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Special report on the Directeur de l’état civil
Expediting the transmission of death certificates, out of respect for citizens
Following numerous complaints received in 2024, the Protecteur du citoyen investigated the wainting times in the transmission of death certificates by the The Directeur de l’état civil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make a complaint
Yes. If your complaint concerns a Government of Québec department or agency, you generally have one year to file a complaint.
For a complaint regarding the health and social services network, the Protecteur du citoyen acts as a second level of recourse. First you must contact the service quality and complaints commissioner of the institution concerned. Have you not heard back from the commissioner or are you dissatisfied with their answer? You have two years to contact us.
After these timeframes have elapsed, we can examine your complaint anyway if you can show that there were exceptional circumstances or it was impossible for you to act sooner (for example, an unforeseeable situation, a medical reason or hospitalization).
No. Banking institutions have their own ombudsmen. You must send your complaint to them. See the website of the bank in question for the contact information about the ombudsman.
If your situation has not been resolved after this step, contact the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments.
If your complaint concerns a public fund manager, contact the Autorité des marchés financiers instead.
Denounce a reprehensible act
Proof is not required. However, to help us with audits ‒ or investigations if needed ‒, you must:
- describe the wrongdoing (date, place, what happened);
- indicate the public body concerned (name and address of the public body, directorate or section involved, etc.);
- provide as much information as possible (names and titles of those involved, of the witnesses, etc.).
You can speak out immediately using our secure online form.
If your disclosure is not within our jurisdiction, we may transfer it to another public integrity body. This may include the following recourse:
- The Anti-Corruption Commissioner if you want to report acts of corruption or collusion in the public sector.
- The Protecteur national de l’élève if your complaint concerns a school, whether public or private.
- The Office of the Inspector of Ville de Montréal if your disclosure concerns the awarding and execution of contracts by Ville de Montréal.
- The Commission municipale du Québec if your disclosure concerns a municipal body or a breach of ethics by elected municipal officials.
- The Autorité des marchés publics if your disclosure concerns compliance in awarding and granting public contracts.
- The Commissaire à l’éthique et à la déontologie of the National Assembly if your disclosure concerns the Protecteur du citoyen.
Please note: as a rule, you will notified that your information has been transferred and your identity will be protected unless you consent to its disclosure.