Collingwood staff will be asking the province and other municipal policy agencies to help pay the $7.1 million cost of the judicial inquiry.
During a Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting last night, the town’s acting CAO Sonya Skinner provided a verbal update to council ahead of the scheduled release of the final report from the inquiry’s commissioner on Nov. 2.
Skinner noted she is hopeful the province and possibly other bodies like the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario will help the town pay for the inquiry.
She noted the findings and recommendations in the final report could have wider implications, including potential changes to the municipal act.
The inquiry was triggered by a council request in February 2018 to look into the sale of 50 per cent of the town’s electric utility (COLLUS) to PowerStream and into the decisions that led to spending the proceeds from the sale on two recreation facilities.
“The whole purpose of the inquiry was to find out what happened,” said Skinner. “We don’t really know.”
She noted she expects polarized views on the inquiry from residents ranging from those who think it is a waste of money and those who believe it was necessary.
“We hope the public will understand the town asked for the inquiry. That is is ours … and it is relevant to us,” she said.
She also noted that the price of the inquiry had reached $7.1 million, but that once an inquiry is called, there is no way to constrain spending without also constraining findings.
“That would not be appropriate,” said Skinner.
The CAO noted the town had made several changes to policies, operations, and procedures since the 2012 share sale.
She said the inquiry report will be focused on a “snapshot in time.”
Since 2012, the town has adopted and implemented a lobbyist registry, developed a purchasing bylaw and established a purchasing officer staff position, as well as made changes to freedom of information request managements, human resources policy surrounding gifts, and management of in-camera meetings.
“If learning comes by doing and having experience, then Collingwood has learned well,” said Skinner. “We are all waiting with open minds for the report … but closure may not come simply with the release of the report.”
She said the inquiry report will “kick off a new chapter.”
“We will be under scrutiny across Ontario, across Canada and maybe even beyond,” said Skinner. “I believe with the years to come we will do well under that scrutiny and ultimately be held up as a good example. But first we need to get through Nov. 2.”
The time of day for the final report release has not yet been announced, but it will be delivered by Commissioner Frank Marrocco virtually on Nov. 2.
