Much is being made of new legislation that will put increased pressure on municipal governments to be accountable to the public they serve.

As of Jan. 1, 2008, people will be able to lodge a formal complaint if they believe a municipal council, board or committee is meeting behind closed doors for reasons other than those approved by the Municipal Act.

Complaints investigators can be appointed by municipalities by Dec. 31, after which time the Ontario Ombudsman will assume the responsibility by default and at no cost.    

Oshawa has already sprung into action, forming an accountability and transparency sub-committee of council, penning a draft accountability and transparency policy and mailing out 1,400 surveys to get public feedback on the issue -- all of which are welcome developments.

It’s also good news that Oshawa’s sub-committee will recommend to council that the Ombudsman handle its complaints -- not only is it free, it guarantees a professional, impartial investigation will be done.

The only downside -- aside from the ironic fact that Oshawa didn’t make the public aware of its new sub-committee until a month after its first meeting -- is that in camera “education sessions” will still be permitted under the new rules.

According to the Municipal Act, in camera meetings are permitted for legal, personnel and property matters, as well as education sessions, designed to bring members up to speed on an issue.

During an education session, no member is allowed to discuss or otherwise deal with any matter in a way that materially advances the business or decision-making of council, board or committee.

But they can talk about issues at length and share their opinions, laying the groundwork for the votes that come later in public.

Oshawa has held several education sessions over the past year, often on hot-button issues like the Regent Theatre, which the public followed closely and has a right to know about.

Mayor John Gray has defended the sessions as an opportunity for councillors to speak freely, but that’s what they should be doing on the council floor.

I don’t want to hear a toned down, edited version of their opinions at council meetings, after all the good stuff has been aired in private. If I’m going to vote for them, I want to know what they really think.

If the new Municipal Act really wanted to ensure accountability and transparency, it would get rid of education sessions and leave in camera meetings for the very few instances in which they can actually be justified.

Reporter Jillian Follert’s column appears every other Wednesday. E-mail jfollert@durhamregion.com