The chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) has resigned from his position on the Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority Transition Committee.
Ed McGugan released a statement on Thursday detailing his resignation to Don Goodyear, the Project Executive with the committee.
In the statement, McGugan says that the "decision best maintains my integrity and values as an elected official, especially as they relate to my requirements for openness and transparency with the Boards, Councils and communities I serve."
McGugan claims that "the degree of expected confidentiality related to the transition planning" was not communicated to him when he was appointed to the transition committee.
Additionally, McGugan states that upon receiving a confidentiality document following the first official Transition Committee meeting on September 9, some members of the transition committee disputed the legality or "the appropriateness of expecting elected officials to not report back to their Boards and Councils."
"The confidentiality clause in the Terms of Reference and the non-disclosure agreement (or Confidentiality Undertaking) are, in the opinion of our legal counsel, not in line with the Duty to Report that we have as elected officials and is in contravention of the Municipal Act section 239 that sets out the legal rules for transparency, open meetings and closed, or 'in-camera' sessions," McGugan stated. "As such, I can no longer continue serving in the capacity as a representative on the LHRCA Transition Committee. I remain committed to the health of the local watersheds within the MVCA's area of jurisdiction and finding opportunities to continue to advocate for the priorities set by Maitland Conservation’s Board to strengthen the resiliency of our lands and waterways."
McGugan's statement follows recent concerns raised by the Township of Huron-Kinloss over transparency in the province's plan to consolidate conservation authorities.
McGugan's full resignation letter can be read by clicking here.
