History

Serving citizens and parliamentarians for 50 years

1968 – The Protecteur du citoyen is created

The Public Protector Act was passed by the National Assembly on November 14, 1968. The Act aims to create an organization tasked to receive, examine and handle complaints regarding the public service.

An institution inspired by Sweden and New Zealand
The idea of an ombudsperson for Québec came to Daniel Johnson, the Premier of Québec from 1966 to 1968, after he met the Swedish and New Zealand Ombudspersons. However, it was under the watch of his successor, Jean-Jacques Bertrand, that the institution was established.
The first Protecteur du citoyen, Louis Marceau, took office on May 1, 1969.

2006 – New powers

In 2006, the Protecteur du citoyen was given another mandate that had belonged to another ombudsman organization in the past. This consisted of ensuring that the rights of the people who use the health and social services network are upheld by handling their complaints, mainly at the second level.

2017 - A new mandate

Since May 1, 2017, the Protecteur du citoyen has been empowered to handle disclosures of wrongdoing concerning public bodies. It also handles reprisal complaints stemming from these disclosures.

Ombudspersons

Marc-André Dowd
2022 to ...
Marc-André Dowd
Marie Rinfret
2017 to 2022
Marie Rinfret
Raymonde Saint-Germain
2006 to 2016
Raymonde Saint-Germain
Pauline Champoux-Lesage
2001 to 2006
Pauline Champoux-Lesage
Daniel Jacoby
1987 to 2001
Daniel Jacoby
Yves Labonté
1982 to 1987
Yves Labonté
Luce Patenaude
1976 to 1982
Luce Patenaude
Louis Marceau
1969 to 1976
Louis Marceau