The Municipality of Sioux Lookout values and supports the principles and practices associated with accountability and transparency. Council makes consistent and strong efforts to keep the public engaged in and informed on matters of public policy through a variety of communication and consultation mechanisms.
Municipal Councils must conduct business only at meetings that are open to the public but there are some exceptions where we have closed meetings.
Members of the public have the right to complain if they feel the Municipality held a closed meeting that did not follow the rules/ exemptions listed in the Municipal Act, 2001, Section 239.2 (1) or with any procedure By-laws under Subsection 238 (2).
Our Municipality has appointed the Ontario Ombudsman as the Closed Meeting Investigator. If any complaints are received by the public about closed meetings, the Closed Meeting Investigator duties will include:
- Conducting an investigation when a complaint is received about a meeting or part of a meeting that is closed to the public
- Determine whether the meeting complied with the Municipal Act/Municipal Procedure By-law
- Report the results of the investigation
How to Submit a Complaint:
Any corporation or member of the public can submit a complaint to the investigator about a meeting or part of a meeting that is closed to the public. Complaints are always confidential. To submit a complaint, follow these steps:
- To submit a complaint, please click on the following link: https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/have-a-complaint/make-a-complaint/complaint-form-general
- For more information regarding the Complaint process, please click on the following link:
https://www.ombudsman.on.ca/have-a-complaint - Complete the form including ALL information fields. Provide as much information as possible. If you do not complete the form the investigator will not accept it.
Municipal staff must not see or forward complaints. Only the investigator should receive complaints. The details of the procedure the investigator follows once he receives a complaint is detailed in Policy No. 1-1 below.
More information
Municipal Act, 2001 - Includes what Ontario municipalities are responsible for, how they must be accountable to the public and what powers they have.
Policy 1-1, Closed Meeting Investigation Policy and Procedure - outlines the full details of the complaint procedure and the policies the Municipality must follow when dealing with a closed meeting investigation.
Many Municipal Councils have implemented a code of conduct that ensures Council members and Council-appointed board, committee and commission members conduct themselves ethically. We have done this in Sioux Lookout.
To ensure that this Code of Conduct is followed, our Municipality has appointed an independent Integrity Commissioner.
This person is responsible for:
- Receiving inquiries/requests about ethical behavior from and about Council and Council-appointed board, committee and commission members
- Managing complaints about ethical behavior of Council and Council-appointed board, committee and commission members
- Determining whether the behavior of Council and Council-appointed board, committee and commission members complies with the Municipal Act, the Code of Conduct and/or related policies or requirements
Our Integrity Commissioner is Meghan Cowan.
How to submit a complaint/request for Commissioner inquiry
Any corporation or member of the public can submit a complaint to the Integrity Commissioner about the conduct of a Council or Council-appointed board, committee or commission member. Complaints are always confidential. To submit a complaint, follow these steps:
- Download and print the Code of Conduct Protocol/Complaint Form. The form is also available at the Customer Service Desk at the Municipal Office or from the Integrity Commissioner Meghan Cowan (contact information below).
- Complete the form including ALL information fields. Provide as much information as possible. If you do not complete the form the investigator will not accept it.
- Mail or deliver the form to the Integrity Commissioner in a sealed envelope (faxed or emailed forms are not accepted):
Meghan Cowan
Aird & Berlis LLP
Brookfield Place
181 Bay Street, Suite 1800
Toronto ON M5J 2T9
E: [email protected]
Municipal staff must not see or forward complaints. Only the Commissioner should receive complaints.
How to inquire/seek clarification from the Integrity Commissioner if you are a Council or Council-appointed board, committee or commission member
Members of Council and Council-appointed boards, committees and commissions can also submit an inquiry or request to the Integrity Commissioner. These confidential requests help members check whether any conduct they are unsure about is appropriate.
More information
Municipal Act, 2001, Section 223.3 outlines municipalities' abilities to appoint an Integrity Commissioner, their powers and duties and how inquiries work.
Policy No. 1-4, Code of Conduct - Rules/clarifications for council, board, committee and commission members' conduct and actions.
The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act requires municipalities to maintain a registry of all declarations made under this Act.
Members of Council shall identify and disclose any pecuniary interests on any item or matter in question and file a written statement of the interest and its general nature with the Clerk on the Declaration of Interest Form.
The Declaration of Interest Registry of the statements and declarations of members of Council will be kept updated on the website. The Forms and Minutes of Meetings are available for public inspection at the Clerk's Office during regular office hours.
- 2022 - 2026 Declaration of Interest Registry
- 2018 - 2022 Declaration of Interest Registry