Activities Archives

Our investigation results outline the facts and explain the action taken by the Québec Ombudsman. This week: the citizen contests the refusal of the ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale to authorize a training program for vocational reorientation.

The Québec Ombudsman commends the desire to update the chartered administrators' Code of Ethics and strengthen their duties and obligations in order to improve the protection of the public and has issued recommendations to ensure that the proposed amendments achieve this objective.

The Québec Ombudsman welcomes the amendments that will allow study participants and their heirs or legal representatives access to the complaint examination procedure.

Today the Québec Ombudsman is releasing a report on the organization of emergency response services for accidents that occur off-road.

In a letter to the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity, the Ombudsperson expresses concern about the amendments to the Individual and Family Assistance Regulation. Although she agrees with certain principles of the Draft Regulation, particularly the prevention of abuse, she fears that it increases the vulnerability of some social assistance recipients.

While applauding this bill that improves the crime victims compensation system, the Québec Ombudsman considers that there should be certain amendments to more fairly address victims’ needs. It has therefore made eight recommendations.

The Québec Ombudsman’s report published today indicates that the administration of parents’ financial contribution towards placement of their children under age 18 must be reviewed and that youth centre practices in this regard must be standardized.

The second issue of the link between the Québec Ombudsman and newcomers to Québec newsletter explains what you need to know about the health and social services network and gives immigrants important advice about these services.

The Québec Ombudsman intervened further to a report concerning Ressource intermédiaire de la Montagne, in Montréal. The grounds for the report included an inadequate physical environment, problems with the organization of care and services, and lack of recreational and social activities.

The Ombudsperson has endorsed Bill 12, which, in her estimation, strikes a balance between the public interest and respect of the rights of all peace officers concerned. That being the case, she has made five recommendations aimed at fostering deployment and enforcement of the act.

Today the Québec Ombudsman published the second issue of its newsletter for entrepreneurs and self-employed workers. The topics this time: the rights of entrepreneurs and self-employed workers in the area of public services; a true story about a farm producer; and the Ombudsperson’s position on the call for proposals for $7-a-day childcare spaces.

Raymonde Saint-Germain’s viewpoint is that the amendments to the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety and the Safety Code for the Construction Industry will help prevent construction and maintenance workers’ exposure to asbestos.

In the Ombudsperson’s opinion, the draft regulation “is likely to improve the situation of recipients of last resort financial assistance as well as that of certain people related to them.”

Today, Ombudsperson Raymonde Saint-Germain gave a lecture at the Forum des syndics symposium organized by the Conseil interprofessionnel du Québec.

The Québec Ombudsman conducted an investigation further to reports concerning Centre d'hébergement Vincenzo-Navarro, in Montréal. The grounds for the report were gaps in supervision, the staff`s lack of training and skills, inappropriate use of means of restraint, and signs of negligent nursing care.

Today the Québec Ombudsman sent out the first issue of its newsletter for people newly arrived in Québec. Among other things, it lets new arrivals who do not have Canadian citizenship know that they can turn to the Québec Ombudsman and that anyone who does so, new or not, will not face reprisal.

Today the first issue of The Québec Ombudsman: Information at Your Fingertips – For entrepreneurs and self-employed workers newsletter hits cyberspace. Distributed to more than 300 collaborators, the publication is aimed at letting business owners know that the Québec Ombudsman can help them free of charge and confidentially should they have problems in their dealings with Government of Québec services.

"The public interest requires that there be rigorous measures surrounding the awarding of public contracts." In commenting on Bill 1, the Ombudsperson emphasized that she fully endorsed the government’s resolve to combat corruption and enhance integrity in public contracts. In her letter to the Chair of the Committee on Public Finance, she nonetheless underscored the importance of a provision for a time limit for the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) to render a decision on an application for authorization to bid on a public contract. She also recommended that there be an administrative review process within AMF for enterprises whose application has been turned down—recourse that is not currently provided for in the act—entrusted to persons distinct from those who rendered the first decision.

"Lack of resources has meant that, frequently, the services that are really available do not correspond to what is indicated in programs. The result is delays, disparities, interrupted services and inadequate benefits." This was the finding conveyed by Ombudsperson Raymonde Saint-Germain when her 2011-2012 Annual Report was tabled today in the National Assembly.

Ombudsperson Raymonde Saint-Germain will present her findings and recommendations with respect to the public service and the health and social services network when her annual report is tabled in the National Assembly on Thursday, November 1, 2012.

The Faso Ombudsperson, Ms. Alima Deborah Traoré, spent August 28 to 31 at the offices of the Québec Ombudsman as part of her activities aimed at international cooperation among public protectors in the French-speaking world.

Today, the Québec Ombudsman is releasing a brief presented to the Minister for Social Services, regarding the draft Regulation respecting the conditions for obtaining a certificate of compliance and the operating standards for a private seniors’ residence. Among other results, the draft regulation will exclude certain types of residences from the government certification process. Is this really in the best interest of the clientele for which we would like to ensure safety and the best living environment? The brief reviews a series of the Québec Ombudsman’s concerns and includes 12 recommendations to offer concrete, reliable guarantees to seniors living in private residences.

After having received a complaint from a citizen concerned by the situation of Québec men, the Québec Ombudsman conducted an investigation on the combined impact of actions undertaken by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) intended to meet their needs.

Today, the Ombudsman is releasing an intervention report about the Villa Sainte-Anne intermediate resource attached to the Centre de santé et de services sociaux (CSSS) de Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle. This intervention was based on a citizen’s report to the Ombudsman about the very poor quality of care, services and living conditions provided to residents of the resource. Following its investigation, the Ombudsman made recommendations to Villa Sainte-Anne, the CSSS and the Agence de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal. These recommendations mainly dealt with the implementation of concrete improvement measures, the assessment of results achieved and the increased supervision of the resource by the responsible bodies.

In a letter addressed to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, dated May 24, the Ombudsperson expressed her support for draft regulations recently published in the Gazette officielle du Québec, which follow up on some recommendations she made for senior citizens’ safety. The new regulations amend the Building Code and the Safety Code, in particular to limit the temperature of hot water coming from shower heads and bath faucets in all private senior citizens homes and care facilities, regardless of when the building was built.

After releasing a special report in 2009 on government services for children up to 7 years of age who have a PDD, the Québec Ombudsman today released its report on government services provided to individuals over 7 years of age with the same condition. The report touches on various issues, including access to health and social services based on needs, the academic trajectory, planning the transition from school to the labour force, and independent living. The Québec Ombudsman found there was a gap between the government’s commitment and reality and makes specific recommendations to the departments concerned.

At the invitation of the Committee on Institutions, Raymonde Saint-Germain, Ombudsperson, is presenting a brief on Bill 64, which establishes the Service administratif de révision des pensions alimentaires pour enfants (SARPA). First, the Ombudsperson expresses her full support for the principle behind the bill: its dejudicialization and cost-cutting goals clearly satisfy the recommendations reiterated by the Ombudsman to help parents who want to make child support changes. She does, however, point out that there is room for improvement. SARPA's response deadlines are vague and should be better defined. In addition, the new administrative mechanism and its personnel should have clearer powers and obligations with respect to administrative justice to ensure services are efficient, of high quality and respectful of citizen rights. Lastly, as it is presently defined, SARPA does not fall within the Québec Ombudsman’s jurisdiction, which makes it impossible for parents to access this essent

In the opinion of Québec Ombudsperson Raymonde Saint-Germain, Bill 48 fails to clearly define the parameters governing the application of the government motor vehicle inspection program (vehicles 8 years old and over) introduced by the bill. It is also impossible to tell what impact the program will have on citizens. The Ombudsperson is therefore recommending that the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks clarify his intentions with regard to the parameters governing the program’s application. The Ombudsperson stated her position in a letter to the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, which begins deliberating today.

This week, the Québec Ombudsman released two reports further to interventions involving the health and social services network. The first report contains proposed corrective measures, particularly with regard to delays and service quality, arising from an investigation it conducted at the emergency unit of Hôpital régional de Saint-Jérôme. The second report is in response to a tragedy experienced by a family that had been under the care of Centre jeunesse de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec for two years. In one of its recommendations, the Québec Ombudsman emphasizes the need for independent and unbiased case reviews so that situations such as the one described do not recur.

As consultations on Bill 71 (An Act respecting compensation measures for the carrying out of projects affecting wetlands or bodies of water) got underway today, Ombudsperson Raymonde Saint-Germain conveyed her comments to the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment.

Today the President of the National Assembly tabled the Québec Ombudsman’s 2012-2017 strategic plan (Conduire à la pleine solution, pour un, pour tous). The title captures how the Québec Ombudsman envisions its mission and actions. La pleine solution refers to the fact that a "full solution" is one that gets to the heart of a problem with a view to solutions that last. Pour un, pour tous is a reminder that if a situation denounced in a complaint harms more than one citizen, the solution sought must be the right one for all citizens.

The Québec Ombudsman has investigated the accessibility of long-term home support services (personal assistance and domestic help) for people with disabilities and people with a loss of independence (seniors in particular). The report underscores the gap between the home support policy, adopted in 2003, and the daily lives of the people who receive—or should receive—these services.

Ombudsperson Raymonde Saint-Germain has submitted a brief to the Committee on Institutions, as part of the consultations and public hearings phase for Bill 46, An Act Respecting Independent Police Investigations.

Starting today, we'll be posting two short articles a month on different aspects of the Québec Ombudsman, such as its role, how it can help you, recent interventions, the rights of citizens in their dealings with public services, and answers to your questions. Just click on the "All articles" hyperlink at the bottom of the column on the right.

Following a report, the Québec Ombudsman intervened regarding Foyer Le Cardinal inc. and Les Centres de jeunesse Lanaudière. The report emphasizes the disorganization surrounding the closing and postponing of the closing of the residential resource where six young people aged 10 to 15 with mental health problems were lodged.

With our RSS feed, you have quick access to the following sections: What's New – Activities; and Investigation results. Click on the title to find out how to subscribe. NOTE: Due to the recent changes to our website, former subscribers will have re-subscribe for the corresponding RSS feed.

Did you know that the Québec Ombudsman also takes complaints from enterprises? Incorporated companies, family businesses, big or small organizations, you name it! To help you, today the Québec Ombudsman is posting its first-ever form for enterprises that want to use our services.

Between December 13 and 23, 2010, that is, in fewer than 10 working days, 60 seniors with decreasing independence, most of them from Hôpital Pierre-Le Gardeur, were transferred to the Centre multivocationnel Claude-David’s transitional unit.

Ombudsperson Raymonde Saint-Germain will today take part in a seminar hosted by the Observatoire international de la santé et des services sociaux. The seminar will look at ways for healthcare organizations to improve their performance. Her remarks will focus on how proactive harm prevention can leverage performance. You can read the Ombudsperson’s speech.

The aim of the draft bill establishing the new Code of Civil Procedure is to improve the accessibility of civil justice and service quality and promptness. The means proposed include alternative modes of dispute resolution, more power for judges to intervene, better control of judicial proceedings, greater autonomy for citizens to act within the judicial system, and an increase in the maximum amount for claims brought before the Small Claims Division to $15,000. The Ombudsperson comments in a letter to the Chair of the Committee on Institutions. You can access this letter.

One of the effects of Bill 32 (Act giving effect to the Budget Speech delivered on 17 March 2011 and to certain budget statements and enacting the Act respecting the sectoral parameters of certain fiscal measures) is to allow the direct deposit of the solidarity tax credit into accounts in financial institutions located outside of Québec. In a letter to the Chair of the Committee on Public Finance, the Ombudsperson welcomes this gain stemming from her recommendation. You can access this letter.

Today, the Association des Ombudsmans et Médiateurs de la Francophonie (AOMF) posted its new publication, the RECUEIL DE LA DOCTRINE DE L'OMBUDSMAN, online. The main producer of this major and innovative reference tool is the Québec Ombudsman, assisted by the Institution du Médiateur du Maroc, with funding from the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). Meet this new tool.

The Québec Ombudsperson, Ms. Raymonde Saint-Germain, met with the European Ombudsman, Mr. Nikiforos Diamandouros, during his Montréal visit on October 6.

"The major challenges facing public services, including sound management of public monies and workforce mobility, should not be addressed at the cost of citizens’ rights." This is what the Québec Ombudsperson, Raymonde Saint-Germain, cautioned government administrators and employees against when she tabled her 2010-2011 Annual Report in the National Assembly today.

While welcoming the intention behind Bill 16 to increase protection for the elderly lodged in certified private residences, the Québec Ombudsperson cautions against the possible negative impacts of some of the changes proposed.