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The interim board chair for Invest North Bay released legal advice this week arguing the development corporation is not a local board, rebutting a previous ruling made during the course of a code of conduct investigation involving the organization.
Coun. Dave Mendicino shared the opinion, which he requested of the city’s current integrity commissioner, Guy Giorno, with local media.
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Try refreshing your browser. Debate heating up over Invest North Bay s status Back to video
Giorno previously recused himself from the same code of conduct complaint that was later investigated and resulted in a determination that Invest North Bay is a local board under the Municipal Act, an argument that has since been used to criticize the organization’s closed-door meetings.
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As the Invest North Bay Development Corp. reviews whether its board meetings should be made public, the complainants behind a recent investigation by the cityâs acting integrity commissioner argue it shouldnât even be up for debate.
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Kevin Ferris and Nicole Peltier say the boardâs regular meetings shouldnât be closed.
Both filed a complaint last summer to North Bayâs integrity commissioner over a decision by city council nearly four years ago to provide $1 million to Invest North Bay.
That money would later be used to finance a $1.2-million marketing campaign by local firm TWG Communications, the result of which would be a plan to lure investors, including immigrants, from the Greater Toronto Area. That agreement ended in March 2020 under a no-fault clause, with certain amounts in dispute.