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Provincial Investigation Reports
Reports appear in order of date posted (most recently posted appear first). When multiple reports are posted on the same date, the reports within that grouping are in alphabetical order.
Note: A web version of a report may have been edited from the original version.
Reports are available in alternate formats upon request.
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Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations: Case MO-04206 – 2024-07-08
An individual complained to our office that Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations (formerly Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations) acted unfairly when it withdrew approval to construct solar panels and imposed an unreasonable timeline to relocate the panels. The individual was also concerned the department shared information about them with a nearby cottage owner in an unauthorized manner. We found the department did not have adequate policies to guide decision making, and its initial handling of the matter was unfair. The affected cottage owner was not given advance notice that the approval granted to him was under review. The affected cottage owner also did not have meaningful opportunity for input into the compliance date. However, after our office became involved and the cottage owner obtained legal counsel, the department reconsidered, suspended the compliance date, and worked with the cottage owner on a reasonable timeframe that considered the specific circumstances. We also found the department collected the cottage owner’s personal information to follow up on a complaint from another cottage owner. Although this action was reasonable, the department should have told the cottage owner their personal information was collected from a third party to follow up on a complaint. The Ombudsman recommended the department provide policy direction to staff and instructions and processes for cottage owners to seek permitting approvals for development on land near cottage lots. The Ombudsman also asked the department to consider developing a policy specific to the construction of solar panels in cottage areas within its jurisdiction. We are pleased the department accepted our recommendations.
case-MO-04206-en.pdfDownload
408 KB
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Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries: Case 2018-0457 – 2022-01-11
An individual complained to our office that Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MLL) was not adequately enforcing its Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) program. The individual believed the program would keep her from gambling at local casinos, but after signing up for the program, she discovered she was still able to gamble and ended up losing approximately $10,000. Partway through our investigation the individual withdrew her complaint for personal reasons, but supported a continued investigation on the ombudsman’s own initiative. At the conclusion of our investigation, the ombudsman recommended improvements to the way MLL communicates about the VSE program, including the use of plain, clear language, keeping information on its website updated, and articulating limitations related to detection and enforcement of the VSE program.
case-2018-0457-en.pdfDownload
674.00 KB
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Manitoba Finance: Case 2019-0404 – 2021-07-22
We received a complaint about the political nature of a Manitoba government news release and that civil service resources may have been used inappropriately to prepare, publish and store this news release. The complainant believed the use of civil service resources in this way undermines the impartiality of the civil service. Recommendation monitoring information was added to the report in May 2022.
case-2019-0404-updated-en.pdfDownload
297.23 KB
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Manitoba Sustainable Development: Case 2018-0338 – 2020-09-08
Manitoba Ombudsman initiated an investigation into how Manitoba Sustainable Development (now Conservation and Climate) communicated soil test results showing elevated levels of lead and other toxic metals in the Dufresne neighbourhood of the south St. Boniface area in Winnipeg. Report monitoring information was added to the report in May 2022.
case-2018-0338-updated-en.pdfDownload
493.96 KB
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Manitoba Human Rights Commission – 2020-06-30
Manitoba Ombudsman initiated an investigation under the Ombudsman Act after seven individuals complained to our office about the length of time it took the Manitoba Human Rights Commission to investigate the matters they brought to its attention.
mhrc-report-2020-en.pdfDownload
831.15 KB
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Manitoba Justice: Case 2016-0154 – 2019-02-21
The ombudsman examined legislation, regulations and policies related to the use of pepper spray and segregation in youth correctional facilities and determined whether they were being appropriately followed by Corrections staff. The ombudsman made 32 recommendations to Manitoba Justice, all of which were accepted. This investigation was conducted collaboratively with the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth. Each office examined the issues from the perspectives of their distinct mandates. Separate reports were issued.
case-2016-0154-en.pdfDownload
2.09 MB
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Manitoba Justice: Case 2017-0368 – 2018-12-17
A female resident at the Manitoba Youth Centre (MYC) raised health and hygiene concerns about a policy that restricted residents from having or wearing their own underwear. Under the policy, MYC residents were issued institutional underwear that were randomly distributed to them after laundering. As a result of our investigation, the complaint was resolved. MYC changed its policy and now provides female residents with three pairs of institutional underwear, which is labelled for female residents’ exclusive use during their stay at MYC, and which is returned to the resident after laundering. We also made two suggestions for administrative improvement, including that MYC reconsider using mesh laundry bags in the facility so that all residents’ personal clothing could be kept together and separate from others, and that MYC consider establishing procedures to encourage a consultative approach to process and policy changes whenever possible and appropriate (such as when clothing restrictions directly affect residents).
case-2017-0368-en.pdfDownload
266.40 KB
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Manitoba Justice (Corrections) and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (Health Sciences Centre) : Case 2017-0224 – 2017-12-19
Seven in-custody patients from unit PX3, a 15-bed adult forensic mental health unit located at Health Sciences Centre (HSC), alleged that they were confined to their locked ward 24 hours per day without any outside fresh-air time, which violates basic human rights and impedes recovery from illness. Shortly after we began our investigation, access to the forensic courtyard for non-acute security risk patients on PX3 was reinstated. While we concluded that the decision to suspend access to the courtyard pending a review of security concerns was consistent with applicable laws and policies, the amount of time taken to resolve this matter and resume courtyard access was unreasonable. We recommended that Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living and Manitoba Justice collaborate to develop a protocol that will assist in the timely identification and resolution of security issues on PX3 in order to help prevent similar delays in the future. The departments accepted the recommendation.
case-2017-0224-en.pdfDownload
173.96 KB
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Manitoba Sustainable Development and Manitoba Water Services Board: Case 2014-0478 – 2017-10-25
We received complaints from ten individuals and the chief administrative officer of the Rural Municipality of Argyle, who alleged they were not provided with adequate notification about a proposed water project by the Town of Pilot Mound and therefore were unable to formally register their concerns with Manitoba Sustainable Development’s Environmental Approvals Branch. We determined that the public bodies involved with the implementation of the water project met legislative and regulatory requirements regarding public notification of the project. However, we are of the view that improvements can be made to ensure a more comprehensive notification process to allow individuals to fully participate in the review process. In addition, we suggested improvements to the communication and administrative coordination between the branches of Sustainable Development and the Manitoba Water Services Board with respect to providing information about projects.
case-2014-0478-en.pdfDownload
596.75 KB
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Manitoba Families: Case 2017-0028 – 2017-10-25
Manitoba Housing, a division of Manitoba Families, manages a Homeowners Renovation Assistance Program (HRAP) that provides funding for household repairs to low income homeowners. We received a complaint from a homeowner who applied for financial assistance for repairs but was refused. While we determined that the decision was made in accordance with the eligibility criteria for HRAP, we did make several suggestions for administrative improvements to the program, particularly with respect to ensuring applicants clearly understand the terms and conditions of the program.
case-2017-0028-en.pdfDownload
427.45 KB
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Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation: Case 2014-0510 – 2017-05-25
An individual believed that the Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation (MHRC) had retained architectural services for a project without a competitive bidding process. MHRC explained to us that rather than using a competitive process, it expanded the scope of existing contracts it had awarded after a public tendering process. We found that while MHRC’s decision deviated from existing procedure, MHRC’s rationale for its approach in this case was reasonable. We also found that the agreement to expand the scope of the work was initially done without putting the details in writing. We recommended that when tendering contracts that may be extended, MHRC should look at opportunities to clearly communicate this intent to potential bidders at the outset of the process and that MHRC formally document its commitments of public funds in exchange for goods and services. MHRC accepted our recommendations.
case-2014-0510-en.pdfDownload
342.21 KB
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Manitoba Securities Commission: Case 2014-0543 – 2016-12-01
Concern that the Manitoba Securities Commission considered information at a hearing that the complainant did not know would be discussed at the hearing. Complaint partly resolved; administrative improvement suggested.
case-2014-0543-en.pdfDownload
517.83 KB
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Motor Transport Board and Taxicab Board: Case 2014-0076 – 2016-12-01
Concern about Winnipeg taxicab drivers who were allegedly operating illegally outside of the City of Winnipeg and the response of the Motor Transport Board and the Taxicab Board to the issue. Recommendations made.
case-2014-0076-en.pdfDownload
436.93 KB
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Disaster Financial Assistance Board: Case 2012-0283 – 2016-12-01
Concern about the denial of an application for disaster financial assistance by the Disaster Financial Assistance Board and the board’s reliance on the principle of concurrent causation. Recommendations made.
case-2012-0283-en.pdfDownload
445.28 KB
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Manitoba Sustainable Development and RM of Franklin: Cases 2013-0297 and -0298 – 2016-12-01
Concerns about the response of the Rural Municipality of Franklin and Manitoba Sustainable Development to overland flooding. Complaints not supported.
case-2013-0297-0298-en-1.pdfDownload
962.46 KB
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Manitoba Securities Commission: Case 2012-0097 – 2016-04-27
We received a complaint that the Manitoba Securities Commission failed to investigate the complainants’ grievance regarding an investment advisor and that they were not provided with sufficient information about the advisor including the advisor’s active supervisory terms and conditions. Based on our investigation, we found that the commission’s decision not to formally open an investigation into the complainants’ concerns was not wrong or unreasonable. However, the commission should have provided the complainants with the investment advisor’s supervisory terms and conditions that were part of the public record when the complainants first brought their grievance forward. As a result of our investigation, the complaint is supported in part and two recommendations were made to improve administrative accountability. The commission accepted the recommendations and has taken steps to implement them.
case-2012-0097-en.pdfDownload
393.33 KB
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Report on Flood-Fighting Equipment for the Interlake Emergency Operations Centre: The Tiger Dams Proposal – 2016-01-07ombudsman-report-on-flood-fighting-equipment-en.pdfDownload
987.05 KB
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Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority: Case 2013-0117 – 2015-06-22
An individual complained about how the North Eastman Health Authority (now the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority) handled a critical incident resulting from an injury he sustained at a health-care facility. The ombudsman found that the health authority was not in compliance with some policies related to critical incidents. While Manitoba Health was not the subject of the complaint, the ombudsman directed two recommendations to Manitoba Health because it is the body that provides direction to health authorities on a number of matters, including critical incident reporting. Manitoba Health agreed with the ombudsman’s recommendations.
case-2013-0117-en.pdfDownload
636.26 KB
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Workers Compensation Board: Case 2013-0089 – 2015-02-10
Complaint about a Workers Compensation Board policy pertaining to loss of movement/function.
case-2013-0089-en.pdfDownload
78.96 KB
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Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship: Case 2014-0176 – 2015-02-10
Complaint that the requirement for an export permit for inter-provincial transport of game birds was inconsistent with The Wildlife Act and that the Manitoba Hunting Guide did not clearly inform the public about the requirements regarding inter-provincial transport of game birds.
case-2014-0176-en.pdfDownload
85.25 KB
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Lake Manitoba Financial Assistance Program and Flood Appeals Commission: Case 2013-0102 – 2014-04-29
A complainant applied for disaster financial assistance through the Lake Manitoba Financial Assistance Program for a groundwater well he believed was contaminated by the 2011 Lake Manitoba flood, and his application was denied. He appealed the decision to the Flood Appeals Commission. The commission upheld the decision to deny financial compensation.
case-2013-0102-web-version-en.pdfDownload
85.67 KB
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Report on complaint of alleged partisan action by civil servant – 2013-12-11
This report details an investigation into alleged partisan action in the Manitoba Civil Service.
report-on-complaint-of-alleged-partisan-action-by-civil-servant-en.pdfDownload
348.54 KB
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