Questions & Answers

To see the answer to a question, click on the + symbol to the right of it.

• What is an ombudsman?

  An ombudsman:

  • is an objective third party.
  • takes complaints about a specific organization or group of organizations.
  • may investigate, mediate or provide other such services to help resolve complaints.
• What is Ombudsman Saskatchewan?
  

  Ombudsman Saskatchewan is an independent office, headed by the provincial Ombudsman. The Legislative Assembly appoints the Ombudsman. As a result, the office is separate from the government of the day and free to come to its own conclusions.

  Just as the provincial Auditor holds the government accountable in matters of money, the Ombudsman holds the government accountable in matters of fairness.

  Ombudsman Saskatchewan promotes fairness by:

  • taking complaints about unfairness in government services.
  • educating government about fair practices.
  • making the general public aware of our services.
• Who is the current Ombudsman?

  The current Ombudsman is Kevin Fenwick.

• What kinds of complaints can Ombudsman Saskatchewan take?

  We take complaints about the provincial government’s:

  • decision or action
  • failure to act
  • delay in service

  We take complaints about provincial government:

  • ministries
  • agencies
  • boards
  • commissions
  • Crown corporations
• What kinds of complaints can’t Ombudsman Saskatchewan take?

  We can’t take complaints about:

  • the federal government
  • the courts
  • decisions of Cabinet
  • school boards
  • the police
  • municipal governments
  • band councils
  • private companies
  • individuals
• Do all complaints get investigated?

  Not necessarily. Each complaint is unique and we try to choose the most appropriate way to deal with it. Sometimes that means an investigation. Other times, we may use mediation or negotiation. Whenever possible, we contact the government office to see if an early resolution can be achieved.

• Do all complaints get resolved?
  

  All complaints are resolved in some fashion, but that doesn’t mean the person who complained will always be happy with the result. Sometimes the situation is resolved in a way that mostly or completely addresses the complainant’s concerns. Sometimes the situation improves as a result of our involvement. Sometimes there is no change in the situation – perhaps because we did not find any reason to ask the government to make a change, or because they would or could not do so.

• What happens if the Ombudsman makes a recommendation to a government office and they won’t follow it?

  Government offices usually follow our recommendations. In unusual cases, we may decide to take the complaint to the Legislative Assembly or to the media.

• How long does it take to complete work on a complaint?
  

  That depends on the nature of the complaint and what we need to do. We complete work on most complaints within 90 days, but there are some that take longer.

• How does the Ombudsman’s office get information from government offices?
  

  Our act gives us the authority to see all government files relevant to a complaint.

• Can a friend or family member make a complaint on someone’s behalf?

  Not usually – unless the person cannot represent themselves and has authorized someone else to do so.

• If I am taking a complaint to court, can the Ombudsman look into the matter too?

  We cannot look into a matter that is part of a court process and we cannot alter a court decision. After a case has gone to trial, however, there may be aspects of the complaint that the court did not deal with. We may be able to look at those.