City of Hamilton

The Ombudsman received complaints about the meeting practices of the Board of Directors for the City of Hamilton Farmers’ Market. The Ombudsman’s review determined the Hamilton Farmers’ Market is a municipal services corporation and therefore not subject to the open meeting rules under the Municipal Act, 2001. The Ombudsman also determined that the Hamilton Farmers’ Market is a municipally-controlled corporation. Under its operating agreement with the City of Hamilton and procedure by-law, the Hamilton Farmers’ Market Board of Directors’ meetings are to be open to the public, except where otherwise permitted under the Act. However, these rules are silent on providing notice of meetings to the public. As a best practice, the Ombudsman recommended the Board amend its rules to require that adequate notice be provided to the public in advance of meetings.

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