The Advocate for Service Quality is appointed by and reports to the Minister of Children and Family Development. The advocate's job is to help adults with developmental disabilities and their families get good quality services. The advocate can help with services from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, from other ministries or from service agencies in the community.
BC Human Rights Tribunal is an independent quasi-judicial body created by the BC Human Rights Code. The Tribunal is responsible for accepting, screening, mediating, and adjudicating human rights complaints. The Tribunal offers those involved in a complaint the opportunity to try to resolve the complaint through mediation. If they don't resolve the complaint, the Tribunal holds a hearing.
The Public Guardian and Trustee of BC operates under provincial law to protect the legal rights and financial interests of children, to provide assistance to adults who need support for financial and personal decision making, and to administer the estates of deceased and missing persons where there is no one else to do so. It is the Public Guardian and Trustee's role to balance protection with autonomy and thereby ensure that people may live in the way they choose with the support of family and friends.
The Public Guardian and Trustee has been involved in legal cases on behalf of adults with developmental disabilities on issues such as involuntary sterilization and institutional abuse.
The Public Guardian and Trustee is an independent and impartial public official and is an Officer of the Court. The Public Guardian and Trustee is accountable to clients, the Court and the public at large.
The Representative for Children and Youth supports children, youth and families who need help in dealing with the child welfare system and advocates for changes to the system itself. Responsibilities of the Representative include advocating for children and youth, protecting their rights, and improving the system for the protection and support of children and youth, particularly those who are most vulnerable.
The Representative serves all British Columbians from the ages of birth to 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, especially related to health and education, incarceration and dependence on income assistance.
The Representative doesn't work for the government. Rather, the Representative for Children and Youth is an independent office of the Legislature and does not report through a provincial ministry.
The Office of the Ombudsman receives inquiries and complaints about the practices and services provided by public agencies. While not an advocate, the Ombudsman can conduct impartial and confidential investigations to determine if a public agency is being fair to the people it serves. The Ombudsman is responsible for making sure that the administrative practices and services of public agencies are fair, reasonable, appropriate and equitable. The Ombudsman can: