The CBC's Office of the Ombudsman deals with complaints about information programming.
We handle complaints by email, fax and regular mail, and because the process requires formal correspondence, we don’t launch complaint reviews via telephone.
The process itself involves first referring a complaint to programmers responsible for the relevant television, radio or online content. They are expected to answer you within 20 business days, and we pursue the matter and can launch a review if programmers have not responded within a reasonable time.
If you are dissatisfied with their response, you can then ask for a formal review. That review can involve research and interviews with the accountable programmers, journalists, experts and complainants. In some cases the reviews are routine and can take days; in some cases they require detailed research and can take weeks.
The reviews are first sent to complainants and programmers, then posted a day or so later online at www.cbc.ca/ombudsman. Social media are used to note the review’s release.
The identities of complainants are made public, unless there are strong arguments made to shield their names.
Generally speaking, the CBC Ombudsman reviews news and information programming. If your complaint involves Sports, Arts, Entertainment or Children's programming, please visit the CBC Contact page to determine who should receive your correspondence.
For news or information items, contact the Ombudsman.
Complaints about Radio-Canada programs are addressed by www.radio-canada.ca/ombudsman.
Once a year, the Office of the Ombudsman summarizes activity and provides general observations about complaints, policies and other relevant matters. CBC News responds to those observations.
Here are the reports and responses in each recent fiscal year:
To make a public complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman, you can use our standard form by clicking here, or you can write to us at the address below.
Esther Enkin
Ombudsman
CBC
P.O. Box Station A
Toronto, Ontario M5W 1E6
Phone: (416) 205-2978
Fax: (416) 205-2825