CAO Fareed Amin delivered a brief update to council on the status of the judicial review into the 2012 sale of 50 per cent of the town’s utility service (COLLUS) to PowerStream.
Amin told council Justice Frank Marrocco has appointed Janet Leiper as commission counsel.
According to Leiper’s website, she is a lawyer providing advisory and adjudicative services in matters of professional, political and administrative regulation.
“She brings years of experience advising organizations, governments and individuals on sensitive matters requiring the exercise of sound policy and legal judgment,” she said. “Her skills include advocacy, conflict resolution, policy advice and development, teaching, investigations and adjudication of hearings and appeals.”
Leiper was recently the integrity commissioner investigating a complaint against The Blue Mountains Councillor Michael Seguin for posts made on his social media and anonymous donations made by residents toward his legal expenses for a judicial review. Seguin has since resigned. Leiper recommended Seguin be reprimanded for his social media posts but has not yet concluded her investigation into the donations toward his legal expenses.
CAO Amin told council on May 14, the town had begun digitizing documents and setting up a secure portal so the parties involved in the judicial review would have access to those and other documents.
The town has also rented space at 186 Hurontario Street for the non-public aspects of the review. The public portion will take place in the council chambers and Amin said he would talk to Rogers to see whether or not the multiple-day event could be recorded and broadcast.
The Commission will set up its own website for public outreach during the judicial review. The Commission has also hired a communication person to interact with public and the media, according to Amin.
“We will be as supportive and as helpful as we can throughout this process,” said Amin.
The timing of the review will be up to Justice Marrocco and the commission counsel.
