Our governance structure ensures the Ombudsman and OBSI's staff are independent and impartial, and have the necessary resources to carry out their jobs.
A non-profit and independent organization, OBSI is overseen by a Board of Directors. A majority of the directors are from the community, having not been part of industry or government for at least two years. A minority of the directors are appointed from shortlists of nominees provided by industry bodies. The directors also comprise the voting membership of the organization.
Beyond the composition of the Board, further important safeguards of OBSI's independence are in place. In addition to having at least a standard two-thirds majority on the board, a majority of Community Directors is required for key independence matters including the hiring and firing of the Ombudsman, the setting of the Ombudsman's compensation, the budget process, the Terms of Reference and the nomination of Community Directors.
The Governance, Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board searches for new independent board members, balancing diversity, geography and a variety of backgrounds and skills. Collectively, the directors have experience in business, law, consumer affairs, economics, community organizations, dispute resolution and public service.
The Board of Directors meets at least quarterly, and in addition has an annual strategic planning session. All Directors also conduct performance reviews with the Chair at least once every two years.
To maintain the independence and impartiality of our staff, our Board of Directors does not look at specific complaints. The final decision concerning complaints rests with the Ombudsman. There is no appeal to the Board, nor can the Board influence the decisions of the Ombudsman. As a voluntary process where you have not given up any of your legal rights, there is also no appeal to a higher body.
The OBSI Board of Directors has three committees: Finance and Audit; Governance, Human Resources and Compensation; and Policy and Standards.
Community directors receive a $10,000 honorarium per year, with the Chair of the Board receiving an additional $40,000 annually and committee chairs receiving an additional $4,000 annually. Community directors also receive $1,800 for every day of meeting they attend (or $750 if attending by teleconference).
Performance reviews of the Board and Board Chair are conducted every two years.