Elliot Lake city council will receive a second letter from the Ombudsman of Ontario regarding the closed session meeting of Jan. 30, 2023. The second letter focuses on the matter of a “not disclosed” video recording of the closed session meeting.
The Ombudsman’s letter reports that additional information was requested twice during the investigation and, to the second request, “The City told my Office that no additional evidence existed.”
The first Ombudsman’s letter caused some local residents to conclude there was no recording.
Local resident, Laurie Blake, brought this matter to the council during the Public Input Session of the Feb. 26 council meeting. Blake reminded the council of the Ombudsman’s recommendation of 2015, that meetings should be recorded. It was previously reported here.
In an unusual, immediate response to a Public Input, Couns. Charles Flintoff and Mayor Andrew Wannan alternately speaking over each other, told Blake, "The recording was provided to the Ombudsman by, um, comments from our council." “All our closed sessions are recorded.” "The video corroborated everything and it was all presented to the Ombudsman."
The Ombudsman’s letter that council will receive Monday, advises, “After my report was finalized and made public by the City, it came to my attention that the City might have had a video recording of the January 30 closed session in its possession. We made inquiries with the Mayor and the Clerk, who confirmed the existence of the video recording and sent it to my Office.”
The Ombudsman’s letter makes clear that if the video had been supplied, it would have substantiated council’s original position.
The Ombudsman's letter says, "It is not a trivial matter that we were hindered by this failure to disclose evidence."
The topic is Item 12.2 Letter from the Office of the Ombudsman.
In past, citizens wishing to address council could simply email the city clerk by noon of the meeting day. Recently, the city has implemented a portal on their website with a ten-question form here.
Council Meeting, Mon. Apr. 8 - 7 p.m. at City Hall
Open to the public
Broadcast on Eastlink channel 11. Livestreamed from the City website here.
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