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By JACK RIbDELL
MPP Huron -Middlesex
From September 12 to 16, the
Canadian Conference of
Legislative Ombudsmen was
held at the Sheraton Centre in
Toronto, on the initiative of
Arthur Maloney, the Provincial
Ombudsman for Ontario.
Former Canadian Finance
Minister John Turner chaired the
session of the Conference which
was concerned with "The
Ombudsman and Access to
Information". It was his belief
that the ultimate adjudicative
authority in this connection
should rest with the courts, that
the Ombudsman's function was
quite distinct, although there is
considerable overlap.
Gerald Baldwin, M.P., a long-
time proponent of freedom of
information expressed the view
that secrecy led to incompetence,
indecision and scandal. He
favoured the idea of the
Ombudsman intervening to
secure documents which had
been denied.
Donald MacDonald, M.P.P.
maintained that the
parliamentary system cannot be
truly democratic unless there is
freedom of information. He
believes that freedom of in-
formation will lead to genuinely
responsible government and
reduce the alienation of people
from government.
Margaret Campbell, M.P.P.,
dealt directly with freedom of
information available to the
public through the Legislature,
one of her concerns being the
right of the individual to see his
or her own file. She also dealt in
specific terms with the right of
the citizen to know what the
government is doing, citing
experience in the provincial
legislature.
For example, she mentioned an
11 -page document reporting on
efforts to obtain information
from the government, par-
ticularly the Ministry of Health,
on a private enterprise which
Freedom of information
receives some seven million
dollars annually from the
Province. Oral questions and
Order Paper questions failed to
obtain the onformation, and we
resurrected a little known
procedure called "A Notice of
Motion for Production of
Papers", in addition to letters to
the Minister. All to no avail.
Then there is the matter of the
Toronto Island Airport, and its
possible use for STOL (Short
Take -Off and Landing) 'planes.
In April 1974, we learned of the
existence of a Committee
meeting behind closed doors to
review technical information"
on this matter. (Incidentally, not
all the members serving on this
Committee had technical ex-
pertise.) Originally, we sought
membership of the Committee.
Subsequently observer status
was requested. This too was
denied, although it was resolved
that the minutes of meetings be
made available.
However, the minutes we
received were considerably less
than complete. The matter was
referred to the Attorney General
on the basis of an investigation
into the falsification of public
documents, but he ruled the
Chairman of the Committee had
prepared a summary of
proceedings which contained
"All the essential and basic
points that were discussed". The
Minister stated: "In creating
this summary there was no at-
tempt to distort the facts or
mislead people as to the Com-
mittee's considerations".
It is interesting to note that
among those matters deleted
from our minutes were the
numbers of passengers which
might be expected to use a STOL
airport, alternative airport sites,
the full name of a provincial
government study and a
statement regarding provincial.
policy towards introduction of air
service in Southern Ontario.
Experience with government
information offices is equally
discouraging. Earlier this
summer we requested reports
from the Ministry of Health, one
on ambulance service, the other
on allegations by the Canadian
Civil Liberties Association that
people had been improperly
detained in mental hospitals. To
date neither report has been
received from the Government,
although the report on am-
bulance services has been sent to
us inro
a brown
paper envelope"
10
Pe
from an unknown source.
Replying to questions in the
House from the Liberal Leader,
the Premier said, on July 7th, this
year that his "experience has
been that there has been very
little that hasn't been made
public in one form or another."
This may be true if one searches
the archives, but hardly answers
the present burning problems.
It has been suggested that
creation of the Office of
Provincial Ombudsman is a big
step forward: this may well be
true as far as individuals are
concerned. However, one flaw in
the legislation is the question of
the confidentiality of the
Ombudsman's Office. For
example, a Select Committee
wrestled for some time with
problems in correctional ,in-
stitutions, as a result of a report
of the Ombudsman, and
discussions were deferred
because his office was preparing
a comprehensive report on the
subject.
Finally, he concluded that he
could not introduce the report,
either to the Speaker or to the
Committee, although it had been
received by the Ministry.
Other problems have arisen
from the practice of tabling
"interim" answers, to questions
and from questions which have
died on the Order Paper, as well
as the habit of Ministries
resorting to the device of Cabinet
confidentiality in refusing to
release reports.
st
YOUR
HOME
It's Good For You
ST. BONIFACE STUDENT COUNCIL — Members of the St. Boniface Ele
Zurich this year are: front, left to right, Tracy Ducharme, grade 7, and
back row, left to right: Dwayne Laporte, grade 7; Mary Ellen Ducharme,
vice president, grade 8; and Linda Mathonia, secretary, grade 8.
mentary School student council at
Beth Gelinas, president, grade 8;
treasurer, grade 8; Annette Blom,
Staff photo
Citizens r
e .► Mews, September 28, 1977
Page 19
TOWNSHIP OF STANLEY
Applications for the position of part-time building
inspector and by-law enforcement officer will be
received by the undersigned until Friday,
September 30, 1977 at 12 noon,
Please apply stating qualifications, if any, wages
negotiable with council.
Additional information regarding the position may
be obtained at the clerk's office.
Mel Graham, Clerk -Treasurer
R.R. 1, Brucefield,'Ont.
MEW
Police investigate
Zurich vandalism
Damage of $300 was reported to
two vehicles at Huron 'Motor
Products in Zurich over the
weekend. A 1973 Buick was en-
tered and damaged when an
attempt was made to remove a
radio. A mirror was also ripped
off a truck on the lot.
Police are also investigating a
false fire alarm at Huron Park on
Buffy's Motocross
at Dully Gully
Brian Williams, of Clinton,
owner of Buffy's Burgers, has
announced his sponsorship of the
first annual Buffy's Motocross at
Hully Gully. The race will blast
off on Sunday October 2 at 11:00
a.m.with some 300 juniors and
schoolboys competing for
trophies in the C.M.A. sanc-
tioned event.
Special features will include 1)
a 25 Lap Endurance race for the
Buffy Cup, 2) Pee Wee and Ban-
tam divisions of _the schoolboy
class (small wheels), 3) and a
Saturday night hayride to Buf-
fy's. Spectators and competitors
alike are invited to make this
weekend of family fun at the
Motorsport Park near Varna.
The pee wee division of the
schoolboy class will be a first,
allowing the 8-11 year olds to
compete against each other
rather than against the older
bantams. This may be the oppor-
tunity that many youngsters
have been waiting for.
Wednesday. The call was placed
through a telephone operator.
A boy's moto-cross bicycle has
been found by the OPP and the
owner may claim same by
identifying it at the office.
Three thefts were reported to
the Exeter OPP this week.
On Sunday, Winston Porter,
Agincourt, reported the loss of a
CB radio and aerial from his car
which was parked beside a cabin
at Oakwood Inn.
The equipment was valued at
$275 and the theft is being in-
vestigated by Constable Don
Mason.
He was also in charge of the
investigation into a theft of a hub
cap from Miller Auto Wreckers in
Stephen Township on Wed-
nesday.
It was valued at $15 and has
been recovered. Charges are
pending.
The other theft involved a 12 -
volt battery stolen from --a car
owned by Glena Tripp, Huron
Park. It was removed from her
vehicle over the weekend. It was
vlaued at $20 andthe incident is
being investigated by Constable
Dale Lamont.
You are not old when your hair
turns grey,
You are not old when your teeth
decay.
But you know that you are ready
for that long sleep,
When your mind makes ap-
pointments that your body can't
keep.
Opening
new doors
to small
business
John MacKenzie
one of our representatives will be et_. _
Les Pines Hotel, Exeter
on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
October 4 and October 18
If you `require financing to start, modernize or
expand your business and are unable to
obtain it elsewhere on reasonable terms arid -
conditions or if tyou are interested in the
FBDB management services of counselling
and training or wish information on
government programs available for your
business, talk to our representative.
FEDERAL
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT BANK
lama vomorz...1
For prior information call 271-5650
or write 1036 Ontario Street, Stratford
Y.