Positive reaction to recent Ombudsman extension

Ontario’s outspoken ombudsman, Andre Marin, has been reappointed for a four-month stint after he took to Twitter asking supporters to pressure the government into giving him another term.

Marin’s second five-year term as ombudsman expires Friday, but Liberal house leader Yasir Naqvi said he finally reached agreement with the opposition parties to reappoint Marin until September 14.

Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson says it made sense to keep him in office, so that the role can be filled throughout the summer.

He says Marin brought to light something he already knew full well was happening in Hydro One, when he said there were over 10,000 complaints into hydro bills.

Bisson says he not only saw it from a complaints standpoint, but as a customer too.  He says he received a $19,000 bill at his cottage.

He adds another person came to him saying they came back to town to a $23,000 bill, when the hydro was shut off for the winter.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says Marin has done a “fantastic job” as ombudsman and should be appointed to another full term, not just for the summer.

She says Marin has saved Ontarians “hundreds of millions of dollars” and has made recommendations that force government to work better.

The government also appointed deputy environmental commissioner Ellen Schwartzel as the commissioner for the summer while an all-party panel selects a new ombudsman and a new environment watchdog for five-year terms.

Sources say about 60 people have applied for the provincial ombudsman’s position, including Toronto ombudsman Fiona Creen.

Marin, who delivered a scathing report on Hydro One’s billing problems earlier this week, sought support on social media Wednesday night and warned Ontario could be without an ombudsman as of Friday afternoon.

(With files from The Canadian Press)