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THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ DECEMBER 29,2004 ♦ PAGE 5 durhamregion.com Proposed bill offers protection for council, Mayor Mutton says Legislation could encourage open debate in meetings, MPP says BY DAVID BLUMENFELD Staff writer DURHAM -- A new bill, if passed, would give municipal council and school board members the power to say what's on their minds in meetings without reprisals from outside interest groups, said Oshawa MPP Jerry Ouellette, Ouellette, who introduced the bill Dec. 15 at Queen's Park. The Elected Officials Immunity Act 2004 would give municipal council and school board members the same speaking speaking privileges given to members of the fédéral and provincial governments. Mr. Ouellette said the bill would promote more freedom of speech and democracy in chamber sittings and encourage public public debate without the fear of potential lawsuits. "I know very specifically the reason I brought it in. It was brought to me by elected officials in the past... that they ' had been told that if they criticized or mentioned the inaction of certain individuals individuals or people then ihey would be charged for it," he said. "I'm not saying which level of offi cials were the ones that were saying this to me, but it was brought to my attention... attention... that if they said (other officials) weren't doing their job again they'd sue them for defamation of character. "What happens is then you're always second-guessing what you're going to say, and what you're not going to say, and making sure you're saying the right thing so you're not held liable for it," he added. Mr. Ouellette said the goal of the bill is to create more open and free discussion discussion of issues among local councils and school boards -- something he said isn't happening. "It's about letting elected officials do their job, and part of the problem sometimes sometimes is there's a reluctance or a hesi- tance, particularly with new individuals being elected to positions, to speak their mind without having the threat of reprisals reprisals coming forward," he said, adding as the bill was being brought forward he discovered more officials being "influenced "influenced by outside people" and threatened with legal action as well. The bill, which goes to second reading in the legislature next spring, appears to have the support of some of the region's mayors. "This gives elected officials the type of immunity needed at the local level so that they are not bullied by special interest groups or threatened by legal action," said Clarington Mayor John Mutton. DURHAM RfGION Waste Management Facilities Holiday Hours Please take note of the following hours of operation during the holidays . Closed December 24 to December 28 . 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