Ombudsman Marianne Ryan welcomes esteemed colleagues for the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman.
The Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman (CCPO) is a council comprised of provincial and territorial Ombudsman whose mandate it is to ensure people are being treated fairly in the delivery of public services. Annually, the council members come together to discuss emerging issues affecting citizens in their respective provinces.
Outgoing CCPO president, Marianne Ryan reflects on the value of staying connected to the Ombudsman community across the country:
“Building relationships with my counterparts across Canada has been valuable to understanding trend issues facing all Canadians,” she says. “In recent years, staff working remotely have taken advantage of virtual work environments to expand workgroups beyond individual offices. It has been particularly important in sharing best practices for advancing the efficacy of administrative fairness investigations.”
All Canadian provinces, along with the Yukon and Northwest Territories, have an Ombudsman, Ombud, Ombudsperson or Citizens’ Representative responsible for providing oversight of government services. Many hold additional legislated responsibilities including mandates for receiving privacy complaints, public interest disclosures, child and youth services and French language services. While individual mandates differ, all Ombuds value independence, rule of law, inclusion, and open government.
