Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers

The Ombudsman reviewed a complaint regarding two closed meetings held by council for the Township of Sables-Spanish Rivers on July 26 and August 9, 2023. The complaint alleged that council did not provide sufficient information about the general topic of discussion in its resolution to proceed into closed session in contravention of the Municipal Act, 2001. The complaint also raised a concern that the closed sessions at both meetings were not listed on the publicly posted agendas prior to each meeting.

The Ombudsman found that council contravened the Municipal Act, 2001 by failing to provide sufficient information about the general topic of discussion in its resolution to proceed into closed session at both meetings. However, the Ombudsman determined that council did not contravene the Municipal Act, 2001 when it did not list the closed sessions on the agenda, as the closed sessions were not initially planned and the Act does not require municipalities to provide advance notice of the matters to be discussed in closed session.

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