CANADA | OmbudsPEI releases first annual report since creation of office

OmbudsPEI has tabled its first annual report, which highlights the creation, growth, work and statistics of the office’s first 14 months of operation.

On 29 November 2023, the report was tabled during the fall sitting of the Legislative Assembly. The report includes a breakdown of the number of cases received and investigated by OmbudsPEI, as well as detailed information about how the office operates and summaries of some of past cases. Ombudsperson Sandy Hermiston wrote in her message “In this last year, I have often reminded our team that we are building this plane while we are flying it – which is no small feat.”

As detailed in the report, during its first 14 months, OmbudsPEI fielded 151 contacts made up of 64 complaints, 60 inquiries and 27 referrals to other agencies. The office closed 44 complaints. The report features the first public investigation report, issued earlier this year: “Committing to Care: Improving the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Provincial Correctional System” (Cases – Reports –OmbudsPEI).

Ombudsperson Sandy Hermiston also serves as PEI’s Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner. The office received six inquiries regarding whistleblowing, none of which resulted in a formal disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosure and Whistleblower Protection Act.

“I am proud of the accomplishments detailed in this report” says Ms. Hermiston, “not only were we able to resolve Islanders’ individual complaints, we also managed to facilitate systemic change with our opioid replacement therapy investigation. I want to thank Deputy Ombudsperson Matthew Chapman, Office Manager Lauren McKearney and Investigator Alex Dalton for their excellent work during a challenging year of growth.”

Kindly find the report in the download section below.

Source: OmbudsPEI, Canada