Before you make a complaint

Making a formal complaint is a serious step. It's important that you gather all available information to make sure your complaint is both reasonable and well-founded.

• Talk to an advocate to see if there are grounds for a complaint, if additional information is required, if there are other explanations for the problem, and to get some suggestions about solutions.
• If you have a legal aid lawyer, ask him or her about making a complaint.
• Check the law to make sure that your complaint against ministry staff is valid. (See the Child, Family and Community Service Act and the Regulations.) For example, social workers have broad powers to protect children and may, in fact, have the legal right and responsibility to act in ways you might think are wrong or unfair.