MEDIA ADVISORY: Ombudsman Ontario to Release Annual Report on Investigations of Closed Municipal Meetings -- December 16

TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - December 11, 2015) - Acting Ombudsman Barbara Finlay will release the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman's latest municipal annual report on Wednesday, December 16 -- at a news conference at 1 p.m. in the Queen's Park Media Studio.

The report highlights the recent work of the Ombudsman's Open Meeting Law Enforcement Team (OMLET), which investigates complaints about closed municipal meetings. Ms. Finlay will also elaborate on the Office's new mandate to take complaints about all aspects of municipal government, which takes effect on January 1, 2016.

Prior to the news conference, there will be a technical briefing for journalists from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Committee Room 1, where copies of the Ombudsman's report will be available (under embargo until the news conference). Senior Ombudsman staff will be available to answer questions on background.

Journalists who are not members of the Queen's Park Press Gallery are asked to report to Room 387A of the Legislative Building for passes, or to call Gerald Christopher at 416-325-7922.

Journalists from outside of Toronto are also invited to participate in the news conference by teleconference. Please email Ashley Bursey as soon as possible (abursey@ombudsman.on.ca) to receive details about how to participate. A full list of participants will be distributed to the Queen's Park Press Gallery. Journalists who register for the teleconference will also receive electronic copies of the report (under embargo) at 11:30 a.m.

The news conference will be streamed live and can be watched online at www.ombudsman.on.ca, where the full report and media materials will also be posted at 1 p.m. As well, live updates will be posted at the Ontario Ombudsman Twitter account -- www.twitter.com/Ont_Ombudsman.

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