About the OPGT

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

Videos

• OPGT YouTube videos

Publications

• Annual report – Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
• Business plan – Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee
• Decision-making options: Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act
  • View this publication in other languages

Contact

Find an OPGT office near you