Officials from the Niagara Region are reacting to this morning's report from the Ontario Ombudsman.
The report says the region acted unjustly and unreasonably when they seized the gear of a St. Catharines Standard reporter and citizen blogger.
Ombudsman Paul Dube also says the reaction from the region was a violation of charter rights.
In a release from the Region, officials say the 'Niagara Region cooperated fully in the Ombudsman's investigation' and has already made strides to fulfill the recommendations.
However, Dube notes in his report that the region hired a legal firm and even challenged their authourity to investigate as well as trying to dictate the content of the report.
The release from the Region also says they consulted with local media before taking steps to approve new policies - although regional officials did request a meeting with media representatives, large outlets such 610 CKTB and the St. Catharines Standard declined pending the outcome of the Ombudman's investigation.
Some of the recent policies and procedures approved by Council include:
- Amending the "Corporate Media Relations Policy"
- Approving recruitment of a Sergeant-at-Arms, similar to local area municipalities, in management of public spaces and council chambers during Council meetings
- Approving the use of an Ante-Room for closed-session meetings at a cost of approximately $50,000 derived from the 2018 Facilities Management capital budget
- Approving "Management of Personal Items, Equipment and Disruptive Behaviour Prior to a Closed Session of Council or Committee Policy"
- Instituting a new procedural checklist and policies for entering In Camera portions of Regional Council and Committee meetings
- Approving "Corporate Video Surveillance Policy"
- Updating Niagara Region’s Procedural Bylaw to enhance the procedures that inform the process of meetings