City of Niagara Falls

City of Niagara Falls

May 5, 2022

5 May 2022

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that meetings of the Board of Directors of the Niagara Falls Hydro Holding Corporation constitute meetings of City council, and that consequently, these meetings do not comply with the Municipal Act, 2001’s open meeting requirements because they are not open to the public.

The Ombudsman received a complaint alleging that meetings of the Board of Directors of the Niagara Falls Hydro Holding Corporation constitute meetings of City council, and that consequently, these meetings do not comply with the Municipal Act, 2001’s open meeting requirements because they are not open to the public. The Ombudsman found that the corporation is not subject to the open meeting rules as it is neither a local board nor a committee of council. The Ombudsman determined that the corporation has not contravened the open meeting rules in declining to open its Board meetings to the public. The Ombudsman also found that the corporation has not violated its internal meeting rules in closing its Board meetings to the public.

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