In a report entitled "Press Pause", Ontario's Ombudsman has posted his findings of an investigation into a December incident at Niagara Regional Council that saw a Standard reporter evicted from the building.
The removal of Bill Sawchuck came after he was falsely accused of surreptitiously recording an in camera session of council.
Sawchuck and a citizen blogger were asked to leave chambers for the closed door portion of the meeting, but left their belongings behind.
That's when the reporter was accused of leaving his laptop on record, and had it seized by regional officials.
In his report, Ombudsman Paul Dube says the region rushed to judgement, and in doing so acted in a manner the courts have consistently found to be a violation of charter rights.
He says while the region has taken steps to improve policies and procedures, more can be done.
Dube wants the region to publicly apologize to both Bill Sawchuck and blogger Preston Haskell.
As well he suggests a list of policy and procedural improvements.
Dube also writes "The Regional Chair pledged full co-operation with this investigation, but the region’s external counsel, ostensibly on behalf of their client, attempted through its response to influence our investigative process, challenge our well established statutory authority, and dictate the content of my report."