Section 239.2(1) of the Municipal Act authorizes the County to appoint an investigator to investigate in an independent manner whether the municipality has complied with section 239 of the Act or of the procedural by-law in respect of a meeting or part of a meeting that was closed to the public and to report on that investigation. If no investigator is appointed, the Ombudsman appointed pursuant to the Ombudsman Act shall be the municipal investigator.
In accordance with the Ombudsman Act, under Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, the Ombudsman was appointed authority to investigate complaints about closed municipal meetings held under the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended. The Investigator as such shall conduct investigations upon receipt of a request to determine compliance with the Act or the Municipal Procedural By-law and to report on the result of such investigation.
Procedure
Members of the public, including corporations, may submit complaints to the Ombudsman relating to compliance with the Municipal Act or the Municipal Procedural By-law for meetings or part of meetings that are closed to the public. All complaints will be treated as confidential at all times.
Complaints should be submitted directly to the Ombudsman's office on their prescribed form which can be found on their website. All complaints must contain the following information:
- Name of Municipality
- Complainant's name, mailing address, telephone number and email address (if applicable)
- Date of Closed Meeting under consideration
- Nature and Background of the particular occurrence
- Any activities undertaken (if any) to resolve the concern
- Any other relevant information
- Original signature
Inquiries and complaints may be submitted by telephone to the Provincial Ombudsman at 1-800-263-1830 during regular office hours.