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Transparency is a major topic for all tiers of government and the public is ever the more curious about how officials uphold openness to scrutiny in their civil service.
With the provincial government’s recent changes to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), local officials are also keeping the subject open to debate.
On Monday, Ramara Coun. Dana Tuju asked her peers to support a motion shared by Prince Edward County last month.
The motion is a request to amend the FIPPA legislation, which enshrined more limits on what the public can request from its leaders.
The neighbouring county points to an imbalance between the provincial legislation and corresponding municipal FIPPA standards.
“I think it’s important that we support this reinstatement of requirements for compliance with FIPPA to ensure that the premier, ministers and their staff are subject to proper and fair public scrutiny, like all other elected representatives in Ontario,” said Tuju.
The original motion was simply to receive the correspondence from Prince Edward County.
Tuju and Coun. Sherri Bell made statements to stand with Prince Edward County, calling on the province to uphold a higher standard of record accountability.
“I’m definitely in support but that I would look for an amendment…so that the resolution is more reflective of being built at royal assent,” said Bell.
Their remarks were not supporters by others on Ramara council.
“I probably won’t support. I don’t know enough about the changes they made,” said Ramara Mayor Basil Clarke.
Bell’s amendment had no seconder, which followed by a four-to-two vote defeating Tuju’s request to support the correspondence, (Coun. Jennifer Fisher was not present at the meeting and technical difficulties prevented her from attending virtually).
Ramara carried the original motion to receive the correspondence from Prince Edward County as information.
Later, Bell asked if the amendment she put forward would be reflected in the minutes.
“No, it had no seconder,” replied the mayor.
Bell expressed discontent with this procedure but Clarke affirmed that only a seconded motion would be noted by the clerk.
Tuju pulled four other correspondences from council information packages, asking that Ramara council receive and support them.
All others garnered the votes to carry motions in support. Two of them related to the medical field.
“I think we can’t go far enough to support any improvements to our medical system,” said Clarke.
Ramara joined the Township of Puslinch, calling on the province to improve emergency room procedures and support Finlay’s Law. Despite requiring urgent care, a lengthy wait time led to the death of 16-year-old Finlay Van der Werken at an Ontario hospital on Feb. 9, 2024.
“Children are not small adults. They deteriorate faster, require specialized dosing and equipment, and often cannot advocate for themselves without enforceable standards,” said Tuju.
She also advocated for supporting a Simcoe County Correspondence requesting the province expand and maintain funding for its paramedicine program. The letter is addressed to Syliva Jones, deputy premier and minister of health.
“Thank you for pulling that one,” said Clarke, who wrote the correspondence as Warden of Simcoe County, “this is one that we’ve been lobbying for.”
He further endorsed the effectiveness of the county’s paramedicine program.
“(It) does save money. It saves ambulance calls and it saves hospital calls, and we’ve shown those numbers so we’re going to continue the lobby that they fully fund this and put permanent funding in place,” explained Clarke.
About the correspondence from Richmond Hill regarding Integrated Living and Participation Model for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, Tuju spoke from experience.
“Every single parent I know who has children with special needs worries every day, wondering what will happen to my child after I’m gone,” she said.
“I have had an opportunity to discuss this informally with Minister McCarthy, who completely understands, and I believe the support would be there if we could show Minister Parsa our support for this really well thought out resolution that could change lives.”
Bell agreed, and suggested an additional request that the County of Simcoe also support the motion.
Her amendment was carried.
Lastly, Ramara council supported a correspondence Tuju pulled from the Township of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, to maintain a reduced-rate postal distribution for library materials.
“It’s my understanding that the library spent $1,700 in 2025 and $940 so far this year on postage or interlibrary loans, so that they are able to provide residents access to the same selection and service as libraries in larger municipalities,” noted Tuju.
Also in support of the motion, Bell voiced the importance of the Ramara Public Library. Reducing the strain such fees can have on it is particularly important for rural communities, she noted.
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