Before Filing a Complaint with the Québec Ombudsman

Concerning a Québec Government Ministry or Agency

  • A number of ministries and agencies have their own complaints review process. By all means contact them first for help resolving the situation. The employees must explain why they disagree with you and inform you of the options available to you should you wish to appeal their decisions.
  • If you feel the conclusion is unsatisfactory, check to see if the authority concerned falls under the jurisdiction of the Québec Ombudsman.
  • If so, contact us. Make sure you have all the information and documents needed to process your complaint on hand.

Concerning the Health and Social Services network

  • The legislation provides that in most situations, complaints must first be submitted to a health or social services establishment or agency. Therefore, you must first contact the local complaints and service quality commissioner of the establishment concerned or the regional complaints and service quality commissioner of your regional health and social services agency. The Complaints Assistance Center (1 877 767-2227) can help you at this stage.
  • If you do not receive a response from the local or regional commissioner within 45 days, or you are not satisfied with their conclusions, do not hesitate to contact us. Please check first if the authority concerned falls within the Québec Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, and make sure you have at hand all the information and documents needed to process your complaint.

© Le Protecteur du citoyen, 2009