Sask. Ombudsman saw record requests in 2025, calls for improved wildfire evacuee response

Saskatchewan Ombudsman Sharon Pratchler speaking to reporters on June 10, 2025. Pratchler says her office will be investigating the provincial response and support of evacuees due to raging wildfires in the province's north.

For the second straight year, Saskatchewan’s Ombudsman has received an increase in public requests for assistance.

Sharon Pratchler, ombudsman and public interest disclosure commissioner, received a record 4,612 requests in 2025, a 13 per cent increase from 2024.

According to the office’s annual report, 3,756 of those requests were from within Pratchler’s jurisdiction and 856 were outside.

The second largest volume of in-jurisdiction requests the office received was 3,419 in 2016.

“There is an increasing demand for the tools which our office offers to manage conflict and de-escalate situations, as well as assess fairness in administrative decision-making,” Pratchler said in the Ombudsman’s annual report.

The ombudsman went on to say her office is focused on continuously improving government and municipal services.

In addition to taking complaints from individuals, the ombudsman’s office considers proactively educating about fairness one of its most important tools.

Pratchler explained that this was the reason for creating the all-new position of assistant deputy ombudsman.

“The services offered by our office through this new position, including customized training provided to municipalities, has proven extremely popular,” Pratchler wrote.

“As a result, we provided a record number of presentations this year, with 81 in total. We also received a record number of files regarding municipal issues, at 708 files. The closest number we have had to that previously was in 2024, at 589 files.”

Pratchler said her team was able to maintain standards of timeliness in its delivery of services to the public despite the high volume of requests.

Phone calls accounted for 3,564 of the requests, while internet forms were the second leading means of communication at 722.

Wildfire evacuee response

The ombudsman’s office opened 388 files related to the 2025 wildfire response – many involving the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency’s Emergency Community Support Program meant to meet the basic needs of people who have been displaced by disasters.

Last June, the office said it would be investigating the province’s handling of evacuees.

However, in the report, the ombudsman’s office has said its review of the response would be redundant in light of similar review by MNP and an audit by the provincial auditor.

Nonetheless, the ombudsman still identified several areas for improvement based on complaints the office received.

Pratchler’s office named timeliness, clarity in information provided, flexibility to address individual circumstances and having flexibility in payment options to recognize geographical issues.