From left, Belleville Councillor Kelly McCaw addressing city council on the issue of the Ottawa Senators deal while Councillor Egerton Boyce listens, October 24, 2016. (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
A Belleville councillor has lost her bid to have “all the details” surrounding the city’s involvement in the relocation of the American Hockey League team, the Senators, to this city released by the end of the month.
Councillor Kelly McCaw told council Monday night that she found it “troubling” that the deal to bring the Senators hockey team here from upstate New York had in her words “changed again on October 10.”
McCaw said many citizens want answers now, not a month from now.
Councillor Mike Graham told council he could not support the motion since there is a confidentiality agreement and council should know when is the right time to release the information. He said “there is nothing to hide” and “it’s silly to go against it.”
City clerk Matt MacDonald told council there is a time frame regarding disclosure and privacy in connection with a third party and there is a time factor to observe. He said there are two separate agreements and a third party will often ask for an extension of time and suggested the time should be by mid-November. He said McCaw’s motion would put staff in contravention of the provincial Privacy and Information Act.
Mayor Taso Christopher told council councillors are “legally bound not to discuss it (the city’s agreement regarding the Senators).
Councillor Jack Miller says it’s complicated by the fact the third party, Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melynyk is not a public company.
McCaw’s motion to release the information by next Monday lost on a recorded vote of 7 to 2, with Councillors McCaw and Mitch Panciuk voting in favour.
