Ontario's ombudsman called Wednesday for a complete overhaul of the office responsible for collecting money from deadbeat parents, accusing it of neglecting its responsibilities and having a cavalier attitude toward the people it should be helping.

"This kind of attitude and behaviour is malodorous," André Marin said in releasing a report on the case of a father who was unable to collect support because the Family Responsibility Office used the wrong name in filing the writ of sale and seizure against his former wife's house.

Ontario ombudsman André Marin said the Family Responsibility Office 'dropped the ball' and its mistakes cost one man several thousand dollars.
(CBC)

The woman had changed back to her maiden name, thereby rendering the legal documents useless. That allowed her to pocket several thousand dollars from the house sale that she owed her former husband.

"The Family Responsibility Office dropped the ball," Marin said in a news release. "Its practices have cost the complainant at least $2,422 — money which should have gone to feed and clothe his son."

The ombudsman said deadbeat parents have been given a free ride for too long.

"Sadly, this case reflects the very malaise which is all too prevalent among government bureaucrats. Administrators have taken a wooden view of their rules and obligations and forgotten that they are dealing with real people."

'A cultural change is required'

He called for the government to completely overhaul the system, including creating an easier way to track deadbeat parents and ways to help enforce court orders.

"It is evident to me that a cultural change is required in the way the Family Responsibility Office views its role," he said. "Its passive 'hands off' approach must be replaced by a proactive, common sense and good faith attitude towards support recipients."

Marin also ordered the office to pay the father the $2,422 it failed to collect.

The father, known only as "Michael F" in the report, was scathing in his criticism of the office responsible for helping him collect the support money.

"I found them the most inept, unprofessional, callous office in this government," he told CBC Radio. "I was actually told by one of their supervisory staff to 'Face it Mr. F, you're not going to see any money.' "

The Family Responsibility Office said it accepts Marin's recommendations and will work to change the system.

With files from Canadian Press