BC Ombudsperson
@bcombuds.bsky.social
We impartially investigate to make sure BC provincial and local public sector organizations are treating people fairly.
https://bcombudsperson.ca/
https://bcombudsperson.ca/
When something about a public service doesn’t feel fair, people often turn to our office for help. Our 2024/25 Annual Report is now live. It shares what we heard – and how fairness in public services still makes a real difference in people’s lives.
🔗https://bcombudsperson.ca/news_release/
🔗https://bcombudsperson.ca/news_release/
November 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
When something about a public service doesn’t feel fair, people often turn to our office for help. Our 2024/25 Annual Report is now live. It shares what we heard – and how fairness in public services still makes a real difference in people’s lives.
🔗https://bcombudsperson.ca/news_release/
🔗https://bcombudsperson.ca/news_release/
Our office is closed today, but you can still make a complaint.
November 17, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Our office is closed today, but you can still make a complaint.
Port Hardy, have you been treated unfairly by a local or provincial public body in BC? We may be able to help. We'll be visiting Port Hardy next Tues, Nov 4 to hear your complaints about unfair public services. To book your free, confidential appointment, call 1-800-567-3247.
October 30, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Port Hardy, have you been treated unfairly by a local or provincial public body in BC? We may be able to help. We'll be visiting Port Hardy next Tues, Nov 4 to hear your complaints about unfair public services. To book your free, confidential appointment, call 1-800-567-3247.
The deadline to have your say on our draft Open Meetings Guide is approaching. Local governments must follow the rules for meetings.
Submit your feedback by Oct 31 at info@bcombudsperson.ca
Read it: bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
Submit your feedback by Oct 31 at info@bcombudsperson.ca
Read it: bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
October 28, 2025 at 11:43 PM
The deadline to have your say on our draft Open Meetings Guide is approaching. Local governments must follow the rules for meetings.
Submit your feedback by Oct 31 at info@bcombudsperson.ca
Read it: bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
Submit your feedback by Oct 31 at info@bcombudsperson.ca
Read it: bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
Have you been treated unfairly by a public body in BC? The Office of the BC Ombudsperson may be able to help. We'll be in North & Central Vancouver Island Nov 4-7. Call 1- 800- 567- 3247 to book your free, confidential appointment.
October 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Have you been treated unfairly by a public body in BC? The Office of the BC Ombudsperson may be able to help. We'll be in North & Central Vancouver Island Nov 4-7. Call 1- 800- 567- 3247 to book your free, confidential appointment.
Today is #OmbudsDay, a global reminder of the role ombuds play in promoting fairness and accountability in public services. Have a complaint about the fairness of a provincial or local public body in BC? Learn more about how we can help: bcombudsperson.ca #OmbudsDay2025
October 9, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Today is #OmbudsDay, a global reminder of the role ombuds play in promoting fairness and accountability in public services. Have a complaint about the fairness of a provincial or local public body in BC? Learn more about how we can help: bcombudsperson.ca #OmbudsDay2025
Due to the ongoing public sector and Canada Post strikes we are unable to send or receive mail, but you can still contact our office by:
💻 Using our online complaint form: bcombudsperson.ca/online-compl...
☎️ Calling us at 1-800-567-3247
🏢 Visiting us at 947 Fort St., Victoria, BC
💻 Using our online complaint form: bcombudsperson.ca/online-compl...
☎️ Calling us at 1-800-567-3247
🏢 Visiting us at 947 Fort St., Victoria, BC
September 26, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Due to the ongoing public sector and Canada Post strikes we are unable to send or receive mail, but you can still contact our office by:
💻 Using our online complaint form: bcombudsperson.ca/online-compl...
☎️ Calling us at 1-800-567-3247
🏢 Visiting us at 947 Fort St., Victoria, BC
💻 Using our online complaint form: bcombudsperson.ca/online-compl...
☎️ Calling us at 1-800-567-3247
🏢 Visiting us at 947 Fort St., Victoria, BC
We’ve released a consultation draft of our new Open Meetings Guide – a resource to help local governments, staff, and the public understand the rules about public meetings in BC.
Feedback deadline: Oct 31, 2025
bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
Feedback deadline: Oct 31, 2025
bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
September 11, 2025 at 5:50 PM
We’ve released a consultation draft of our new Open Meetings Guide – a resource to help local governments, staff, and the public understand the rules about public meetings in BC.
Feedback deadline: Oct 31, 2025
bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
Feedback deadline: Oct 31, 2025
bcombudsperson.ca/guide/open-m...
Whistleblower protections are stronger when people feel confident speaking up about wrongdoing in their public sector workplace. The Ombudsperson’s recommendations aim to improve fairness, confidentiality & trust under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
August 20, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Whistleblower protections are stronger when people feel confident speaking up about wrongdoing in their public sector workplace. The Ombudsperson’s recommendations aim to improve fairness, confidentiality & trust under the Public Interest Disclosure Act. bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
Every 5yrs, the Public Interest Disclosure Act – BC’s public sector workplace whistleblowing law – must be reviewed. Today, the Ombudsperson has provided recommendations to expand coverage of the law, strengthen whistleblower protection & enhance oversight bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
August 19, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Every 5yrs, the Public Interest Disclosure Act – BC’s public sector workplace whistleblowing law – must be reviewed. Today, the Ombudsperson has provided recommendations to expand coverage of the law, strengthen whistleblower protection & enhance oversight bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
BC's Public Interest Disclosure Act, the province's whistleblower legislation, is undergoing a 5-year review. A parliamentary committee of the Legislature is looking for input on this public interest disclosure process. Have your say - input due by Aug 1 consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations
July 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
BC's Public Interest Disclosure Act, the province's whistleblower legislation, is undergoing a 5-year review. A parliamentary committee of the Legislature is looking for input on this public interest disclosure process. Have your say - input due by Aug 1 consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations
Today, Canada’s Parliamentary Ombuds offices released shared principles to protect independent oversight and ensure fair treatment in public services. Read the principles: bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
June 18, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Today, Canada’s Parliamentary Ombuds offices released shared principles to protect independent oversight and ensure fair treatment in public services. Read the principles: bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
In 2021, the province fixed a nearly identical issue for a different set of workers who had received EI-ERB during COVID. Yet now it is refusing to fix the cases of reactivated EI claims or explain why. The Ombudsperson found this was unjust and recommended a legislative fix.
May 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
In 2021, the province fixed a nearly identical issue for a different set of workers who had received EI-ERB during COVID. Yet now it is refusing to fix the cases of reactivated EI claims or explain why. The Ombudsperson found this was unjust and recommended a legislative fix.
Many had taken parental or medical leave just before COVID-19 hit. When in 2020, they lost work due to COVID-19 and applied for CERB, their old EI claims were reactivated. This technicality made them ineligible for the $1000 provincial benefit.
May 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Many had taken parental or medical leave just before COVID-19 hit. When in 2020, they lost work due to COVID-19 and applied for CERB, their old EI claims were reactivated. This technicality made them ineligible for the $1000 provincial benefit.
New report: Some people who lost jobs during COVID-19 received a one-time $1000 emergency benefit only to be told to pay it back years later. BC unjustly made them ineligible because it didn’t realize how pandemic relief applications were being treated by the feds. bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
May 6, 2025 at 6:37 PM
New report: Some people who lost jobs during COVID-19 received a one-time $1000 emergency benefit only to be told to pay it back years later. BC unjustly made them ineligible because it didn’t realize how pandemic relief applications were being treated by the feds. bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
We don’t just step in when things go wrong. Through proactive training and consultations, we help public sector staff deliver fair, respectful service from the start — building a stronger culture of fairness across BC. More information: bcombudsperson.ca/fairness-edu...
April 7, 2025 at 10:34 PM
We don’t just step in when things go wrong. Through proactive training and consultations, we help public sector staff deliver fair, respectful service from the start — building a stronger culture of fairness across BC. More information: bcombudsperson.ca/fairness-edu...
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke is urging the province to ensure stronger ethics/integrity oversight in local government, free from political interference. “BC deserves local governments that are transparent, accountable and governed by clear ethical standards.” bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
March 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Ombudsperson Jay Chalke is urging the province to ensure stronger ethics/integrity oversight in local government, free from political interference. “BC deserves local governments that are transparent, accountable and governed by clear ethical standards.” bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
BC Ombudsperson Jay Chalke is calling on the province to introduce legislation for independent, enforceable ethics and integrity oversight in local government. Recent events show why optional local codes of conduct aren’t enough. Read more: bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
March 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
BC Ombudsperson Jay Chalke is calling on the province to introduce legislation for independent, enforceable ethics and integrity oversight in local government. Recent events show why optional local codes of conduct aren’t enough. Read more: bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
The BC government has failed to confirm if second-generation Doukhobor survivors will be compensated. Families remain in limbo, with no clarity and no answers. The Attorney General needs to make this a priority. bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
March 4, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The BC government has failed to confirm if second-generation Doukhobor survivors will be compensated. Families remain in limbo, with no clarity and no answers. The Attorney General needs to make this a priority. bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
One year after the Premier’s apology, survivors of the wrongful detention of Doukhobor children are still waiting for the compensation they were promised. The BC government’s inaction undermines justice. Survivors deserve clear answers—now. Read more bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...
February 27, 2025 at 11:20 PM
One year after the Premier’s apology, survivors of the wrongful detention of Doukhobor children are still waiting for the compensation they were promised. The BC government’s inaction undermines justice. Survivors deserve clear answers—now. Read more bcombudsperson.ca/news_release...