Manitoba Ombudsman

Our Brandon office is located at 202-1011 Rosser Avenue. We also have locations in Winnipeg (300 - 5 Donald Street) and Thompson (Suite 1720, City Centre Mall, 300 Mystery Lake Road). You can also call our toll-free line at 1-800-665-0531.

During its first year open, the office delt with complaints relating to crop insurance, water rights, drainage, automobile insurance claims, social assistance, maintenance enforcement, concerns from correctional facilities and more. In total, there were 226 complaints handled in 1998!

Did you know about our office location in Brandon? In fact, this week marked 27 years since it first opened on June 5, 1998!

Branded booth with public materials and two staff ready to hand out items

We are at the Vision Quest trade show again on Thursday. It’s open to the public so stop by to chat about the role of the Ombudsman, legislated rights and responsibilities and what’s involved in making a complaint. The show runs 8:30 - 4:00 at the convention centre.

We have issued joint resolutions, alongside federal, provincial and territorial privacy and access to information regulators, calling for modernized legislation, strong access to information systems and a culture of transparency in public bodies. We also offer guidelines and tools for public bodies.

➡️Is all the necessary information being recorded and managed so it can be found when needed?

➡️Is there a policy and process for information management and is it being consistently followed? Does it need to be improved?
➡️Are all necessary safeguards, whether physical or digital, in place to protect the personal information of Manitobans?

It’s important for public bodies to invest in information management systems, programs and resources that also include training staff to understand their roles and responsibilities in records and information management.

Strong practices can help public bodies respond to citizen requests for information, have good documentation of decisions and actions, and closely manage privacy protection.

April is Records and Information Management Month! How information is recorded and managed by Manitoba public bodies can have an impact on privacy protection and responding to requests for information.

We have guidance tools available that may help municipal administrations strengthen practices and potentially avoid complaints/investigations. Stop by or reach out if you have questions, want a consultation or would like to request training/education from our office.

We are at the Association of Manitoba Municipalities' spring convention tradeshow today and tomorrow morning. We're available to answer questions about the types of municipal complaints we receive and talk about the role of our office.

Learn more about the history of Manitoba's ombudsman through our 2020 special report which marked the 50th anniversary of the office. (www.ombudsman.mb.ca/.../ombudsma...)

Over the years the role of the ombudsman has grown to include oversight responsibilities related to access to information, privacy protection and public interest disclosures. Along with that expanded role, the number of public bodies the ombudsman’s jurisdiction applies to has grown.

This month marks 55 years of the Manitoba ombudsman office. Manitoba was the fourth province to establish an ombudsman. Bill 25 (The Ombudsman Act) was passed on September 30, 1969. George Maltby, Manitoba’s first ombudsman, was sworn in on March 31, 1970, and began work on April 1.

We will tell you about the disclosure process and what you can expect. Your disclosure or reprisal complaint must be in writing and include a description of the wrongdoing or reprisal.

Employees and non-employees who believe they have information about a potential wrongdoing can contact us to provide information. We encourage people to seek our advice before submitting a PIDA disclosure or reprisal complaint. Our services are confidential.

PIDA reprisal protections also apply to private sector employees and contractors but Manitoba Ombudsman cannot receive or investigate complaints of reprisal from these individuals.

If you believe reprisal has occurred, because of your participation in a PIDA whistleblowing process, you may make a complaint to Manitoba Ombudsman.

Reprisal refers to measures taken against an employee such as a disciplinary measure, demotion, termination, or any measure to negatively affect employment or working conditions, including making threats to do so.

Employees who make a disclosure, seek advice or participate in a PIDA investigation are protected from reprisal.

Dark blue graphic that says Whistleblowing under PIDA can lead to changes and improvements in publicly funded bodies.

Whistleblowing under PIDA provides an opportunity to uphold the rule of law, protect the health and safety of people or the environment, and ensure the proper use of public resources. It can help address potential wrongdoing for better public administration and service delivery.

"Employees are best positioned to identify potential wrongdoing"

Employees are best positioned to identify potential wrongdoing. Their knowledge and training on proper processes in an organization can help identify when practices are wrong. #whistleblowerawarenessday

🔗PIDA FAQ www.ombudsman.mb.ca/faqs/frequen...
🔗The PIDA regulation lists all the public funded bodies subject to PIDA web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/regs/cu...
🔗The PIDA Act web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statute...

This includes public health facilities and authorities, government departments/programs/agencies, universities, school divisions, some municipalities and many other publicly funded organizations.
Learn more:
🔗10 Things to Know about PIDA www.ombudsman.mb.ca/uploads/file...

The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (PIDA) in Manitoba outlines avenues and a process to bring forward concerns and provides protection to employees who do so. More than 700 publicly funded bodies or entities are subject to PIDA in Manitoba.

Dark blue graphic that says Whistleblower Awareness Day

Monday, March 24 is Whistleblower Awareness Day across Canada. This day is a chance to talk about whistleblower legislation and highlight the vital role whistleblowers play to help maintain accountability and integrity in public services.

Manitoba Ombudsman has been made aware of privacy breaches in Manitoba school divisions that use PowerSchool data management platforms. Visit our website for more information. www.ombudsman.mb.ca/news/news/20...

Learn more about:
🔗Making a complaint: FIPPA www.ombudsman.mb.ca/info/making-... PHIA www.ombudsman.mb.ca/info/making-...
🔗 The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act www.ombudsman.mb.ca/faqs/fippa-f...
🔗The Personal Health Information Act www.ombudsman.mb.ca/faqs/phia-fr...

➡️ have someone else exercise your rights, including making a complaint on your behalf
➡️ make a complaint to the ombudsman about how a public body or trustee handled your personal or personal health information or the body’s response to your request to access/correct that information