Latest news with #PaulDubé
Hamilton Spectator
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Ombudsman calls for ‘urgent' correctional reform after record number of complaints
TORONTO - Ontario's ombudsman is urging the province to address a 'growing crisis' in correctional facilities, pointing to a record number of complaints about facilities in the last year as well as deteriorating conditions. Ombudsman Paul Dubé says in his 2024-25 annual report that there was a 55 per cent increase in complaints about correctional facilities, totalling a record 6,870. Dubé says that while the sector has always been the top source of complaints, the nature and severity of what his office has heard and witnessed demand 'urgent attention.' Many of the issues go beyond inefficiencies, Dubé says, to the point of raising questions about basic human rights. He says many of the complaints regarding corrections were about 'severe, entrenched problems' such as overcrowding, frequent lockdowns and inadequate health care, as well as inmates with mental health issues being placed in segregation or Indigenous inmates not having access to a liaison officer. The ombudsman says his office also recently launched an investigation into a two-day incident at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton, Ont., in December 2023, when inmates were ordered to strip to their underwear and sit facing a wall with their wrists zip-tied. 'When we fail to uphold the basic dignity of people in custody, we do more than inflict harm – we erode public trust, degrade working conditions for staff, and weaken the very foundations of our justice system,' he wrote in the report. Cases about youth facilities, which include complaints and inquiries, also more than doubled in the last year, jumping to 423 from 202 the previous year, the report says. A record 3,908 complaints were also filed about municipalities, the report says, and many local officials have been receptive to best practices around fairness, transparency and accountability. The ombudsman says his office received a total of 30,675 cases in the 2024-2025 fiscal year — a 30-year high. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ombudsman calls for ‘urgent' correctional reform after record number of complaints
TORONTO – Ontario's ombudsman is urging the province to address a 'growing crisis' in correctional facilities, pointing to a record number of complaints about facilities in the last year as well as deteriorating conditions. Ombudsman Paul Dubé says in his 2024-25 annual report that there was a 55 per cent increase in complaints about correctional facilities, totalling a record 6,870. Dubé says that while the sector has always been the top source of complaints, the nature and severity of what his office has heard and witnessed demand 'urgent attention.' Many of the issues go beyond inefficiencies, Dubé says, to the point of raising questions about basic human rights. He says many of the complaints regarding corrections were about 'severe, entrenched problems' such as overcrowding, frequent lockdowns and inadequate health care, as well as inmates with mental health issues being placed in segregation or Indigenous inmates not having access to a liaison officer. The ombudsman says his office also recently launched an investigation into a two-day incident at the Maplehurst Correctional Complex in Milton, Ont., in December 2023, when inmates were ordered to strip to their underwear and sit facing a wall with their wrists zip-tied. 'When we fail to uphold the basic dignity of people in custody, we do more than inflict harm – we erode public trust, degrade working conditions for staff, and weaken the very foundations of our justice system,' he wrote in the report. Cases about youth facilities, which include complaints and inquiries, also more than doubled in the last year, jumping to 423 from 202 the previous year, the report says. A record 3,908 complaints were also filed about municipalities, the report says, and many local officials have been receptive to best practices around fairness, transparency and accountability. The ombudsman says his office received a total of 30,675 cases in the 2024-2025 fiscal year — a 30-year high. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025.
Cision Canada
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Ombudsman calls for "urgent" reform of Ontario's correctional system and stronger respect for rights Français
Annual Report 2024-2025: Huge increases in complaints about correctional facilities and youth justice centres Paul Dubé:"We have helped more people with more issues than at any time in our 50-year history" TORONTO, June 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé today called on the province to take urgent action to address a "growing crisis" in its overcrowded correctional facilities. Citing a 55% increase in complaints about correctional facilities in the past year (6,870 cases), and deteriorating conditions that he and his staff observed, the Ombudsman said "meaningful, systemic reform" that respects the rights of inmates is a "moral imperative." "While this sector has long been our top source of complaints, the nature and severity of what we are hearing – and witnessing firsthand during our visits – demand urgent attention," he says in his 10 th Annual Report, which coincides with his office's 50 th anniversary. "When we fail to uphold the basic dignity of people in custody, we do more than inflict harm – we erode public trust, degrade working conditions for staff, and weaken the very foundations of our justice system." Earlier this month, Ombudsman Dubé launched an investigation into the Ministry of the Solicitor General's response to a two-day incident at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in which inmates were ordered to strip to their underwear and sit facing a wall with their wrists zip-tied. He reports that he recently visited Maplehurst with staff, who also visited 11 other facilities in 2024-2025. Cases about youth justice centres – which Ombudsman staff visited to meet individually with hundreds of young detainees and hear their concerns – also more than doubled in 2024-2025, to a record 423 from 202 the previous year. In total, the Ombudsman received 30,675 cases – complaints and inquiries – in fiscal 2024-2025, a 30-year high. When changes in technology and the office's mandate are taken into account, this is an all-time record, he notes: "I can confidently report that in this milestone year, we have helped more Ontarians with more issues than in any other time in our history." Ontario established an Ombudsman in 1975 to "ensure the protection of our citizens against arbitrary judgment or practices," he notes. "Over the past five decades, we have remained a steadfast advocate for transparency, fairness, and accountability, working alongside democratic institutions across Canada and around the world." The report highlights significant trends and individual case results (see Facts and Highlights for more), and other key developments in the past year. For example: Cases received by the Children and Youth Unit, established in 2019 to specialize in cases involving children's services and child-centred work, reached a record 2,129. The Ombudsman launched a new investigation into child protection agencies' practice of placing young children and teens – many with complex special needs – in unlicensed settings (e.g., hotels, motels and offices). Ombudsman staff also helped individual families who felt they had no choice but to give up custody of children with special needs to agencies in order to get residential care for them – a persistent issue first investigated by the office in 2005. The Ombudsman's report on cases of adults with developmental disabilities who are inappropriately housed in hospitals will be released later this year; meanwhile, Ombudsman staff helped several individuals find appropriate residential placements. The Ombudsman's office received a record 3,908 cases about municipalities. In many of these, he and staff promoted best practices for fair, transparent and accountable processes and policies. They also published 35 reports and letters regarding complaints about 66 closed municipal meetings. Mr. Dubé established the Ombudsman's Award for Good Governance"to reflect tangible actions by public sector bodies that have resulted in exemplary administration." The first award went to the Ontario Provincial Police in February for improvements in its delivery of French language services. Others in the provincial and municipal sectors will be designated in the coming months. The office is co-developing an Indigenous Services Plan with Indigenous partners that will reflect its "commitment to building trust and advancing reconciliation through our daily work," Mr. Dubé writes. The Ombudsman made five submissions to government in the past year, proposing or commenting on changes to legislation. Several of his proposals were accepted. About Ombudsman Ontario: The Ombudsman, established in 1975 to help protect the rights of all Ontarians, is an independent and impartial officer of the Legislature. In the past 50 years, the Ombudsman's Office has handled more than 1 million cases and made more than 1,300 recommendations to improve public services, benefiting millions of people across the province. Under the Ombudsman Act, the Ombudsman reviews and resolves complaints and inquiries from the public about provincial government organizations, as well as French language services, child protection services, municipalities, universities and school boards.
Cision Canada
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Ontario Ombudsman Paul Dubé to release Annual Report on Wednesday, June 25
TORONTO, /CNW/ - Ombudsman Paul Dubé will publicly release his Annual Report on Wednesday, June 25 at 11 a.m., after it is tabled with the Legislative Assembly. The report covers the work of the Ombudsman's Office during the 2024-2025 fiscal year (from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025), including updates on investigations, trends in cases, and case summaries. Ombudsman Dubé will hold a press conference about the report at the Queen's Park Media Studio on June 25 from 11 to 11:30 a.m., in which journalists can participate in person or by phone. The press conference will also be streamed live on the Ombudsman's website – The report, press release, highlights and Mr. Dubé's opening remarks will be posted on the Ombudsman's website at 11 a.m. and shared via social media. Ombudsman staff will be available to answer questions from journalists on background prior to the press conference in Committee Room 1 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Cision Canada
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Cision Canada
Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman Endorses Key Principles to Strengthen Oversight and Public Trust
CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - The Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman (CCPO) has formally endorsed a set of key principles designed to ensure the independence, effectiveness, and accountability of Ombudsman institutions across Canada. These principles, adopted during the Council's gathering in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, reaffirm the essential role of Ombudsman offices in upholding good governance, protecting individual rights, and reinforcing public trust in democratic institutions. Summarizing internationally recognized frameworks, including the Venice Principles of the European Commission and the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the Role of the Ombudsman, the CCPO's document outlines seven principle themes: independence and autonomy, appointment and security of tenure, mandate, powers of investigation, transparency, accountability, and interpretation. "These principles reflect our collective commitment to ensure Ombudsman institutions across Canada remain robust, impartial, and accessible to all," said Sandy Hermiston, Chair of the CCPO. "They are also a clear signal to legislators and the public that effective oversight is essential to a healthy democracy." Parliamentary Ombudsman offices across Canada serve as independent bodies that receive and investigate public complaints about government services. They help resolve issues of unfairness, improve public service delivery, and protect the rights of individuals—all while being independent from political or administrative influence. The CCPO's work builds on the foundation of international standards that recognize the Ombudsman's critical role in safeguarding human rights and democratic values: "The European Commission and United Nations have established global standards to define, promote, and protect the role of the Ombudsman institution. As IOI Regional President, I applaud my CCPO colleagues for developing a summary of these internationally accepted principles for the benefit of legislators and the people we serve. Thank you for this great collaborative work in the public interest." — Paul Dubé, Ontario Ombudsman and President of the North American Region of the International Ombudsman Institute The CCPO invites all Canadian legislators and public authorities to recognize and uphold these principles to ensure Ombudsman institutions can continue serving the public with integrity, fairness, and independence. The principles can be found at About the CCPO: The Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman is a collaborative body representing 11 provincial and territorial Ombudsman offices across Canada. It works to promote best practices, share knowledge, and strengthen the capacity of independent oversight institutions.
