Lack Of Audio = Lack Of Transparency

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I asked CAO Critchley for an explanation for the August 10 Amherstburg Heritage Committee meeting audio starting at 45:40. Just to be sure it wasn’t my computer, other residents verified the same.

This morning Critchley answered, “A technical issue prevented the capture of audio for the first portion of this meeting but was able to be resolved later in the meeting.

The Ontario Ombudsman Open Meetings Guide for Municipalities states:

What are the objectives of the open meeting rules?

The open meeting requirements set out in section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001 permit the public to observe municipal government in progress. The Supreme Court of Canada answered this question in its decision in the 2007 case, London (City) v. RSJ Holdings Inc. The judges noted “the public’s demand for more accountable municipal government” and stated that open meetings are essential to “robust democratic legitimacy” of local administrations. They also observed that s. 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001 “was intended to increase public confidence in the integrity of local government by ensuring the open and transparent exercise of municipal power.” (original emphasis).

Also from the Guide:

“The democratic legitimacy of municipal decisions does not spring solely from periodic elections, but also from a decision-making process that is transparent, accessible to the public, and mandated by law.”

– Hon. Madam Justice Louise Charron, Supreme Court of Canada