Hollingsworth pushes for government ads in online publications

As news consumers switch to Internet-based media, Ward 1 Coun. Sandra Hollingsworth wants to see municipal notices published in more places than just local newspapers.

Citizens have complained in recent months that they were unaware of public meetings, especially those related to planning matters in their neighbourhoods.

The city has been looking at ways to better promote such events, but Ontario law stipulates that prescribed public notices from municipalities must appear in printed newspapers.

At next week's city council meeting, Hollingsworth and wardmate Sonny Spina will ask that the city push the province for new legislation to "include online publications as an acceptable means of complying with public notice requirements that refer to newspaper publication in provincial acts and regulations.

The following is the full text of their resolution:

Prescribed public notice requirements

Mover: Coun. S. Hollingsworth
Seconder: Coun. S. Spina

Whereas Section 87 of the Legislation Act, 2006 defines “newspaper” in Acts and regulations requiring publication, as a document that:

• is printed in sheet form, published at regular intervals of a week or less and circulated to the general public; and
• consists primarily of news of current events of general interest

Whereas Ontario municipalities are required to follow prescribed publication and notice requirements of provincial acts and regulations, and

Whereas online digital news has become an important part of Canadians’ news media diets;

Now therefore be it resolved that Council of Sault Ste. Marie does hereby request the provincial government to make an amendment to the Legislation Act, 2006 to include online publications as an acceptable means of complying with public notice requirements that refer to newspaper publication in provincial acts and regulations; and 

That this resolution be forwarded to the minister of municipal affairs and housing, MPP Ross Romano Sault Ste. Marie, Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM).

Next week's council meeting will be held on Tuesday because of the Family Day holiday on Monday.

SooToday's livestreamed coverage will start at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday  with a special session at which Dr. Chelene Christine Hanes and David Orazietti will be presented with the 2023 Medal of Merit.