Regional Municipality of Niagara

The Ombudsman received complaints about the December 7, 2017 meeting of council for the Regional Municipality of Niagara, including a complaint that the meeting failed to comply with the open meeting rules. With respect to the open meeting complaints, the Ombudsman found that the in camera discussion fit within the exceptions for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege and personal matters about an identifiable individual. However, a portion of the meeting during which the Region locked the doors to the building was illegally closed. The Region also contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 when it failed to pass a resolution stating the general nature of the subjects to be discussed in the closed session before closing the meeting.

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