Kirkland Lake, Town of

The Ombudsman found that, in a resolution to close a meeting on August 25, 2020, council for the Town of Kirkland Lake failed to state the general nature of the subject to be discussed. Instead, council only referenced the Municipal Act, 2001, exception relied upon to close the meeting. The description of the subject to be discussed was included in the meeting’s agenda and minutes. The Ombudsman found that the Town of Kirkland Lake contravened the requirements of section 239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001, by failing to state by resolution the general nature of the matter to be discussed in camera.

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed session held by council for the Town of Kirkland Lake on August 25, 2020. The Ombudsman found that the employee-employer relationship was central to council’s in camera discussion. Accordingly, the Ombudsman found that council’s discussion fit within the “labour relations” exception to the open meeting rules. 

The Ombudsman received a complaint about a closed session held by council for the Town of Kirkland Lake on August 25, 2020. The Ombudsman found that parts of the discussion involved scrutinizing individuals’ conduct and job performance. Accordingly, the Ombudsman found that these parts of the discussion fit within the “personal matters” exception to the open meeting rules.

The Ombudsman reviewed several meetings of the Recreation Committee for the Town of Kirkland Lake which occurred without public notice. The Ombudsman determined that the committee was a committee of council, and therefore subject to the open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman found that the committee failed to provide public notice of its meetings, and therefore, the meetings were not open to the public.