News & Updates

Read about the latest updates and events from Ombudsman Toronto, including public presentations, updates on investigations, training, and messages from the Ombudsman.

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Toronto Ombudsman Report Finds City’s Decision to Exclude Refugees from Base Shelter Beds was Unfair and Harmful

December 12, 2024

Toronto’s Ombudsman Kwame Addo finds that the City of Toronto’s decision to stop allowing refugee claimants access to its base shelter beds was unfair, poorly planned, and inconsistent with its commitments to transparency, accountability, and the human right to adequate housing.

Toronto Ombudsman finds major gaps with police’s registry for vulnerable persons

September 5, 2024

In his first Toronto police investigation, “An Investigation into the Toronto Police Service’s Communications About its Vulnerable Persons Registry,” Ombudsman Addo finds that the communications failures and poor management have prevented the registry from doing its job.

Toronto’s Ombudsman reports on first year of office’s new Housing Unit, underscores human right to housing

July 19, 2024

Toronto’s Ombudsman Kwame Addo has released an update on the work his office’s new Housing Unit has done during its first year of operation.

Celebrating 15 Years of Fairness, Looking Forward

June 21, 2024

Toronto’s Ombudsman says 2024 marks 15 years of success for his office in solving problems with City services for the people of Toronto. In his annual report released today, Addo notes that to date, the office has handled more than 31,000 individual complaints from members of the public.

Ombudsman saves Toronto man $20,000 in Hydro dispute

April 12, 2024

Toronto Ombudsman Kwame Addo says Toronto Hydro acted unfairly by holding a property owner responsible for approximately $20,000 worth of repairs to a hydro vault it never told him he owned.

Celebrating Past, Present, and Future Black Excellence

February 1, 2024

February marks Black History Month, a global commemoration that brings together people and communities to celebrate and learn about African, Caribbean, and Black history, art, food, and cultures. This year, Ombudsman Addo spent some time thinking about what Black Excellence means to him, the responsibility institutions have to support Black success, and how Ombudsman Toronto can play a role.

Ombudsman says 2023 was a year of growth

December 21, 2023

Ombudsman Addo reflects on his office’s work in 2023: “I am proud of the immense growth that my office and team achieved this year – all in pursuit of a City of Toronto government that serves people fairly.”

Reflecting on the first five months of the Housing Unit

December 21, 2023

Reema Patel, Ombudsman Toronto’s first Deputy Ombudsman (Housing), reflects on the new housing unit’s initial five months: “As we close out 2023 and look ahead to the work of the Housing Unit next year, I am buoyed by the momentum that we’ve built in such a short period of time—we have only just gotten started.”

Ombudsman to Investigate the Toronto Police’s Vulnerable Persons Registry

December 19, 2023

Toronto’s Ombudsman Kwame Addo has launched an investigation into the Toronto Police Service’s Vulnerable Persons Registry (VPR) to determine if its communication to the public about the registry is adequate and fair.

Ombudsman Appoints Acting Deputy Ombudsman (Housing) for Duration of Parental Leave

November 22, 2023

Ombudsman Kwame Addo today announced that he has appointed Luke Brown to the position of Acting Deputy Ombudsman (Housing). Brown will assume the role for the duration of Deputy Ombudsman (Housing) Reema Patel’s parental leave.