‘Crisis driven’ complaints mounting in B.C., ombudsperson says

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s ombudsperson says the number of “crisis driven” complaints by those trying to access public services in the province are mounting, often leaving people without essential supports.

Jay Chalke says in his annual report that services are becoming more complex to navigate, public sector budgets are tightening and decisions are increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence or automated decision making.

He says in a news release that people needing help with public services are increasingly turning to his office, with more than 17,500 people saying they have had difficulty “navigating unfair public services.”

Chalke says his office handled about 635 fairness or wrongdoing concerns each month, and more than one-third of the complaints were related to housing, affordability and health care, “reflecting the service gaps people are feeling more acutely.”

His annual review has renewed calls for public reports from his office to be automatically referred to legislative committee for a hearing, which Chalke says would be practical and cost effective.

He also notes in the release that some public bodies act on his recommendations, while others “do not engage meaningfully or leave agreed-to actions unfinished.”

“In a time of tight budgets and rising pressures, people who turn to us need public bodies to follow through,” Chalke says in the release. 

“A legislative committee hearing about our reports would help ensure accountability and transparency when public administration problems are identified.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2025.