The following resources may offer information and assistance:
BC Family Maintenance Enforcement Program
If the matter involves enforcement of actions taken by the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, you may want to discuss this issue directly with your enforcement officer. If this does not resolve the issue, and you believe that you were not treated fairly or that the actions taken or decisions made were not consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures, you may wish to contact the Ombudsperson.
Consumer Protection BC
Consumer Protection BC is the provincial regulator of a variety of sectors and specific types of consumer transactions in British Columbia. Its purpose is to license and inspect regulated businesses, respond to consumer inquiries, investigate alleged violations of consumer protection laws, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities. Its vision is a province where all citizens of B.C. are empowered in their transactions.
Insurance Corporation of BC
If you feel that you have not been treated fairly by ICBC, contact their Customer Relations Department. They deal with customer relations, review services and handle information and privacy requests and can help:
- Explain reasons for specific decisions and actions.
- Investigate concerns that a decision or procedure was unfair and, if warranted, help resolve them.
- Refer you to specific remedies you may not know about or have not tried.
- Explain ICBC’s products and services.
You can also write to the Fairness Commissioner. If this does not resolve the issue, and you believe that you were not treated fairly or that the actions taken or decisions made were not consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures, you may wish to contact the Ombudsperson.
Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner
The Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner is an independent Officer of the Legislature who monitors and enforces British Columbia's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). FIPPA allows access to information held by public bodies (such as ministries, universities and hospitals) and determines how public bodies may collect, use and disclose personal information. PIPA sets out how private organizations (including businesses, charities, associations and labour organizations) may collect, use and disclose personal information.
Office of the Ombudsperson
If you think a provincial government ministry, public agency, or local government has treated you unfairly, the Office of the Ombudsperson may be able to help. As an independent statutory office of the provincial legislature, the Office of the Ombudsperson impartially investigates individual complaints about unfair administrative actions of more than 2,800 British Columbian public authorities. In addition to resolving individual problems, the investigation of any one complaint can lead to systemic improvements that may benefit many people. These services are provided free of charge.
Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner
The Police Complaint Commissioner is an independent Officer of the Legislature. The office of the Police Complaint Commissioner is responsible for overseeing complaints against municipal police to ensure that they are handled fairly and impartially.
Representative for Children and Youth
The Representative for Children and Youth supports children, youth and families who need help in dealing with the child-serving system, provides oversight to the Ministry of Children and Family Development and advocates for improvements to the child-serving system. The Representative serves all British Columbians under the age of 19, and is particularly concerned that young people in government care – such as those in foster homes, group homes or youth custody – do well. These children and youth face greater challenges than those in the general population. The Representative and her staff, with three offices throughout B.C., provide advocacy services to ensure that the voice and views of young people are heard and that their rights and interests are upheld in decisions that are being made about them. The Representative for Children and Youth is an Independent Officer of the Legislature and does not report through any provincial ministry.
WorkSafeBC
If you have a complaint regarding an appeal on a decision from the Worker’s Compensation Board about their compensation claim, contact WorkSafeBC. WorkSafeBC works with the affected parties to provide return-to-work rehabilitation, compensation, health care benefits, and a range of other services. If this does not resolve the issue, and you believe that you were not treated fairly or that the actions taken or decisions made were not consistent with relevant legislation, policies and procedures, you may wish to contact the Ombudsperson.