2009-05-04
06:49:43
Northwestern Ontario municipalities will be on the hook for any investigations of Northwestern Health Unit meetings.
Local residents who feel the health unit held a closed door meeting that unreasonably withheld information can bring the issue up to their local council. C.A.O. Mark Perrault says the Health Unit itself does not have to appoint an investigator.
"We have 19 municipalities," said Perrault, "and under the municipal act we're considered a local board for every one of them. So there's definitely been a gap in the legislation. I would imagine a local citizen would speak to their municipality then who could appoint their own investigator or through the Ombudsman's office."
Last year, the province required all municipalities to hire a closed door meeting investigator.
