NCJ Number
94625
Date Published
1984
Length
53 pages
Annotation
Outlining the highlights of the 1983 year, this report identifies the need for a Federal ombudsman, summarizes the Federal complaints received by Canadian provincial ombudsmen, reviews case summaries, and presents statistics.
Abstract
From January 1, 1983, through December 31, 1983, the Ombudsmen Office handled 1,307 complaints against provincial and municipal governments, including 1,089 new complaints received in 1983 as well as 218 which had been carried over from the previous year. The Office received three petitions to review ministerial refusals to release information under the Right to Information Act and five requests to review refusals by the Minister of Social Services to release adoption information under the Family Services Act. A recommendation made in a previous annual report -- amendments to the Liquor Control Act -- was implemented. In 1977, 1979, and 1982, Canadian legislative ombudsmen have requested the Federal Government and Parliament to establish an ombudsman. The request has been based on the large number of Federal complaints lodged with provincial offices -- between 5 and 20 percent of their total complaints. A sampling of the complaints received on a daily basis by provincial ombudsmen are listed, highlighting the need for a Federal office. It is recommended that immediate steps be taken to initiate the establishment of Canada's first Federal Ombudsman. Appendixes contain complaints received and complaint summaries, a budgetary review, and statistical tables. The report includes in English and in French the Ombudsman Act; the Right to Information Act; and the Child and Family Services and Family Relations Act, Part V, Sections 90-93.