Albertans have reached out in record numbers about “administrative unfairness” this past year, according to a report from the Alberta Ombudsman. Ombudsman Keven Brezinski’s report said the 6,472 total cases represented a 15 per cent increase over last year. Of those, 3,134 were complaints – up 41 per cent from the previous year. “This year, we saw the most cases in recent history. Over the last four years, complaints have increased 114 per cent,” Brezinski said in the report. The Government of Alberta incurred the largest share of complaints, with 1,398 filed across five ministries. Municipalities incurred 271 complaints, with Edmonton and Calgary representing 102 of those. The report said “unfairness” was identified in 63 per cent of full investigations and 30 per cent of early resolutions. The Alberta Ombudsman is a non-partisan independent body that oversees administrative fairness in provincial and municipal governments, as well as health colleges and other professional authorities. Case studies offered included: It said 2025-2026 was the third consecutive fiscal year in which the office received a record-setting number of complaints, which could be partly due to a growing population and increasing awareness around the complaint process. Despite the increase in cases, the report said 94 per cent were closed within three months, similar to previous years. To file a complaint with the Ombudsman, visit the online complaint checker.
