Ontario's child financial support collection agency has big problems
Ontario's Family Responsibility Office has many problems
Quote from Ontario Government Ombudsman -"an equal opportunity error-prone program,."'
Support recipients not getting their money.
Men who've been meeting their court-ordered obligations have trouble getting the FRO to stop taking payments when it's supposed to. More..
"Canada's National newspaper for professional women"
Does the FRO have a feminist perspective?
When families fall apart, they can make for the bitterest of enemies. The intensity of their hostility, the personal rhetoric, the posturing and positioning, and the utter faithlessness of remembrance in the relationship's good deeds and consequences is a breathtaking phenomenon. It's as if the positive qualities and countless achievements are struck from history as a revisionist might strike the Holocaust. Into all of this the family court system wades, often inelegantly. Divorce lawyers drive up the emotional and financial toll of separation and transformation. Family and friends frequently collude to make things worse.
And when government decides to rear its head, well, it's a mess for all the world to see. Witness the recent attention on Ontario's euphemistically branded Family Responsibility Office. A job in advertising doubtlessly greeted the person who came up with its title, because it suggests some sort of feel-good missionary work to hold together the sanctity of the institution. More..
"Canada's national newspaper for professional women"
The Family Responsibility Office Under Scrutiny
On June 9, 2005 the McGuinty government announced the passage of Bill 155, legislation that promised to increase enforcement, improve fairness and enhance efficiency at the Family Responsibility Office (FRO).
However, the legislation did not address the problem of accountability and, as things now stand, the FRO is a threat to every Canadian affected by a government regulated support and custody arrangement system. Think of George Orwell's 1984 and you'll have a good picture of how issues are handled at the FRO.
They have legal power to extort money from Canadians, but are not responsible or accountable for their actions.
Last year an FRO staff member decided not to wait for a court date to review the financial status of an out-of-work truck driver and took it upon themselves to suspend his license because he was, understandably, behind on his payments, having lost his job earlier in the year. Although he was looking for work, the FRO cut off the only way he knew of to earn a living. His suicide note explained how he'd lost all hope. Is this what we want FRO to be doing? More..
Ontario Family Responsibility Office - Telephone Directory
Ontario Family Responsibility Office - Client Services Department and Legal Department Telephone Directory
Scroll Down this page to see the phone numbers.
The top part of this page shows how to find the Ontario Family Responsibility Office telephone numbers on the Ontario Government employee listing website. The part further down shows the telephone numbers as of the date of publication of this webpage. PRINT OFF THIS WEBPAGE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
This page was updated May 25, 2010
How to find all of the current telephone numbers for the Ontario Family Responsibility Office on the Government of Ontario Telephone Directory published on the Internet
If you scroll down this webpage you will find the current telephone numbers and addresses. They change frequently with personnel changes. In this section, we explain how to find the current telephone numbers should those provided below become out-of-date.
All of the public information here is provided in the Government of Ontario telephone directory which can be accessed at www.Ontario.ca On that website, part way down the left column, click on "Telephone Directory" .
Part way down the left column in the box labeled "BROWSE BY ORGANIZATION" choose "COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES" , click on "GO" , then choose "FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY OFFICE".
You can then choose the person at the Ontario Family Responsibility Office with whom you wish to speak or write.
The url is ( you may have to cut and paste both lines of the url below into your browser) :
Complaints - Support Payers and Support Recipients
Make notes and keep a diary with the dates and times that you called the FRO, the employee with whom you spoke and the details of the conversation. If it is an important matter, write them a letter summarizing the conversation and what was agreed.
For example, we have received reports that FRO employees have stated that they would not suspend a certain person's driver's license and that they did so anyway.
We have also received complaints from a support payer who stated to us that the FRO was collecting money that wasn't owed and that upon the Director getting written proof and a copy of the court order, they sent the money to the support payer within 24 hours by courier. The payer advised us that the money had been taken in contravention of a court order. The North Bay court had ordered a stay on the collection of the arrears from a parent living in poverty to allow the parent to travel to North Bay from Toronto for parenting time with the child. The FRO ignored the order and left all federal garnishments in place and seized money so that the parent wasn't even able to pay his rent. The child support was effectively being paid to the Government of Ontario since the recipient was on social assistance.
Support recipients have provided information to the FRO and they have failed to act to get thousands of dollars owing a support recipient until it was put in writing to the director.
The FRO ( formerly the Family Support Plan) has been taken to court on contempt when they have failed to pay money as ordered by the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario. The lawyer for the FRO lied to the Halton Region judge of the Superior Court of Justice and stated that the Writ of Sale and Seizure had been lifted against the property of one of the parties. It hadn't been.
We have documented proof of a case in which the Superior Court of Justice ordered the FRO to provide the court with a statement of the monthly payments and amounts received and they refused in contravention of the court order saying they don't have to comply with the court order.
Complaints - put it in writing, provide details and fax to Angela Lockridge at:
Angela Lockridge
Director of the
Family Responsibility Office and Assistant Deputy Minister - Responsible
for the Family Responsibility Office
Angela Lockridge, Assistant Deputy Minister angela.lockridge@ontario.ca
Tel: 416-240-2477 Fax: 416-240-2401 ( same as client
services' fax number below )
Louise Lloyd, Executive Assistant (Acting)
416-240-2460 louise.lloyd@ontario.ca
Maria Mayer, Issues Coordinator 416-240-2481
maria.mayer@ontario.ca
Pat D. Rigazzi, Administrative Assistant
416-240-2483 pat.rigazzi@ontario.ca
Cheri Schola, Project Manager, 416-240-2466 cheri.scola@ontario.ca
Mailing address:
Family Responsibility Office
PO Box 220, Downsview Post Office
Downsview, ON M3M 3A3
Family Responsibility Office - Client Services department telephone numbers
416-326-1817 - Client Services
416-326-1818 - Automated Information, 7 days a week , 24 hrs
416-240-2410 - Interjurisdictional Support Orders
TTY: 416-240-2414
Toll Free: 800-267-7263 - Automated Info Outside 416 & 905 Local Calling Area
Toll Free: 800-267-4330 - Client Services Outside 416 & 905 Local Calling Area)
Toll Free: 800-463-3533 - ISO Outside 416 & 905 Local Calling Area
Fax - Client Services: 416-240-2401 - Client Services
Managers
Nancy Liston, Director, Client Services, 416-240-2423 nancy.liston@ontario.ca
Liliana Ortiz, Administrative Assistant to the Director 416-240-2478 Liliana.Ortiz@ontario.ca
Maria Mayer, Executive Assistant ( Acting ), 416-240-2459 maria.mayer@ontario.ca
Suzi Ardito, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2462 susanna.ardito@ontario.ca
Sylvia D'Urzo, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2448 sylvia.durzo@ontario.ca
Debbie Koukouves, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2446 Debbie.Koukouves@ontario.ca
Josephine Miceli, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2436 Josephine.Miceli@ontario.ca
Phil Rajnauth, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2416 Phil.Rajnauth@ontario.ca
Robert Rotondo, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2443 Robert.Rotondo@ontario.ca
Denise Karki, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2469 Denise.Karki@ontario.ca
Margo Carson, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2438 Margo.Carson@ontario.ca
Carol Di Piero, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-4616 Carol.Dipiero@ontario.ca
Murt Nazarali, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-4624 Murt.Nazarali@ontario.ca
Andrew Wisdom, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-4603 Andrew.Wisdom@ontario.ca
Leslie Lesch, Manager, Enforcement Services 416-240-4610 Leslie.Lesch@ontario.ca
AnnMarie Connell, Manager, Enforcement Services (Acting) 416-240-4623 AnnMarie.Connell@ontario.ca
Kathie Persaud, Manager, Enforcement Services ( Acting ) 416-240-2427 Kathie.Persaud@ontario.ca
Philip Aiello, Manager, Enforcement Services 416-240-4620 Philip.Aiello@ontario.ca
Flore Allen, ESR 416-243-1900 ext 4082 Flore.Allen@ontario.ca
About email addresses: Most of the employees have an email address made up of their first name plus a period plus their last name followed by @ontario.ca
Christine Ridge, Manager, Enforcement Services 416-240-2472 christine.ridge@ontario.ca
Ron MacIsaac, Manager, Planning & Support Unit, 416-240-2471
Osmand Bangura, Manager, Enforcement Services, 416-240-2420 Osmand.Bangura@ontario.ca
The Family Responsibility Office of Toronto, Ontario, Mailing Address and Geographic Location
Mailing address:
Family Responsibility Office
PO Box 220 Downsview Post Office
Downsview, ON M3M 3A3
Canada
Geographic address for sersonal service of legal documents and couriers:
Family Responsibility Office
1201 Wilson Avenue
Building B, 5th Floor
Downsview ON M3M 1J8 Canada
note to couriers: no suite number is required, front desk security will get a FRO employee to sign for deliveries.
Above is a picture of the building of the Family Responsibility Office taken from Wilson Ave. (Google Streetview) just west of Keele St. and Wilson Ave. It is looking south from Wilson Ave.
( Ministry of Transportation complex at the corner of Keele St. and Wilson Ave. just north off the 401 highway at Keele St. It is at the southwest corner of Keele and Wilson, turn in by the police station off the Keele St. entrance or off Wilson Ave.)
The FRO is in the tallest grey coloured building in the middle of this property which has numerous buildings for various ministries of the Government of Ontario including the Ministry of Transportation. They are just west of the driver's licensing offices in the complex.
Family Responsibility Office - Legal Department Telephone Directory
Family Responsibility Office Ontario - Legal Services
Service of legal documents on the Family Responsibility Office:
By mail to:
Legal Services
Family Responsibility Office
Ministry of Community and Social Services
P.O. Box 220
1201 Wilson Avenue
Toronto ON M3M 3A3
By fax to:
Legal Services
Family Responsibility Office
Ministry of Community and Social Services
(416) 240-2402
By delivery to:
Legal Services
Family Responsibility Office
Ministry of Community and Social Services
1201 Wilson Avenue
Building B, 5th Floor
Downsview ON M3M 1J8
Emails for lawyers are listed below.
Fax telephone number for legal department is : 416-240-2402
Employees of the Family Responsibility Office legal department
Donna Holmes, Legal Director 416-240-2480 Donna.Holmes@ontario.ca and Donna.Holmes2@ontario.ca
Pat Naccarto, Manager, Finance & Administration (Acting) 416-240-2444 Pat.Naccarto@ontario.ca
Shelley Xie, Administrative Assistant to Director 416-240-3649 Shelley.Xie@ontario.ca
Mark Alchuk, Senior Counsel 416-240-1900 Ex. 7147 Mark.Alchuk@ontario.ca
Fatima Amaral, Counsel, 416-240-4614 Fatima.Amaral@ontario.ca
Sharlene Becker, Counsel 416-240-4604 Sharlene.Becker@ontario.ca
Helena Birt, Counsel 416-240-2482 Helena.Birt@ontario.ca
Stefania Campoli, Counsel 416-240-7298 Stefania.Campoli@ontario.ca
Azra Champsi, Counsel 416-240-2491 Azra.Champsi@ontario.ca
Michelle Douglas-Cummings, Senior Counsel 416-240-3648 Michelle.Douglas-Cummings@ontario.ca
Tina Earl, Counsel 416-240-3635 Tina.Earl@ontario.ca
Heather Puchala, Counsel 416-240-2486 Heather.Puchala@ontario.ca
Shane Foulds, Counsel, 416-240-2484 Shane.Foulds@ontario.ca
Emily Francescutti, Counsel, 416-240-3645
Diane Gillies, Counsel, 416-240-2470 Diane.Gillies@ontario.ca
Elizabeth Horrocks, Counsel 416-240-7052 Elizabeth.Horrocks@ontario.ca
Ron Hurren, Senior Counsel, 416-240-2485 Ronald.Hurren@ontario.ca
Heather Puchala, Counsel, 416-240-2486 Heather.Puchala@ontario.ca
Rachel Radley, Counsel, 416-240-2455 Rachel.Radley@ontario.ca
Elizabeth Seo, Counsel, 416-240-4639 Elizabeth.Seo@ontario.ca
Kelly Spear, Senior Counsel, 416-240-2435 ext 7134 Kelly.Spear@ontario.ca
Greg Sutter, Counsel 416-240-2428 Gregory.Sutter@ontario.ca
Christine Ziedins, Senior Counsel, 416-240-2490 Christine.Ziedins@ontario.ca
Modupe Egunjobi, Articling Student 416-243-1900 Ex. 7094 Modupe.Egunjobi@ontario.ca
Colleen Iascone, Articling Student 416-243-1900 Ex. 7095 Colleen.Iascone@ontario.ca
Keith Taller, Articling Student 416-243-1900 Ex. 7136 Keith.Taller@ontario.ca
Deborah Clarke, Law Clerk, 416-243-1900 Ex. 7110 Deborah.Clarke@ontario.ca
Tina Kapoor, Law Clerk, 416-243-1900 ext 7141, Tina.Kapoor@Ontario.ca
Annamaria Jeffers, Law Clerk, 416-243-1900 Ex. 7134 Annamaria.Jeffers@Ontario.ca
Patricia Daramala, Litigation Coordinator, 416-240-3631 Patricia.Daramala@ontario.ca
Cathy Ferguson, Litigation Coordinator, 416-243-3632 Catherine.Ferguson@Ontario.ca
Carol Hagen, Litigation Coordinator, 416-240-2489 Carol.Hagen@ontario.ca
Joseanne Job, Litigation Coordinator, 416-243-1900 Ex. 7209
Dace Johnson, Litigation Coordinator, 416-240-2487 Dace.Johnson@ontario.ca
Alla Gorbatchevskaia, Legal Secretary 416-243-1900 Ex. 7155 Alla Gorbatchevskaia@ontario.ca
Lisa Solimene, Legal Secretary, 416-243-1900 Ex. 7250 Lisa.Solimene@ontario.ca
