The Ombudsperson is British Columbia’s Independent Voice for Fairness.

The Ombudsperson is an independent Officer of the Legislature,

appointed pursuant to the Ombudsperson Act.

Why we exist

• to uphold the democratic principles of openness, transparency and accountability
• to ensure that every person in British Columbia is treated fairly in the provision of public services
• to promote and foster fairness in public administration

Who we serve

• the principle of administrative fairness
• the public
• the Legislature of British Columbia

What we do

• generally oversee the administrative actions of government authorities
• conduct thorough, impartial and independent investigations of complaints
• consider possible resolutions of complaints
• consult with, provide reasons, and make recommendations to authorities to improve administrative practices
• provide reports to the Legislative Assembly and the people of British Columbia about administrative fairness issues and how they can be remedied
• respond to inquiries from the public
• provide information and advice about administrative fairness

Thorough and impartial investigations

We

• identify issues of administrative unfairness
• identify causes of recurring unfairness and advise on how it can be avoided in the future
• attempt to resolve complaints through consultation when appropriate
• employ an approach that identifies and addresses the underlying causes of complaints
• make recommendations and issue reports that are based on sound analysis of the facts, are consistent with our statutory mandate and apply the principles of natural justice and administrative fairness