In 2017, the Parliamentary Ombudsman received a record number of 6,192 complaints, which is an increase of almost 1,300 complaints from 2016 (4,922 complaints). Complaints against the Social Insurance Institution (Kela) totalled 1,169, and 814 of them concerned social assistance, therefore increasing by about 700 compared to 2016. The criminal sanctions field, social insurance and labour and unemployment security were other administrative branches that saw a clear increase in the number of complaints.

 

Raymond Théberge took office as Commissioner of Official Languages on January 29, 2018. He has a PhD in linguistics from McGill University, a master’s degree in applied linguistics from the University of Ottawa and a bachelor’s degree in history from the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface. He held a number of leadership positions before coming to the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, and he has significant experience with official language minority communities. He also has extensive experience in academia and has worked across Canada.

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall has published a commentary on his Office’s experience of dealing with complaints from refugees and asylum seekers living in direct provision centres.  In ‘The Ombudsman & Direct Provision – The story so far’, the Ombudsman says that sometimes residents are reluctant to complain and some complaints arise as a result of cultural differences.  As a result the Ombudsman’s office has worked with the Reception and Integration Agency, and residents and managers in 35 centres around the country to seek to improve services.

The United States Ombudsman Association (USOA) will hold its 2018 Annual Conference from 24 – 28 September 2018 in Portland, Oregon at the Courtyard Marriott, Portland City Center. The USOA Conference and Planning Committee is seeking speakers and session presenters interested in sharing their subject matter expertise.

Tenemos derecho a exigir a los poderes públicos medidas para garantizar la adecuada protección del medio ambiente, para disfrutar de nuestro derecho a vivir en un medio ambiente sano. Igualmente, las personas tenemos la obligación de contribuir a esa protección y defensa de nuestro entorno. Para ello, la educación medioambiental es fundamental e indispensable y por lo tanto, el Síndic de Greuges de la Comunitat Valenciana informó al público sobre estos temas el día 26 de enero.

Suite aux débats parlementaires qui ont suivi la parution d’un article dans un quotidien intitulé « 3 000 malades mentaux parqués dans des maisons pirates », l’absence de cadre juridique concernant l’existence et le fonctionnement des SHNA a été constatée. Plusieurs députés wallons ont introduit une proposition de décret relative à l’hébergement et à l’encadrement à durée indéterminée pour personnes en difficultés sociales.

The Commission has reached out to the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs in an effort to advance administrative justice in the public sector. The interaction coincides with the induction retreat for members of the newly constituted Committee which is taking place between 26th to 28th January, 2018, in Mombasa.

La Defensoría del Pueblo de la provincia de Santa Fe informa que el Decreto de Necesidad y Urgencia 27/2018 modificó entre otros la Ley 24.240 de Defensa del Consumidor y la Ley 25.065 de Tarjetas de Crédito, otorgando a las empresas la facultad de determinar el modo en que remitirán la facturación por los servicios que prestan a usuarios y consumidores.