Activities Archives

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.

Our investigation results outline the facts and explain the action taken by the Québec Ombudsman. This week: a user who must undergo four hours of dialysis three times a week complained that the hospital centre’s equipment is uncomfortable. In another case, a soon-to-be mother contested the fact that she was not free to choose the place where she would have her baby.

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 Centre multivocationnel Claude-David’s transitional unit. The Québec Ombudsman investigated.

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.