Ombudsman Office Releases Annual Report

Nova Scotia's Ombudsman is confident that an increase in permanent staff and a department reorganization will increase the office's ability to promote accountability and fairness in government service delivery.

During the past fiscal year the office increased the number of permanent staff positions. This allowed the office to reorganize into four distinct sectors: investigation and complaint services; youth and seniors' services; disclosure of wrongdoing; and administration.

An annual report released today, May 2, by the Ombudsman Office, noted several highlights from the 2004-05 fiscal year.

These include:

• an expansion and clarification of jurisdiction in areas such as child welfare agencies, nursing homes and licensed child-care facilities
• an increase in the number of education and outreach opportunities conducted by the office during the year. Staff provided 30 presentations targeting seniors, government employees, police and community groups
• the completion of the first phase of the seniors' initiative. Staff participated on committees dealing with seniors' issues, outreach to senior advisory councils and the development of a complaint resolution process.

"I am proud of the dedication and commitment of the staff of this office, said Dwight Bishop, Nova Scotia Ombudsman. "Our staff believe in the important role the public service provided the community, and in the fundamental principle that every citizen has the right to be heard and treated with fairness, sensitivity and respect."

The Office of the Ombudsman is an independent agency which addresses administrative concerns about provincial or municipal government services. Its services are provided free of charge.

The complete annual report is available on the Office of the Ombudsman website at www.gov.ns.ca/ombu .