Ombudsman's office 'drama we don't need'

When Ontario's Ombudsman makes his much anticipated visit to Sudbury city council next month, it could feel a bit like a job interview.

Following a recent tiff between councillors and Andre Marin — when he called them the most uncooperative group he had ever dealt with and accused them of political gymnastics — some councillors are thinking about dumping the Ombudsman as Greater Sudbury's official investigator.

Back in January 2011, Sudbury city council selected the Ombudsman's office over other organizations to be the city's third-party investigator for the next four years.

Councillor Frances Caldarelli was the lone vote against hiring the Ombudsman last year, and this week she urged her fellow councillors to end his contract with Greater Sudbury.

"I think there's a lot of drama out of the Ombudsman's office and I think it's drama we don't need," she said.

"I certainly hope that council will at some point consider getting rid of the drama."

Several other councillors echoed Caldarelli's sentiments, including Councillor Terry Kett, who didn't like the spectre of an Ombudsman investigation hanging over the discussion about a private training session.

"I think the intrusion of the Ombudsman into our process here has just ruined it," he said. "It's as simple as that."

This should all make for an interesting evening Dec. 11, when Marin comes to educate Sudbury city councillors about the rules surrounding private meetings.