Ontario Ombudsman

Closed Meeting Complaints/Inquiries

Meetings of Council and local boards may be closed to the public for reasons permitted under Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2002, S.O. 2001, c.25.

Anyone who believes that a meeting, or part of a meeting was unlawfully closed to the public, may submit a request for a closed meeting investigation to the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario.

Before submitting a formal request for an investigation, members of the public are encouraged to contact the Clerk’s Office to discuss any concerns or inquiries relating to a closed meeting.

The Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario was established in 1975, under the Ombudsman Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.6. The Ontario Ombudsman is an independent and impartial Officer of the Legislature who resolves complaints about government and public sector bodies. The Ombudsman is appointed by an all-party committee of the Legislative Assembly every five years.

The Ontario Ombudsman is Mr. Paul Dubé, who began his term on April 1, 2016. Ombudsman Dubé was appointed for a second five-year term beginning on April 1, 2021.

Complaints pertaining to a City service:

Contact the City’s Customer Care Centre to attempt to resolve your concern pertaining to a City service. Click here to learn more about the tools available to address your complaint with the City.

Customer Care Centre:
T: 905.683.7575
E: customercare@pickering.ca

If you have tried to resolve your complaint with the City and are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Ombudsman at the contact information listed below.

Contact the Ontario Ombudsman

Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario
483 Bay Street
10th floor, South Tower
Toronto, ON M5G 2C9

Toll-free (Ontario only): 1-800-263-1830
Outside Ontario: 416-586-3300
TTY (teletypewriter): 1-866-411-4211
Fax: 416-586-3485
Toll-free Fax: 1-866-863-2560
Email: info@ombudsman.on.ca
Website: https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/contact-us