The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, today issued the following statement:
The Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) serves as the independent ombuds for federally sentenced offenders in Canada, providing impartial oversight of the Correctional Service of Canada. The Correctional Investigator leads the OCI by investigating complaints, reviewing correctional practices and recommending improvements to help ensure federally sentenced individuals are treated fairly.
David Paradiso is an accomplished executive leader with 35 years of experience in public sector oversight, legal analysis and independent investigations. He has advanced fairness, accountability and organizational performance across multiple Canadian jurisdictions and is well-positioned to lead the OCI on a permanent basis.
The appointment is effective October 13, 2026.
I look forward to working with the Correctional Investigator and his team to support a correctional system that is safe, humane and focused on rehabilitation and successful reintegration.
As we welcome the incoming Correctional Investigator, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Valerie Phillips for her dedicated leadership and valuable contributions as Interim Correctional Investigator since June 18, 2026."
Biography of David Paradiso
David Paradiso received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from York University in 1987, and a Bachelor of Laws from Western University in 1990. He was called to the bar in 1991 and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario.
David Paradiso has over 35 years of experience in the oversight and investigation of public sector agencies. He served as an Investigator, and later Ombudsman Representative, at the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario for nearly five years. His most recent role has been as the Deputy Ombudsman at the Office of the British Columbia Ombudsman, a position he has held for more than a decade (2014-present).
In addition to experience in provincial ombuds roles, David Paradiso has held positions at the federal level in various capacities. David Paradiso served as the Director of Investigations at the Office of the Correctional Investigator for six years where he was responsible for the operation of the Office's program on investigations of allegations against penitentiary administrators. He also served as the Executive Director and Senior Counsel for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) External Review Committee for five years, where he was twice appointed interim Chair, and was in charge of reviewing employment grievances and appeals from RCMP members.
