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The Ombudsman found that the Township of Tiny Administrative Centre Committee was not a committee subject to the open meeting rules in the Municipal Act, 2001 because less than 50% of its members were also members of council, and the Township's procedure by-law did not apply the open meeting rules to the committee.
The Ombudsman found that the Huronia Airport Task Force was a committee of the Town of Midland, the Town of Penetanguishene, and the Township of Tiny under each municipality’s procedure by-law, and that the Task Force’s April 19, 2022 presentation was a meeting subject to the open meeting rules.
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Tiny to discuss possible amendments to the zoning by-law. Council received legal advice from the municipality’s solicitor regarding the possibility of future litigation as a result of the proposed amendments. Although not relied upon by the municipality, the Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the exception for solicitor-client privilege.
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Tiny that relied on the litigation or potential litigation exception to discuss possible amendments to the zoning by-law. Council’s discussion mentioned the possibility that litigation could arise in the future as a result of the proposed amendments. There was no litigation ongoing or threatened at the time of the meeting. The Ombudsman found that the discussion did not fit within the litigation or potential litigation exception, and instead involved mere speculation.
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by council for the Township of Tiny that relied on the acquisition or disposition of land exception to discuss an appraisal of property that the township was considering purchasing. The Ombudsman found that the discussion fit within the acquisition or disposition of land exception.
The Ombudsman reviewed a closed meeting held by the Committee of the Whole for the Township of Tiny to discuss the community’s reaction to a court decision involving the municipality. The meeting was closed under the litigation or potential litigation exception. The court decision related to ownership of a stretch of beach located in the municipality. The Ombudsman found that the discussion did not fit within the litigation or potential litigation exception because the committee had not discussed current or pending litigation.