Alberta Ombudsman Kevin Brezinski released the 2025-2026 Annual Report, which records the office’s achievements for the fiscal year. Highlights of the report include stories of investigations into complaints about administrative unfairness and the office’s efforts to maintain service levels in the face of the third consecutive year of record-setting complaints.
“Fairness matters to Albertans, who again this year expressed their concerns in record numbers,” said Kevin Brezinski. “This report shows how independent, impartial investigations can strengthen administrative processes. It also underscores the value of constructive cooperation by authorities.”
Another record year of complaints
The Ombudsman received a total of 6,472 cases in 2025-2026, the highest in recent history and an increase of 15% from last year. Of these, a record 3,134 were written complaints, up 41% over the previous year and 114% compared to four years ago. While the volume increased, the time required to close complaints remained consistent with previous years, with 94% of complaints closed within three months.
The office’s ability to maintain high service levels was the result of the focus on innovation, process improvements, and advancing the skills of the organization’s employees. Highlights for 2025-2026 included the launch of the Complaint Checker, an online resource that enables users to understand at-a-glance if the office has jurisdiction to investigate their concerns. The office also chaired a new AI committee for the Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman.
Case summaries reveal gaps in fairness
The annual report presents a sampling of investigations into complaints brought forward by Albertans about administrative unfairness. These investigations often revealed gaps in processes and inadequate reasons provided for administrative decisions. In many instances, the office’s investigations generated positive outcomes. Examples include:
- The Ministry of Children and Family Services provided increased transparency about a decision to close a kinship care home;
- The Alberta College of Social Workers accepted a recommendation to conduct a new review of a complaint into an allegation of improper conduct by one of its registrants;
- The Ministry of Advanced Education accepted a recommendation to allow a complainant to re-submit a request for review according to its updated policy for appealing bursary decisions;
- A City provided a full refund for erroneously collected tax payments;
- An administrator with the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program ensured a reimbursement for a client on an outstanding expense;
- The Child Care Subsidy program reimbursed a parent for missing payments.
Whether our investigations led to remunerative remedies, or clearer reasons, or process improvements that will benefit future Albertans, the Ombudsman also praised authorities willing to accept our recommendations and expertise in 2025-2026. In recognition of the importance of collaboration, for the second year the annual report features an Administrative Excellence award. This year, the efforts of the Workers’ Compensation Board—Alberta and its Fair Process Review Centre were singled out.
Download a copy of the full 2025−2026 Annual Report here.
The first parliamentary Ombudsman office in North America, the Alberta Ombudsman is the voice of fairness for Albertans, protecting the right to fair treatment in the provision of public services.
