Dufferin County

The Ombudsman received a complaint that Dufferin County’s Infrastructure and Environmental Services Standing Committee failed to provide notice to the public that the Committee would be closing a portion of the April 28, 2022 meeting. The Ombudsman found that the Committee provided notice for the meeting as a whole and it was entitled to proceed in camera because there are no specific notice requirements outlined in the Municipal Act, 2001 for in camera meetings.

The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by Dufferin County’s Infrastructure and Environmental Services Standing Committee on April 28, 2022. The Ombudsman found that the Committee received new information during the open session and the Committee could therefore seek further legal advice about an agenda item in closed session. Accordingly, the Ombudsman found that the Committee’s discussion fit within the exception to the open meeting rules for advice subject to solicitor-client privilege.