Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. See how to send and receive government mail during this time.
If you receive payments from the Public Trustee by cheque, contact your worker to set up direct deposit so your payment is not impacted by the possible Canada Post service disruption.
What we do
The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT) assists people with a variety of services:
Guardianship services
- makes personal decisions for adults who are not able to do so – through guardianship (if no one else is available) – that are related to:
- health care
- where to live
- who to associate with
- participation in social activities
- participation in educational, vocational and other training
- employment
- legal proceedings
- makes one-time decisions for adults – when they are not able to do so and no other family member is available – that are related to:
- healthcare
- temporary placement at a healthcare facility
- discharge from a healthcare facility
- provides information to people about supported decision-making when they need assistance to either:
- access their information
- understand the information they are receiving
Trusteeship services
- protects the assets of minors where either:
- it is required by law
- a minor is a beneficiary but no trustee has been named
- makes financial decisions for adults – when they are not able to do so and no one else is available – through trusteeship
- helps manage – through the voluntary Informal Benefits Administration Program – the funds people receive from the:
- Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Program
- Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefit
- administers estates if no one else is able to do so and there is a beneficiary who is a:
- minor
- represented adult
Capacity assessment information and court applications
- trains capacity assessors and provides them with support when they are preparing capacity assessments
- reviews applications – for completeness before they are submitted to court – that are related to:
- co-decision-making
- guardianship
- trusteeship
Complaints
- investigates written complaints about decision-makers that meet investigation criteria, including that the decision-makers must be:
- court-appointed guardians and trustees
- agents appointed under personal directives
Advance planning
- provides information to people about planning for their future – in case they lose capacity due to injury or illness – using a personal directive
- maintains a registry of contact information for agents of personal directives
- maintains a registry for international wills
Are you submitting a court application for guardianship, trusteeship or co-decision-making? Be sure that you have provided the email and phone contact information for all parties who will be notified of your application.
Videos
Publications
- Annual report – Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
- Business plan – Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
- About the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT)
- Decision-making options: Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act