What We Do & Don't Do

The Alberta Ombudsman:

• Determines administrative fairness.
• Is impartial and independent from government.
• Is approachable and responsive.
• May also launch investigations stemming from his own initiative or from a referral by a committee of the Legislative Assembly or a Minister of the Crown.
• Makes recommendations to resolve issues of unfairness and improve administrative processes.
   

The Alberta Ombudsman does not:

• Act as an advocate for complainants or represent government departments or professional organizations.
• Investigate complaints until all rights of review or appeal have been exhausted, or until the time limits to exercise those rights of review or appeal have expired.  If rights of review or appeal or other remedies were available to you, but you did not exercise them, the Ombudsman may decide to refuse to investigate your complaint.  If you are unsure what reviews or appeals may be available to you, contact the department, professional organization or the Ombudsman intake officer.
• Investigate complaints involving federal or municipal governments, police, universities, schools, companies or individuals.
• Investigate complaints about decisions of the courts or issues that are or may be before the courts.
• Investigate complaints about MLAs and individual elected officials, including government Ministers.