The Ombudsman investigated a closed meeting held by council for the Municipality of Markstay-Warren on December 11, 2023. Council cited the exception for ongoing investigations by an ombudsman or appointed investigator to discuss a report by the Municipality’s integrity commissioner. The Ombudsman determined the discussion did not fit within this exception because this exception refers to investigations conducted by the Ontario Ombudsman, a municipal ombudsman, or an appointed closed meeting investigator, and because the exception applies to ongoing, rather than completed, investigations.
Municipality of Markstay-Warren - December 10, 2024
City of Hamilton - June 5, 2023
The Ombudsman found that the Board of Trustees for the Hamilton Waterfront Trust contravened the open meeting rules on February 21, 2023 when it discussed a letter outlining the Ombudsman’s findings about previous closed meeting complaints in closed session. The Ombudsman found that the Hamilton Waterfront Trust contravened the open meeting rules when it discussed this letter in closed session. The discussion did not fit within the “ongoing investigations by an ombudsman or appointed investigator” closed meeting exception, as the Ombudsman’s investigation had been completed prior to the meeting.