The Ombudsman Saskatchewan office received 3,660 requests for help last year including an RM dealing with a farmer who wasn’t planting crops, leaving weeds and seeds to migrate to neighbours, and an issue for a recipient of the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disabilities program who has complex dietary needs.

In the case of the farmer and the RM, Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner, Sharon Pratchler, says the farmer hadn’t planted a crop for several years, so the RM sprayed it and charged the farmer, which he was okay with. Then, the RM started charging a 15 per cent administration fee, which he wasn’t okay with. The Ombudman Saskatchewan office asked if the RM had a bylaw in place to do so, which they didn’t, so the fees were given back and then a bylaw was passed, so the RM can now charge the farmer.

In the SAID program case, Pratchler says the recipient had been receiving funding for one of the multiple prescribed nutrition needs, but it didn’t cover it all. Then when the person moved to a new region, Social Services denied the diet benefits unless receipts were supplied, which hadn’t been required before. The Ministry is now reviewing the recipient’s special diet benefits and has acknowledged that legislation allows them to pay for all prescribed diets.

The Ombudsman takes complaints about provincial government ministries, agencies, Crown corporations and most health agencies, and also about municipalities and municipal council members. Pratchler, says of the total files closed last year, 96 per cent were resolved within 90 days and 99 per cent of the time within 180 days. She adds that two principles guide her team when receiving requests from citizens: “Be curious, not judgemental” and “I see you. What you say matters.”