CANADA | Ombudsman Ontario marks 50th anniversary

Recognition by Lieutenant Governor, Chief Justice and Legislative Assembly for “essential democratic institution”

Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé marked his office’s 50th anniversary yesterday by thanking his team and predecessors for their role in establishing an “essential democratic institution” that has helped improve public services for millions of Ontarians.

“It has been my great honour to build upon the legacy of my tenacious and devoted predecessors,” Mr. Dubé said, responding to tributes from the Legislature community and others.

“Thanks to them and the hundreds of passionate employees who have dedicated themselves to this work over the years, this office has garnered national and international admiration as an essential democratic institution, not only for its complaint resolutions and systemic investigations – but most importantly, for the impactful and constructive results of its work.”

On October 30, 1975, then-lieutenant governor Pauline McGibbon administered the oath of office to the first Ombudsman, Arthur Maloney, before the entire Legislative Assembly. She stated that the Ombudsman would provide “greater protection than ever before for the individual rights of all Ontario residents in relation to the government.”

Ombudsman Maloney echoed this sentiment, declaring that “the Ombudsman as an institution to further protect the rights of [Ontarians] is an idea whose time has come.” He noted that an “avalanche” of demand followed the announcement of his appointment, resulting in more than 1,000 calls for his services before he was even sworn in.

Today, Ombudsman Ontario has a broader mandate and is able to help more Ontarians with more issues than at any time in its history – receiving more than 30,000 cases in 2024-2025 alone. Since 1975, the office has handled more than 1 million complaints and inquiries and conducted hundreds of investigations, resulting in more than 1,300 recommendations.

“We’ve helped – and sometimes prodded - public bodies to improve their services, reduce barriers and make changes that have benefited millions of people,” Ombudsman Dubé said.

The vast majority of Ombudsman recommendations to improve public services have been implemented, he noted. The resulting benefits include:

• Broader civilian oversight of police
• Expanded screening of newborn babies for metabolic diseases
• More transparency and accountability in municipal and school board governance
• Expanded coverage of certain drugs
• Administrative improvements at tribunals
• Better pandemic preparedness in long-term care homes
• Enhanced government compliance with the French Language Services Act
• More respect for the rights of children and youth in care
• A more secure lottery system, and more

“When we look back at the foundation that was laid for us in 1975, it’s amazing how much – and yet how little – has changed,” Ombudsman Dubé said.

“From the start, this office was committed to serving Ontarians in English and French – and a multitude of other languages. It reached out to Indigenous peoples across the province. It focused on issues affecting vulnerable youth, and thousands of inmates struggling with conditions in our jails – all things we continue to do today.

“In the past decade, we’ve continued to develop expertise and resources related to municipal open meetings, codes of conduct, children’s services, and French language services,” he said. “I have also made it a personal priority to co-develop, with Indigenous partners, an Indigenous Services Plan that will guide and expand our service delivery, collaboration, and engagement with Indigenous people and communities.

“For 50 years, Ontarians have been able to count on their Ombudsman institution for help navigating government services, and they rely on us to make sure they’ve been treated fairly.”

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Source: The Office of the Ombudsman Ontario, Canada