Ten years after it was first initiated, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) anti-rackets branch has concluded its criminal investigation into the events covered by the Collingwood Judicial Inquiry.
“I can confirm that the OPP investigation has concluded, finding there were no grounds for any criminal charges,” OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson told CollingwoodToday in an email late Monday.
Mayor Yvonne Hamlin spoke to the OPP update with a statement following an in-camera session of council on the matter on Monday evening.
“The findings were not sufficient to proceed with criminal charges given the high standard for initiating such proceedings and the associated evidentiary challenges,” said Hamlin.
“I am disappointed that no individuals are being held accountable for their unethical behaviours as evidenced through the report of the Judicial Inquiry. The concerns documented in the report, and the financial hardship and duress that have been inflicted on our community as a result of these behaviours are significant,” Hamlin noted in a media release sent out by the town following Monday's council meeting.
“However, as a result of the inquiry, Collingwood is now focused on being an open and transparent government. The town has implemented many policy changes to enhance our ethical standards and improve accountability to regain public trust. These changes will help ensure that this never happens again."
Justice Frank Marrocco presided over the Collingwood Judicial Inquiry from 2018 to 2020 and concluded the inquiry with a 900-page report containing more than 300 recommendations for changes to municipal and provincial policies and practices around council and staff roles and responsibility, municipal procurement, and general procedures.
The inquiry was called to investigate the 2012 share sale of 50 per cent of the town's electric utility (Collus) to Powerstream and the subsequent decisions that led to the town sole-sourcing two fabric membrane structures – one for Centennial Aquatic Centre and one for Central Park Arena.
Among Marrocco's findings, he observed decisions made by key public figures outside of public council meetings, failures to disclose conflicts of interest, and transactions open to improper influence that undermined the town's reputation.
In 2013, the OPP first announced they would be opening a criminal investigation into the events later covered by the inquiry.
With files from Erika Engel.
