Our Commitments

Strategic Plan

Mission

To promote and foster openness, transparency, fairness, accountability, and respect for privacy in the design and delivery of public services.

Values

Integrity:

Demonstrating the highest standards of professional and personal conduct and taking responsibility for our actions.

Respect:

Treating all people with respect, dignity and courtesy, valuing diversity, fostering positive relationships, and being fair and consistent in our treatment of others.

Independence:

Acting in the public interest in accordance with our statutory mandate and demonstrating neutrality and impartiality by ensuring that our actions are influenced by neither fear nor favour.

Excellence:

Achieving the highest standards in the work that we do and adding value to the democratic process by facilitating interaction between the public and those who serve them.

Manitoba Ombudsman is currently developing its multi-year strategic plan to launch in 2025.

Service Charter

Manitoba Ombudsman is committed to providing high-quality services to the public that reflect our values of service, integrity, respect, independence and excellence. This service charter reflects our values and expectations when working with complainants.

To the individuals who come to us with complaints:

Our commitment to you

At Manitoba Ombudsman, you have a right to:

fair and unbiased service, process, and decisions in our investigations
confidentiality and security of your personal information (we only share what is required to address or resolve your case)
an explanation about our independent decisions related to your case, when permitted
notification if we limit your services, including why and when the limitation will be reviewed.

When we can help with your matter, we will:

reach out to you within three business days
explain the process to address your concern and any action you must take
explain how long it may take and what we can and cannot do
attempt to pursue a fair resolution to the matter
communicate with you regularly as the complaint is handled (a representative is assigned to every case)
provide you with the outcome of your complaint and any decisions we make
inform you if we get it wrong and how we will move forward

To meet your individual needs, we will:

communicate in English or French and offer other interpretation services, if needed
provide accommodations for persons with a disability, when requested
work respectfully to understand your situation and needs
help to complete your complaint or disclosure in writing, if you prefer more assistance

If you’re not sure Manitoba Ombudsman can help, we will:

clearly explain our role and authority in person, by phone, or in writing
guide you to other agencies that may help if we cannot

How we work together to serve you best

To help us help you, please:

address your privacy, access, or fairness concern with the public body or trustee, before filing a complaint with us
tell us if your situation is urgent and your personal safety or well-being is at risk
provide requested information to support your complaint within agreed timeframes (electronic versions are preferred)
keep us up to date if your circumstances change or you have new information
inform us if you have specific service needs (e.g., interpreter, accessibility accommodation, etc.)

To have a safe and respectful working relationship with us, we ask that you:

be willing to listen to and respect our representatives and their time
cooperate with representatives when you are asked to modify or stop specific behaviour
understand that the result you seek may not be achieved through Manitoba Ombudsman

We want to hear from you

We value and welcome your feedback. Please tell us if you think we provided good service or if we did not meet our commitment to you in this service charter.

As a first step, raise your concern with the representative who worked with you on your question, complaint, or disclosure
If you remain unsatisfied, you may contact the manager overseeing your complaint who will consider your service concern, decide the appropriate course of action, and inform you.

You are welcome to send us your service feedback at any time:

feedback@ombudsman.mb.ca

View our contact page for other ways to reach us.

Accessibility Plan

Understand our values and how we’re committed to creating an accessible and inclusive experience through our Accessibility Plan.

* Please note our accessibility plan is currently being updated and will be available shortly.

Ombudsman Expense Reports

Site and Privacy Policy

This website uses Google Analytics to help us analyze how visitors use the site. Google Analytics is a web analytics tool that uses cookies, which are small text files placed on your computer, to track visitor interactions. Google Analytics collects information anonymously. It reports website trends without identifying individual visitors.

The information generated by the cookies about your use of this website (including your IP address) is submitted to Google. This information is then processed to compile statistical reports on website activity for Manitoba Ombudsman only.

We generate Google Analytics reports so that we know how many people visit our site, the geographical region they are from, which pages they view on our site, and what browsers and operating systems they are using to access our site. The information is grouped into statistics, so individuals are not identified in statistical reports. We collect this information so that we can improve the function and utility of our website.

What personal information we collect and how we use it

We do not automatically collect personal information such as your name, street address, email address, or phone numbers. However, if you send us a question or request, if you ask us to put you on a distribution list, or if you submit a complaint, we will keep the contact information you send us so we can respond to you.

Complaints

Information that you submit using the Ombudsman Act online complaint form or the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act online disclosure form is secure. We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology to protect information submitted via the online forms. Any personal information we receive from the online complaint form is only provided to those members of our staff who require it in order to respond to your complaint or disclosure.

Questions or concerns

For more information about our website or to report any problems with the site, please contact us:

by email at ombudsman@ombudsman.mb.ca

by telephone at (204) 982-9130, or toll-free in Manitoba at 1-800-665-0531