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Ombudsman on the Job

October 15, 2010 permalink

Ontario's ombudsman André Marin now has the power to investigate one of Ontario's children's aid societies. The opportunity opened up when the Ministry of Children and Youth Services took over management of the Huron-Perth Children's Aid Society. See the second addendum to our article.

John Dunn has also observed that the Ministry of Children and Youth Services is subject to freedom of information laws. So it is time to send freedom of information requests to the ministry regarding Huron-Perth CAS.

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Press Release

Ontario Ombudsman now has the power to investigate Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society

TORONTO (October 15, 2010) – Ontario Ombudsman André Marin now has the jurisdiction to investigate complaints about Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society, following the provincial government’s appointment of a supervisor for the agency.

Children and Youth Services Minister Laurel Broten announced this week that she has appointed Mr. Vince Tedesco to manage the society on an interim basis in place of its board of directors. While normally the Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over children’s aid societies in Ontario, that changes when the provincial government takes direct control, since the Ombudsman does have jurisdiction over the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

Ontario is the only province in Canada whose Ombudsman does not have a mandate to oversee child protection services. Despite this, the Ombudsman’s office receives many serious complaints about these agencies every year that cannot be investigated. A total of 296 complaints about children’s aid societies were received in fiscal 2009-2010.

Complaints about the Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society or any provincial government service or agency may be made to the Ombudsman’s Office at 1-800-263-1830, or via the online complaint form available at www.ombudsman.on.ca/en/make-a-complaint/complaint-form.aspx.

-30-

Aussi disponible en français

For further information, please contact:

Linda Williamson
Director of Communications
Tel: 416-586-3426
lwilliamson@ombudsman.on.ca

Elena Yunusov
Communications Officer
Tel: 416-586-3521
eyunusov@ombudsman.on.ca

Patricia Tomasi
Communications Officer
Tel: 416-586-3402
ptomasi@ombudsman.on.ca

Source: Ontario Ombudsman

Addendum: John Dunn attempts to get a policy and procedures manual from Huron-Perth CAS (mp3). The Ministry Supervisor's office (Angela? Rachel?) does not understand that she is now subject to freedom of information requests. John lost no time forwarding a complaint to the obudusman (pdf local copy).

Addendum: The Woodstock Ontario Independent News published a comment on the ombudsman and the provincial NDP picked it up.

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CBC News - Toronto - Ont. ombudsman probes Children's Aid Society

And it's about time.

The CAS has no oversight and zero accountability. One must wonder, how many of their "investigations" are real, and how many are made up just to keep their bureaucracy employed?

The fact of the matter is this; they utilize nothing related to due process or legal jurisprudence in most of their investigations, and many people who are attacked by this organization lack the social connections and the financial ability to fend off this organization.

For anyone in the Huron-Perth areas who have suffered abuse at the hands of this organization you are welcome to file a complaint at. http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/en/make-a-complaint/complaint-form.aspx

Source: Woodstock Ontario Independent News

Source: New Democratic Party

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