Searching for Consumer Protection / Complaints

Receives complaints against a food establishment

• follow-up will be done within 24 hours

For complaints about foods that are processed, pre-packaged, ready-to-eat, canned or frozen, please contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) at 1-800-442-2342

For complaints about meat and poultry slaughterhouses and processing plants, please refer to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) at 1-877-424-1300

• office will refer you to the appropriate specialist depending on the nature of the complaint

COVID-19: All EOHU offices are closed to the public due to COVID-19 demands. EOHU phone lines remain open at 613-933-1375 or 1-800-267-7120. The EOHU is taking your calls about COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) and will get back to you as soon as possible. Emails using the contact form on line are also monitored during regular office hours. Please provide a phone number where you can be reached during the day.

If you need sexual health services or harm reduction supplies, call us to speak to a nurse. (July 15, 2021)
Head office for a public health agency that addresses public health issues and promotes healthy living

• public protection services
• not all programs available at all locations

COVID-19 (25 April 2022): BBB has put together a dedicated web page for COVID-19 related information includes : price gouging reporting, scam tracker, information regarding government stimulus checks, resources and tips

Consumer support services including

• complaints
• customer reviews
• advertising reviews and education

Assistance in locating a dentist

• handles and mediates patient complaints and referrals
• maintains lists of the following: dentists taking new patients throughout the city, who may make house calls, available to treat children, who accept patients on social assistance programs

Legal clinic

COVID-19 (November 9, 2021): We are currently not meeting with people in-person. We are holding meetings by phone. Please call us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Services

• employment and work
• housing law
• income assistance
• tribunals and courts
• health and disability
• immigration law
• refugee law

Legal information

• abuse and family violence
• debt and consumer rights
• French language rights
• human rights
• criminal law
• family law
• help with lawyers and paralegals
• wills and power of attorney

Community non-profit organization offering financial empowerment services to Ottawa's low/modest income individuals and families

• all services to individuals are available by appointment in-person or remotely
• tax preparation: year round, for low-income individuals, up to 10 years back

Benefits:

• support to access and get what you are entitled to (CRA, LEAP, OESP, GIS,..)
• Budget Counselling: problem solving of budget issues that affects your financial well-being
• Budget Coaching: to achieve your goals and projects
• can give access to interest-free micro loan, as a last resort, for individuals who can demonstrate ability to repay in less than a year

For community organizations:

• Financial Education Workshops: offered to your clients or frontline workers. Covers any financial/budget topic upon request: budgeting, credit, debts, taxes, planning your education, etc...
• Personal Finance: I'm in Charge ! program with multiple 2-hour modules for schools or community organization serving 16-25 year olds
• support for on site or remote tax preparation of your clients or members

Section focusing on investigating fraud matters and trends that can be linked, tracked and documented

• focuses on fraud crime reduction through strategies such as targeting organized crime groups, education, training, and public outreach

Report fraud related to:

• fraud against seniors
• counterfeit fraud (currency and other documents)
• credit cards and debit card fraud
• cheque fraud
• social assistance (welfare) fraud
• computer fraud
• identity theft
• corporate fraud

Section that investigates and facilitates complaints directed to the Ottawa Police Service, including damage or loss of property due to police actions

Federal department responsible for transportation policies and programs

Aviation:

• apply for a pilot's licence
• change an address for a licensing document or delivery of an aeronautical publication
• fly a drone
• register a complaint
• register an aircraft
• report an aviation incident
• report an incident involving dangerous goods

Marine Transportation:

• apply for a marine medical
• enroll in the Small Vessel Compliance Program (Non-pleasure craft) (SVCP)
• import a boat
• license a pleasure craft
• obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card
• receive Ship Safety Bulletins by signing up for e-Bulletin
• register a commercial vessel
• register my pleasure craft
• report marine pollution

Rail Transportation:

• register a complaint

Road Transportation:

• import a car into Canada
• obtain a driver's licence
• report a manufacturing-related problem with my vehicle, tires or child restraints

Advances the interests of individuals and groups who are generally underrepresented in issues of major public concern

• seeks to ensure that the public interest is considered and represented in government and private sector decisions concerning consumer issues
• provides legal and research services on behalf of consumer interests, and, in particular, vulnerable consumer interests, concerning the provision of important public services

The primary focus is on issues surrounding:

• telecommunications
• broadcasting
• energy
• privacy
• electronic commerce
• financial services
• competition law

Independent resource for victims

• facilitates access of victims to existing federal programs and services by providing them with information and referrals
• addresses complaints of victims about compliance with the provisions of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act that apply to victims of offenders under federal supervision and providing an independent resource for those victims
• enhances awareness among criminal justice personnel and policy makers of the needs and concerns of victims and the applicable laws that benefit victims of crime, including to promote the principles set out in the Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime
• identifies emerging issues and exploring systemic issues that impact negatively on victims of crime

If you are a victim of crime, this organization can:

• answer your questions about your rights as a victim
• give you information about the services and programs available to you through the federal government
• receive and review your complaints about other federal government departments, agencies or policies
  refer you to programs and services in your city or province that may be able to help you
• make recommendations to the federal government on how to change its policies or laws to better suit the needs and concerns of victims, and to report on those recommendations publicly

Provides patient advocacy and rights advice services as well as systemic advocacy and public education

• assists patients with resolving individual or systemic issues
• resolve issues that are impacting patient rights and entitlements
• rights advice services
• public education through speaking engagements

Food inspection office

City office responsible for processing claims from people that believe the City should compensate them for an injury or damage they have experienced that they believe is the City's fault.

Typical claims include requests for compensation for:

• injuries from slipping on a sidewalk
• flooding (Sewer Back­ups)
• foundation damage from City trees
• damage to cars due to potholes
• claims Involving Private Contractors
• accidents with City vehicles

Confidential and anonymous way to report suspected cases of fraud, waste, and other inapropriate activities

Activities that should be reported include, but are not limited to:

• forgery
• misappropriation, embezzlement or theft of funds, securities, supplies or any other asset
• irregularities in the handling or reporting of money transactions
• seeking or accepting anything of material value
• misuse of City property, equipment, materials, records or time
• unauthorized use of City property
• inappropriate manipulation or destruction of data
• misuse of City-owned hardware and software
• fraudulent claims of reimbursement of expenses
• fraud or waste or other inappropriate activities in violation of the Code of Conduct for City employees and the Responsible Computing Policy

People who wish to complain about a lawyer's fee must make a formal complaint using a requisition and order form for assessment

• this form is available from Counter 4, 2nd Flr at the Ottawa Courthouse
• the form must be submitted within 30 days of receipt of the lawyer's bill
• the completed form must be brought to the assessment office on the 5th Flr where an appointment will be scheduled with an assessment officer
• the person must appear in person at the hearing where a decision is made

Service managing patient inquiries, feedback and complaints

• facilitates resolution of patient and family concerns
• proactively supports the identification, analysis and mitigation of potential risks for patients
• provides expertise, support and guidance through review of adverse events and critical incidents
• promotes and practices evidence-based decision-making
• team made up of professionals from various health care backgrounds with a wide range of skills and expertise
• respect, compassion and fairness

Organization that receives, reviews and acts on suggestions, compliments and complaints

• regarding the delivery of service offered by Service Canada
• feedback and/or issue is personally acknowledged within 24 hours of receipt and addressed within seven working days (in most cases)
• strictly focused on programs and services delivered by Service Canada

Resolving customer complaints about telecommunications and television services

• situations include billing errors, contract disputes, poor service quality and credit reporting activities

Responsible for:

Protecting Mentally Incapable People:

• managing the finances and property of adults who have been found incapable of managing their own affairs
• decision maker of last resort for treatment and placement decisions for those individuals who have no one else to do so
• temporary guardianship unit can investigate situations where an incapable person may be at risk of abuse or neglect

Services:

• guardianship or substitute decision making services for personal care in areas such as: food, shelter, clothing, hygiene, safety and health care

Charitable Properties Program:

• works with charities to help them deal with problems (i.e., improper investments, improper use of donated property)
• inquires into complaints about charities
• can protect the public's interest in how charities raise and use their money

Administration of Estates:

• may apply to become estate trustee of a person who has died in Ontario without a will, without known heirs in the province or where the heirs are children under the age of majority
• responsible for ensuring that the blood relatives entitled by law receive the net proceeds of an intestate estate
• routinely searches for the heirs of deceased persons whose estates are administered by the OPGT

Investing Perpetual Care Funds:

• cemetery owners have the option of having the Public Guardian and Trustee act as trustee of their perpetual care trust funds
• office pays out the annual income and cemetery owners use the interest earned on the trust funds for the upkeep of the cemetery

Dealing with Dissolved Corporations:

• when company's assets are forfeit to the Crown
• office may sell property
• persons having a legal or moral claim may apply under the Escheats Act for relief from forfeiture

Powers of Attorney and Living Wills:

• power of Attorney Kit helps appoint person to make decisions for oneself when no longer able to do so

Legal clinic

COVID-19 (November 9, 2021): We are currently not meeting with people in-person. We are holding meetings by phone. Please call us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Services

• employment and work
• housing law
• income assistance
• tribunals and courts
• health and disability
• immigration law
• refugee law

Legal information

• abuse and family violence
• debt and consumer rights
• French language rights
• human rights
• criminal law
• family law
• help with lawyers and paralegals
• wills and power of attorney

Provide members of the public with an independent and confidential resource for resolving complaints against the National Capital Commission (NCC).

Website

• contains information relating to collection agencies

Responsible for ensuring that federally regulated financial institutions comply with federal consumer protection laws and regulations:

• monitors financial institutions' compliance with voluntary codes of conduct and their own public commitments
  
• informs consumers about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with financial institutions
  
• provides information and tools to help consumers understand and shop for a variety of financial products and services