Who do you call when government is failing?

As MPP for our area, I receive a steady stream of complaints from people who feel government is failing them.

Top of mind would be the ongoing land disputes in Haldimand. As well, I think of the related illegal tobacco trade and its impact on price, which has destroyed much of the legal trade including tobacco farming.

Once the letter-writing, complaint procedures and the appeal processes have been exhausted, there can be merit in turning to an office of last resort – Ontario’s Ombudsman.

The recent release of the Ombudsman’s Annual report reminded Ontarians of the important oversight duties undertaken by Andre Marin and his staff.
Specifically, the Ombudsman’s office oversees and investigates the provincial government, including about 500 Crown corporations, provincial ministries, tribunals, agencies, boards and commissions. The Ombudsman receives more than 16,000 complaints a year from individuals looking for help with a particular Ontario government organization.

The details of the most recent report from Mr. Marin further confirm that lack of accountability can lead to taxpayers not getting value for their money, or value in the quality of services they receive.

The Ombudsman has noted that he will release two health-related reports this summer on his investigations into oversight of long-term care homes by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; and the decision-making process of the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network.

The impending reports underlining Marin’s health service concerns bring to mind the financial difficulties faced by hospitals locally - Tillsonburg District Memorial, Norfolk General, and rumours about the potential of an Emergency Department closure at West Haldimand. Clinical Services at West Haldimand hospital are presently being reviewed by Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN.

Marin’s Annual Report also questions whether or not the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care is allowing fair access to PET scans - a type of nuclear medicine imaging.

With regard to the well-reported government gaffes regarding e-Health, Mr. Marin has made it clear he is leaving that audit in the hands of the Auditor General. The millions misspent on a still incomplete e-health system, including pay-offs to those in charge clearly has to be dealt with – and must ensure that those in positions of responsibility are held responsible.

On that note, I have to admit surprise that last week’s cabinet shuffle by Dalton McGuinty was completed without any move to deal with the man in charge of the Health Ministry – and by extension the e-health file – Minister David Caplan.

I echo PC Opposition Leader Bob Runciman’s stated concern that Dalton McGuinty’s failure to remove Health Minister David Caplan from Cabinet is an endorsement of his pathetic performance as the Minister responsible for overseeing eHealth Ontario.

Runciman noted that the Premier is essentially taking ownership of the culture of entitlement that’s festering at eHealth and picking Caplan and his poor performance record over protecting taxpayers’ hard-earned money.

Don’t forget that Caplan was also in charge as Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal for the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) scandal. Marin’s report includes an update on his review of the OLG, and his investigation for insider lottery winnings. The OLG has until August 2009 to demonstrate that lottery fraud is under control, or face a possible recommendation from the Ombudsman to ban OLG retailers, employees and their families from playing its games.