Your Voice of Fairness
EDMONTON – the Alberta Ombudsman releases a report on Mental Health Review Panels. In 2013 and 2014, the previous Alberta Ombudsman found broad areas of unfairness with Mental Health Review Panels (review panels) processes and made several recommendations to improve the situation. We launched this investigation because the 2014 recommendations had not been fully implemented.…
Over the years the mandate of the office has expanded. At present it investigates complaints about the decisions and actions of provincial government departments, boards, agencies and commissions, designated professional organizations and the Patient Concerns Resolution Process of Alberta Health Services. It also investigates complaints about municipalities; the Alberta Legislature has passed the new Municipal…
A search committee of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta has recommended the appointment of Marianne Ryan as Alberta’s ninth Ombudsman and second Public Interest Commissioner. Through a long and distinguished 35-year career in policing, Ryan most recently served as the Commanding Officer for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta, and was one of the…
An impartial and neutral independent office of the Legislative Assembly, the Alberta Ombudsman is uniquely positioned to investigate complaints related to municipalities. As Canada’s oldest parliamentary ombudsman office with nearly 50 years of experience, our office looks forward to working in a meaningful and collaborative manner with both complainants and municipalities in the future. We have…
EDMONTON – An Alberta Ombudsman own motion investigation has led to changes by the Alberta Dental Association and College (ADAC) that will improve access to the organization’s complaint review process. The Ombudsman’s investigation, launched in December 2015, was triggered after receiving complaints from Albertans asked to pay a $500 fee to request a review of…
EDMONTON – The Alberta Ombudsman and investigators will visit Whitecourt on June 6th and Edson on June 7th. Residents of Whitecourt, Edson and surrounding communities are invited to attend presentations by an investigator about the role of our office. They can also book an individual appointment with an investigator to discuss how they may have been…
An Alberta Ombudsman review of the Student Aid Alberta program has led to changes by the province to improve information and transparency regarding the student loan review process. The Ombudsman’s review was triggered by a student inquiry in 2014 about the review process. The Ombudsman found there was insufficient information on Alberta Innovation and Advanced…
The Alberta Ombudsman investigates complaints to determine whether a government entity has acted fairly and reasonably, and whether its actions and decisions were consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures. The Ombudsman is independent from government. We strive to be open, approachable and responsive to the questions and concerns of all Albertans. Below are some…
The Alberta Ombudsman met with more than 60 members of the Elders Advocates of Alberta Society on January 27 in Edmonton. “We heard a lot of comments and questions about seniors care, and it echoes what we hear on a regular basis when we meet with complainants or deliver presentations across Alberta,” said Peter Hourihan,…
By Peter Hourihan Alberta Ombudsman (Some details about the complainant have been changed to protect his privacy.) How does a 10 second encounter turn into 10 years of frustration? In the case of one Albertan who complained to our office, a thoughtless comment led to a breakdown in trust of the health care system –…