Ontario G20 fence law still on books despite promises
Ontario Ombudsman releases his 2012-13 annual report
Ontario's ombudsman says the governing Liberals have failed to live up to their promise to replace a law that resulted in a "massive" violation of civil rights during the G20 summit in Toronto three years ago.
- Read the full report at the bottom of this story.
Watchdog Andre Marin had earlier investigated the G20 "fence" law or police rule in 2010, and the province's lack of action was one of three key points of his 2012-13 report.
Marin's report also returned to another issue he has previously addressed; the province's Special Investigations Unit, which he said still doesn't have teeth in investigating police involved in cases of serious injury or death. Marin used to head the Ontario SIU.
The ombudsman also criticized the Liberals for not yet regulating non-emergency medical transfers to protect patients, despite their promise to do so two years ago.
Hospitals, school boards among areas not in jurisdiction
In his annual report, the ombudsman said he received more than 19,000 complaints and inquiries in the past year, up slightly from the year before.
He did detail how progress has been made on other fronts, such as dealing with operational stress injuries and suicide among Ontario Provincial Police officers.
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As in past years, Marin urged the government to give him oversight of hospitals, nursing homes, municipalities, universities and school boards, saying he's had to turn away more than 2,500 complaints about them.
The annual report reviewed what his office has done in the past year and updated recent and ongoing investigations by his office.
Daycare investigation launched
He's launched a new investigation into whether the government is doing enough to protect children in unlicensed daycares.
The move comes after a toddler died at a home daycare in Vaughan, north of Toronto, last week.
Education officials have admitted they failed to follow up on two of three complaints lodged against the daycare.
Marin said Monday he would probe how the government responds to complaints and concerns related to unlicensed daycares.