This article has been edited from a previous version to correct errors. Collingwood Today apologizes for the errors.
A judge has been appointed for Collingwood’s judicial inquiry into the 2012 sale of 50 percent of the town’s utility services corporation to PowerStream Inc.
The deal will be scrutinized by Hon. Justice Frank Marrocco, associate chief justice of the Superior Court according to a letter sent to the town by superior court judge Hon. Heather Forster Smith.
A judicial inquiry is a tool available to municipalities in rare cases where a judge’s authority is required to obtain documents and interview individuals under oath. It requires a council resolution to start the process. Until Februrary 26, 2018, there was no resolution calling for this process to review the 2012 sale.
While the cost of the inquiry is unknown, the lawyer hired by the town to review the details of the sale suggested it could cost $1 million for the judicial inquiry.
CAO Fareed Amin told council he would be meeting with Justice Marrocco to get an idea of the requirements of the inquiry and he will prepare a staff report for council to set out financial implications and staffing requirements.
There is no expected start date yet for the judicial inquiry.
