Item - 2008.CC24.2

City Council on September 24 and 25, 2008, adopted the following motions:

1.         City Council approve the appointment of the Ombudsperson as recommended in Confidential Attachment 1, effective November 17, 2008, subject to an agreement of employment terms prior to that date.

2.         The City Manager be authorized to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment with the recommended candidate, based on mutually satisfactory terms and reflective of the City’s employment and compensation policies, and to execute any related documents as necessary.

3.         City Council grant authority for the introduction of any necessary bills required to give effect to these recommendations.

4.         City Council authorize the public release of the name and summary profile of the new Ombudsperson contained in Confidential Attachment 1, upon approval of the appointment of the Ombudsperson and at the conclusion of the September 24, 2008 Council meeting.

The following recommendation and summary profile contained in Confidential Attachment 1 to the report (September 17, 2008) from the Chair, Ombudsperson Selection Panel, are now public. The balance of Confidential Attachment 1 remains confidential, in accordance with the provisions of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, as it contains personal information about an identifiable individual and information related to labour relations or employee negotiations:

1.         Council approve the appointment of Fiona Crean to the position of Ombudsperson.

Summary Profile for Fiona Crean

Fiona Crean is a multilingual agent of change who has spent her professional life engaged in good governance, fair process, human rights and social justice. She is a leader in promoting access and equity and has a strong record in building capacity, equitable service delivery and conflict resolution with significant experience in accountability relationships and public sector reform. Fiona has led numerous initiatives entailing complex organizational change in order to create modern inclusive workplaces.

In her most recent post as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Fiona led efforts to address systemic racism and sexism, while managing significant organizational and culture change.

Fiona was the first Ombudsperson and Director of Human Rights at York University. Prior to that, she ran her own consulting business offering services in human rights, ombuds and organizational development to non-profit and governmental organizations within Canada and internationally.

As the Executive Director of the Ontario Ombudsman’s Office, Fiona was responsible for investigating and resolving some 30,000 complaints annually, regarding the administration of government. She also served as the interim Ombudsman for Ontario.

At the City of Toronto in the 1980s, Fiona developed the first Employment Equity program and worked for a number of years at the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Fiona has been involved in significant international development work for governments and community organizations in Central and South America, Eastern Europe and southern Africa, and has worked extensively in First Nations and Inuit communities in Canada.

At the community level, Fiona has long been an active volunteer and served on a number of not-for-profit Boards.

She began her professional career working with special needs youth and subsequently combined her community development experience with teaching in First Nations communities.