Sault Ratepayers wanna chat about the City Code of Conduct

NEWS RELEASE

SAULT ASSOCIATION OF RATEPAYERS

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The Sault Ste. Marie Association of Ratepayers (SSMAR) is hosting two Gatherings of Ratepayers to discuss accountability and transparency, and the upcoming review of the City Code of Conduct in anticipation of revisions to the Municipal Act 2001.

Session 1: Monday, Oct. 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Korah Branch SSM Public Library, 556 Goulais Avenue. 

Session 2: Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7-8 p.m., Centennial Library, 50 East Street.

Special guest speaker Lorna Rudolph will be presenting information and leading a discussion on the importance of Part V.1 of the Municipal Act (sections 223.1 to 223.24) which provides that municipalities may pass bylaws to establish:

• a code of conduct for Council and various Local Board members
• an Integrity Commissioner
• a municipal Ombudsman
• an Auditor General
• a Lobbyist Registry and Registrar

The SSMAR volunteers continue to be focused on the goal of implementing a Continuous Improvement Process of the municipal operations, and to achieve parity with other Ontario municipalities, as The Act allows, to help ensure integrity and accountability in public office, as found in Part V.1 of The Municipal Act 2001, sections 223.1 to 223.24. 

“With the City currently reorganizing its administrative structure, we believe it is very important to have a discussion on enacting by-laws as permitted by The Act, and as a majority of Ontario municipalities currently have done.” – David Poluck, SSMAR Volunteer Organizer

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