Investigative Reports

Showing 1 to 10 of 41 items

An Investigation into Toronto Community Housing Corporation’s Tenant Human Rights Complaints Process

June 9, 2023

We heard from several TCHC tenants who had complaints that involved their human rights and were concerned that TCHC did not have a system in place to address them. Human rights are fundamental rights and TCHC has legal obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code to respect those rights.

Investigation into the City’s Clearing of Encampments in Summer 2021

March 24, 2023

Our investigation into how the City planned, engaged, and communicated about its response to encampments found that the City chose expediency over the needs of people living in encampments, causing undue confusion and harm. The overall result was significant unfairness.

An Investigation into the City’s Process for Clearing Encampments in 2021: Interim Report

July 14, 2022

Clearing encampments is extremely disruptive and can be traumatizing to the people living in them—the City owes a high duty of fairness to encamped residents. Given how important this issue is, and the fact that the City is continuing to clear encampments, we released an interim report with early recommendations that the City should act on immediately.

Enquiry into the City of Toronto’s Communication and Enforcement of COVID-19 Rules in City Parks in Spring 2020

July 9, 2021

We heard from 10 people who got tickets from for violating COVID-19 rules for use of City parks. A common theme: they felt they had been penalized not for flouting the COVID-19 rules on the use of City parks, but for simply being unaware of them or not fully understanding them.

Update on Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) Complaint Trend Data and Related Recommendations

April 26, 2021

Last year, Toronto’s Ombudsman released a public report about trends in all TCHC complaints to her office in 2019. This report serves as an update on that work, and as a constructive tool to help TCHC continue to improve its service to tenants.

Enquiry into How the City of Toronto Handles Homeowner Third-Party Liability Claims for Basement Flooding and Sewer Backups

November 19, 2020

Every year, Toronto homeowners experience distressing and costly basement flooding and sewer backups. In some areas of the City, homeowners are dealing with repeated flooding of their basements, resulting in significant property damage each time. City Council asked Ombudsman Toronto to review the City’s process for investigating claims against the City by people whose properties have suffered damage due to basement floods and sewer backups.

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) Complaint Trend Data and Related Recommendations

March 17, 2020

In each of the past five years, more people have complained to Ombudsman Toronto about the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (“TCHC”) more than any other City organization within our scope. This report responds to requests from both TCHC management and its Board of Directors to learn more about complaints the Ombudsman receives about TCHC.

Enquiry into How Toronto Animal Services Handled a Dangerous Dog Investigation and Appeal

December 16, 2019

In June 2017, a young boy was attacked by his neighbour’s dog. The City’s Animal Services department issued a dangerous dog order against the dog. The owner appealed the order, but the family was not told about the neighbour’s request or their right to participate in the appeal process.

Review of the TTC’s Investigation of a February 18, 2018 Incident Involving Transit Fare Inspectors

July 11, 2019

The Ombudsman called on the TTC to investigate an incident when Transit Fare Inspectors forcibly detained a young Black man and pledged that her office would ensure that the TTC’s investigation was appropriately thorough, fair and transparent and that its conclusions were reasonable.

Enquiry into the Water Connection at a Scarborough Heritage Property

March 6, 2019

After a water leak developed, a member of the public contacted us about a pipe that ran through the basement of her property to the neighbouring house. She no longer wanted the pipe to run through her house and across her property, but the City had refused to pay to connect the neighbouring house directly to the City’s water supply.