Yes. I brought a copy of our Ontario Act. I am willing to file it with the clerk if you wish. Unfortunately, I only have the English version, but it is available on our Web site in French and English.
This is good legislation, very simple. The laws are very succinct, not complex or very lengthy. It’s very simple. In Ontario, the Ombudsman monitors all the agencies, all the departments and all the Crown corporations of Ontario to blow the whistle on unreasonable, unfair or inequitable decisions or policies. The Ombudsman can compel a person to testify under oath. The Ombudsman has the power to enter any premises in the province and can require a department to produce documents. The department has an obligation under the Act to provide full cooperation. If the department does not co-operate, there are penalties. The Ombudsman’s ultimate authority is to make a recommendation, which is not binding.
There are only two exceptions to my jurisdiction in Ontario. The Ombudsman cannot investigate the office of elected provincial officials and cannot investigate the Provincial Court, which is strictly judicial. Those two limits are easy to explain.