East Ferris calls for judicial inquiry into CA finances

East Ferris council has passed a motion asking the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to call a judicial inquiry into the finances of the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority.

The authority has a debt of $5.4 million, although it could rise to $7.2 million if the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation was to call for repayment of $1.8 million in conditional contributions, which had their conditions broken.

Obviously aware
Mayor Bill Vrebosch, pictured here, said his council had approved the motion because the citizens of the area “have lost all faith” in the ability of the current authority board to solve the mess.

He also called on the ministry to take action on the motion.

“They’re obviously aware of this and have so far been shirking their duties by choosing to ignore it, but we feel it’s part of their mandate to move on this thing,” Vrebosch said.

“No other municipal commission or government would be allowed to flounder like this for so long. They’d have been in here a long time ago if this was happening in my township.”

Black cloud
Vrebosch said the ministry was directly approached because, unlike a motion by North Bay city council Monday, his council doesn’t want to leave the decision in the hands of the authority board.

North Bay’s motion calls for the board to ask the province for both a forensic audit and a judicial inquiry.

Calling the inquiry is important, Vrebosch said, because it would allow “the black cloud” hovering over the authority to be lifted.

“It’s fair to the group that’s in there right now,” Vrebosch said.

“How do you go to a meeting and deal with business with this thing over your head.”

Had a handle
Vrebosch said his council took a “little stronger” step than North Bay because East Ferris councillor Donald Champagne, the township’s rep on the board has unsuccessfully asked for an audit to be done.

“They ignored him and said they already had a handle on the situation,” Vrebosch said.

Vrebosch said he’d like David King, the ministry’s manager for local government, to come to the area and call a meeting.

“He should tell us about costs of the proceedings and talks to us about what direction we want to go with this issue,” Vrebosch said.

The matter will be discussed tonight at the authority's board meeting.

BayToday.ca will be there.