Toronto Ombudsman

What is the Toronto Ombudsman?

The Office of the Toronto Ombudsman keeps a watchful eye on City government. It holds the City accountable for its actions.

In 2006, the Government of Ontario required the City of Toronto to establish an Ombudsman, with the authority to oversee the administration of Toronto government services.

The Toronto Ombudsman does just that. We have the power to investigate any decision or recommendation made, or any action, or omission committed by the City, its agencies, boards, commissions and corporations.

What is Bill 8?

Bill 8 is the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014 – a law passed by the Province of Ontario on December 11, 2014.

It allows the provincial Ombudsman to review complaints about school boards, universities and municipalities in Ontario – except for complaints about Toronto government services.

The Toronto Ombudsman has the sole authority to investigate complaints about the administration of the city. Complaints about the City of Toronto that are in the Toronto Ombudsman's jurisdiction stay in the Toronto Ombudsman's jurisdiction.

Bill 8 says so.

How did this come about?

The Ontario government identified the need for independent ombudsman oversight in the municipal sector and sought to include this oversight in the provincial Ombudsman's mandate.

The Toronto Ombudsman appeared before the Legislative Assembly of Ontario's Standing Committee on General Government during its consideration of Bill 8, and highlighted the Toronto Ombudsman's statutory independence and the robust powers of investigation that both it and the provincial Ombudsman have.

The Toronto Ombudsman made submissions explaining that its legal framework is equivalent to the legal framework that established the provincial Ombudsman in 1975. Both offices are statutory institutions that meet internationally recognized standards, and both are independent and impartial investigators with credible and confidential investigation processes – hence, no need for two ombudsman with the same investigative and remedial powers, to deal with the same matters.

The Government of Ontario listened, and reaffirmed through Bill 8 the Toronto Ombudsman's sole authority to investigate complaints that fall within its jurisdiction.

What City of Toronto complaints can the Ontario Ombudsman look at?

The provincial Ombudsman may look at matters that fall outside the Toronto Ombudsman’s jurisdiction.

For example, the Toronto Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over members of city council, or other City of Toronto accountability officers, such as the Auditor General, Lobbyist Registrar and Integrity Commissioner. The provincial Ombudsman can oversee reviews and investigations performed by these entities.

The provincial Ombudsman cannot review the Toronto Ombudsman's decisions, proceedings or investigations.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to obtain more information about the Toronto Ombudsman's mandate or how Bill 8 may affect you, please contact our Office.