FOI requests too costly: Oro-Medonte mayor
By Frank Matys Orillia Today January 22 2016
Oro-Medonte council wants greater leeway to recoup costs from residents who lodge freedom of information requests – a move critics say would discourage residents from digging into township matters.
Last year, the township incurred close to $60,000 in costs related to FOI requests.
“What we are trying to do is to ensure that the system is not open to abuse,” Mayor Harry Hughes said.
Oro-Medonte is urging Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to review and update the FOI fee provisions to reflect the cost of responding to these requests.
An increase in FOI requests speaks to a public thirst for information, says Wendy McKay, of SaveOro, a group battling an expansion of Burl’s Creek Event Grounds.
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