Skip to main content
Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

Secondary navigation

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • News
  • Careers
Français
Français

Main navigation

  • Make a complaint
    • What you can expect
    • What we can help you with
    • File your complaint
    • Frequently asked questions
  • Help for…
    • Indigenous people
    • Children, youth and families
    • French speakers
  • Our work
    • Case stories
    • Investigations
    • Annual reports
    • Municipal meetings
    • Submissions to government
    • Brochures, posters and resources
    • Outreach and engagement
  • Info for public bodies and officials
    • What to expect if we contact you
    • Members of Provincial Parliament
    • Provincial government
    • Municipal government
    • Services for children and youth
    • Services for French speakers
    • School boards
    • Training and education
    • Questions and inquiries

Main navigation

  • Make a complaint
    • What you can expect
    • What we can help you with
    • File your complaint
    • Frequently asked questions
  • Help for…
    • Indigenous people
    • Children, youth and families
    • French speakers
  • Our work
    • Case stories
    • Investigations
    • Annual reports
    • Municipal meetings
    • Submissions to government
    • Brochures, posters and resources
    • Outreach and engagement
  • Info for public bodies and officials
    • What to expect if we contact you
    • Members of Provincial Parliament
    • Provincial government
    • Municipal government
    • Services for children and youth
    • Services for French speakers
    • School boards
    • Training and education
    • Questions and inquiries

Secondary navigation

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • News
  • Careers
Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

Français
  1. Info for public bodies and officials
  2. Municipal government
  3. Open meetings: Case digest
  4. Keyword Directory
  5. property owner

property owner

Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula - May 28, 2018

239(2)(b) Personal matters|land titles|land transaction|property information|property owner

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting of council for the Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula that relied on the personal matters exception to discuss an application made under the Land Titles Act for a property located within the municipality. During the meeting, council reviewed a cover letter for the application which included the property identification number, and a draft plan of reference showing the property’s location, dimensions and boundaries. The information did not include the property owner’s name. The Ombudsman found that this type of information is not inherently personal and does not constitute personal information about the property owner. The Ombudsman found that the discussion did not fit within the personal matters exception.

Read the Report

Township of Russell - January 5, 2016

239(2)(b) Personal matters|heritage designation|property owner|address

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Russell to discuss a proposed list of heritage designation properties in closed session, which relied on the personal matters exception. The report contained details about each property including the name of the building, its street address, the year the building was built, a description of the building’s heritage attributes, and a picture. For a subset of the properties, the report also contained details regarding former owners. The Ombudsman found that the discussion did not fit within the personal matters exception because the discussion was general in nature and did not include personal information like the identity of current property owners.

Read the Report

Township of Russell - January 5, 2016

239(2)(b) Personal matters|property owner

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Russell that relied on the personal matters exception to discuss a property tax reimbursement for a resident. Council reviewed a staff report that included the name of the property owner, the property tax roll number, and the amount of property tax refund. The report also included information about the circumstances that led to the property tax refund. The Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the personal matters exception.

Read the Report

Township of Russell - January 5, 2016

239(2)(b) Personal matters|business plan|property owner|business information|address|professional capacity

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Russell to discuss a proposed business plan for installing services in a local commercial and industrial area in the municipality. The meeting was closed under the personal matters exception. Council reviewed a staff report that included information about local businesses in the area including company name and legal identity, the proprietor, address, the size of the lot, and the cost of the services improvement for the property. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussion and the report did not reveal personal information about individual property owners and any individuals identified by name used the land for a business purpose. Therefore, the discussion did not fit within the personal matters exception.

Read the Report

Township of West Lincoln - November 23, 2015

by-law enforcement|address|market value|property owner|239(2)(b) Personal matters

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by the Administration/Finance/Fire Committee for the Township of West Lincoln to discuss by-law enforcement. The closed meeting relied on the personal matters exception. During the discussion, the committee identified properties where fill was being dumped contrary to a site alteration by-law. The discussion did not identify any individuals by name. The Ombudsman found that the municipal locations and estimated market values of certain properties did not constitute personal information about an individual property owner. 

Read the Report

City of Elliot Lake - April 24, 2015

239(2)(b) Personal matters|property owner|purchase price|identifiable individual

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the City of Elliot Lake that relied on the personal matters exception to discuss a request from a property owner for an extension to complete construction. If the owner failed to finish construction within the allotted time, the municipality could repurchase the property at 80% of the purchase price. The Ombudsman found that council’s decision would have a significant effect on an identifiable individual, and therefore, council’s discussion fit within the personal matters exception.

Read the Report

City of Timmins - November 14, 2013

239(2)(b) Personal matters|by-law enforcement|property owner|professional capacity|zoning/planning|conduct

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the City of Timmins to consider a complaint against a resident with respect to a zoning by-law infraction. The meeting relied on the personal matters exception. During the closed meeting, council received delegations from the complainant and a resident. The Ombudsman found that council’s discussion fit within the personal matters exception because information was presented to council that involved an investigation or assessment of the performance or alleged improper conduct of the property owner. 

Read the Letter

The Ontario Ombudsman’s work takes place on traditional Indigenous territories across the province we now call Ontario, and we are thankful to be able to work and live on this land. 

Ombudsman Ontario Home

Ombudsman Ontario

483 Bay Street
10th floor, South Tower
Toronto, ON M5G 2C9

Toll-free (Ontario only): 1-800-263-1830
Outside Ontario: 416-586-3300
info@ombudsman.on.ca

Footer menu

  • Make a complaint
  • Help for...
  • Our work
  • About us
  • Careers

Make a complaint

  • Info for public bodies and officials
  • News

Footer buttons

  • Sign up for our newsletter
  • Contact us

Follow us

All contents © 2025 Ombudsman Ontario. All rights reserved.

Footer Utility

  • Site map
  • Accessibility