TORONTO - Ontario's New Democrats will introduce legislation today to give the ombudsman expanded authority to investigate school boards, hospitals, municipalities and Children's Aid Societies.
NDP critic Rosario Marchese says it's time to let the ombudsman look into complaints about the health care and education sectors as well as municipalities.
Marchese says he's looking for "fairness and justice for our citizens" which he thinks the ombudsman can provide with expanded powers.
He says people are worried about the quality of care they get in hospitals and long term care facilities and believe ombudsman oversight is an absolute necessity.
The Advocacy Centre for the Elderly and the Foster Care Council of Canada support the bill to expand the ombudsman's powers.
Even the Opposition Conservatives say they'd consider the idea to make the hospitals, schools and municipalities more accountable.
However, the Liberal government remains reluctant to expand the powers, and note each municipality has the authority to set up its own ombudsman's office if it wishes.
