2010

21 December 2010

Long-term care

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care incorporated the Ombudsman’s suggestions in its ongoing upgrade of its monitoring of long-term care facilities after he identified serious systemic problems. Since the Ministry’s efforts are “a work in progress,” in lieu of a report, the Ombudsman released a summary of his findings and the Ministry’s responses to date.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 7, 2010

7 December 2010

Caught in the Act

Investigation into the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ conduct in relation to Ontario Regulation 233/10 under the Public Works Protection Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

December 2, 2010

2 December 2010

Town of Kearney

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that the Town of Kearney improperly held a closed special meeting of council on August 25, 2010 and that prior notice of the meeting had not been given.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 10, 2010

10 August 2010

The LHIN Spin

Investigation into the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network’s use of community engagement in its decision-making process.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 7, 2010

7 July 2010

Town of South Bruce Peninsula - “Open Conflict”

The Ombudsman determined that the council of the Town of South Bruce discussed a topic in closed session in September 2009 that was not properly identified in the resolution authorizing the meeting. The investigation also determined that unhealthy tensions existed at that time on council that contributed to its failure to comply with the open meetings law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 15, 2010

15 June 2010

Dental implants

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care agreed to fund dental implants for a 55-year-old cancer patient who required extensive reconstructive facial surgery.  The Ministry also acknowledged that there may be others in such exceptional circumstances and undertook to address the gap in the system to allow them access to funding for dental implants.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 8, 2010

8 June 2010

Coroner’s inquest delays

The Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario sped up its process, improved its practices and addressed a backlog of cases after the Ombudsman launched an investigation in 2008 into complaints that mandatory inquests were not being held within a reasonable time frame.  Based on this result, the Ombudsman determined no further investigation was warranted, but continues to monitor the issue.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 30, 2009

30 September 2009

A Vast Injustice

Investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s decision-making concerning the funding of Avastin for colorectal cancer patients.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 25, 2009

25 August 2009

Too Cool For School Too

Investigation into Cambrian College’s administration of its Health Information Management Program and the oversight provided by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 23, 2009

23 July 2009

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) program

Investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s administration of the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) program.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 14, 2009

14 July 2009

Too Cool For School

Investigation into the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ oversight of Bestech Academy Inc. and enforcement of the Private Career Colleges Act.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 23, 2009

23 May 2009

Township of Baldwin - “Into the Light”

The Ombudsman found Baldwin Township council contravened the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act in July 2008 and recommended several changes to its practices and procedure by-law.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 27, 2009

27 April 2009

Pirating Our Property

Investigation into the City of Oshawa's apparent failure to co-operate.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 3, 2009

3 April 2009

Township of Enniskillen - “Being More Open About Closed Sessions”

The Ombudsman found that the Township of Enniskillen council considered a land acquisition in closed session, which is permitted, but the resolution authorizing the closed meeting was vague and other topics were discussed that could not legally be dealt with in a closed meeting.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 23, 2009

23 March 2009

City of Oshawa

The Ombudsman found an Oshawa council committee improperly met behind closed doors in May 2008 in an “education and training” session with representatives of a recycling company that had been the subject of odour complaints. 

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 23, 2009

23 March 2009

The ABCs of Education and Training

Investigation into the City of Oshawa, Development Services Committee special meeting of May 22, 2008.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 6, 2009

6 February 2009

Township of Nipissing

The Ombudsman found that Nipissing Township council improperly held a closed meeting on April 25, 2008.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

January 30, 2009

30 January 2009

Township of Emo - “Municipal Government By Stealth”

On April 21, 2008, my Office received a complaint about a closed meeting held by the council of the Township of Emo on April 8, 2008. The complainant alleged that after the adjournment of the regular meeting of council on that date, council held an unauthorized in-camera meeting with members of the Rainy River District Regional Abattoir Inc. (Abattoir Inc.) to discuss matters related to the abattoir project planned for the Township.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 30, 2008

30 September 2008

Oversight Unseen

Investigation into the Special Investigations Unit's operational effectiveness and credibility.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 26, 2008

26 June 2008

A Test of Wills

Investigation into Legal Aid Ontario’s role in the funding of the criminal defence of Richard Wills.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

June 3, 2008

3 June 2008

Building Clarity

Investigation into how the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services represents its relationship with Tarion Warranty Corp. to the public.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 25, 2008

25 April 2008

City of Greater Sudbury - "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me"

The Ombudsman warned Sudbury councillors that their closed-door meeting regarding the city’s Elton John concert ticket scandal was close to the legal line.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 6, 2008

6 February 2008

Town of Fort Erie - “Enlightening Closed Council Sessions”

The Ombudsman found that Fort Erie council did nothing wrong when it met behind closed doors on January 7, 2008 for an “education and training session.” However, in the interest of furthering transparency in local government, the Ombudsman recommended that council give more detail about such meetings in advance.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

November 1, 2007

1 November 2007

Assistive Devices: Life and Breath

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care agreed to fund the home use of oxygen saturation monitors for children with life-threatening respiratory conditions, and to review the entire Assistive Devices Program.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

April 13, 2007

13 April 2007

Mental health services for military Children: Collateral Damage

The province created a $2-million emergency fund for children’s mental health services and the federal government committed $100,000 to help traumatized children of Ontario-based Canadian Forces personnel serving in Afghanistan.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 26, 2007

26 March 2007

A Game of Trust

Investigation into the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s protection of the public from fraud and theft.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

February 27, 2007

27 February 2007

Adding Insult to Injury

Investigation into the treatment of victims by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 1, 2006

1 September 2006

OHIP: The Difference a Few Days Make

Coverage was granted to a 94-year-old man who moved back to Ontario from the U.S. and broke his hip 38 days before his Ontario health insurance eligibility was to take effect.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

August 9, 2006

9 August 2006

It's All in the Name

Investigation into the complaint of the Family Responsibility Office's ineffective enforcement using a writ of seizure and sale.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

July 20, 2006

20 July 2006

Out-of-country cancer care: The Out-of-Country Conundrum

The Ministry of Health overhauled its out-of-country care program and paid $75,000 to a chemotherapy patient who was wrongly denied coverage.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 31, 2006

31 May 2006

Losing the Waiting Game

Investigation into unreasonable delay at the Ministry of Community and Social Services' Ontario Disability Support Program's Disability Adjudication Unit.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 1, 2006

1 May 2006

Testicular implants for boys: A Medical Necessity

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term care restored funding for testicular prosthesis surgery for boys under 18.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

March 28, 2006

28 March 2006

Getting it Right

Investigation into the transparency of the property assessment process and the integrity and efficiency of decision-making at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 27, 2005

27 September 2005

The Right To Be Impatient

Investigation into whether the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has failed to properly administer newborn screening in Ontario.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 1, 2005

1 September 2005

From Hope to Despair

Investigation into the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's refusal to fund the drug Cystagon for treatment of Batten's Disease.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

September 1, 2005

1 September 2005

Registrar General delays: Faster Service Guaranteed

SORT’s probe of complaints of delays in processing of registrations of births, deaths marriages and name changes found an improvements since the previous Ombudsman’s investigation in 2004. In 2007, the government announced guaranteed 15-day service for post-1991 events.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent:

May 20, 2005

20 May 2005

Between A Rock and A Hard Place

Investigation into parents forced to place their children with severe disabilities in the custody of Children’s Aid Societies to obtain necessary care.

Topics include:Les sujets incluent: