The Ombudsman received complaints alleging that council for the Town of Amherstburg violated the open meeting rules found in the Municipal Act, 2001 on August 8, September 13, and November 16, 2021. At the beginning of the September 13 council meeting, council provided report backs for the in camera meetings held on August 8 and September 13, 2021 which merely explained the exceptions relied upon to close these meetings. Following the November 16 closed meeting, no information was provided to the public about the topics discussed in camera. The Ombudsman encouraged council to adopt the best practice of reporting back meaningful information, where possible, about what was discussed in camera.
The Ombudsman received a complaint about the amount of information that council for the Loyalist Township shared in its report back following the closed session discussion on July 8, 2019. The Ombudsman found the council’s report back provided the public with information about the outcome of council’s discussion.
The Ombudsman reviewed three meetings held by council for the Township of Carling on July 27, October 10, and November 13, 2018. Council did not report back after closed sessions. The Ombudsman noted that in some cases, public reporting consists of a general discussion in open session of subjects considered in closed session along with directions, decisions and resolutions made in camera. In other cases, however, the nature of the discussion might allow for considerable information about the closed session to be provided publicly.
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by the Walkerton Business Improvement Area (BIA) to discuss changes to its by-laws, relying on the litigation or potential litigation exception. The Ombudsman recommended as a best practice that the BIA report back after closed sessions and provide general information about what occurred in camera. The Ombudsman noted that in some instances public reporting may consist of the information provided in the resolution authorizing the closed session along with any decisions or directions given to staff in camera, while at other times the report back may provide considerable information regarding the in camera discussion.
The Ombudsman reviewed several closed meetings held by council for the Township of Chamberlain. The Ombudsman encouraged council to report back on what occurs in camera in a general manner. The Ombudsman noted that in some cases, public reporting consists of a general discussion in open session of subjects considered in closed session along with directions, decisions and resolutions made in camera. In other cases, however, the nature of the discussion might allow for considerable information about the closed session to be provided publicly.