Office Handles More Reviews, Inquiries

The Office of the Ombudsman has seen an increase in the number of reviews and inquiries it handled in 2010-11.

Ombudsman Dwight Bishop tabled the annual report today, Nov. 24, with the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

"In the past year, our efforts to raise awareness of the office and have been successful because more people are bringing issues forward," said Mr. Bishop. "The issues we have addressed are complex and far-reaching."

The report shows there were 2,435 inquiries and reviews. Of those, 1,826 were under the office's jurisdiction, up 4.7 per cent from 2009-10. There were also 26 disclosure of wrongdoing inquiries, 609 non-jurisdictional inquiries and 23 formal investigations and reviews.

The Ombudsman issued 50 formal recommendations, 33 under the Ombudsman Act and 17 from disclosure of wrongdoing investigations. The office also investigates the rights of young people and seniors. Staff made 146 site visits to youth in care and 89 visits to senior residential care facilities.

"Our focus is addressing the majority of complaints through administrative review investigations. This approach allows us to resolve issues in a timely manner," said Mr. Bishop. "While there is still some resistance to this approach, proposed amendments to the Ombudsman Act should address these concerns.

"There continues to be a need within government to demonstrate a greater sensitivity towards complainants and the use of alternative dispute resolution methods."

The mission of the Ombudsman is to promote the principles of fairness, integrity and good government. It does that by working to ensure government decisions and processes are open, transparent and consistent with the principles of fairness.

The annual report can be found on the Office of the Ombudsman website, www.gov.ns.ca/ombu.