The City of Windsor has formally denied a request from CTV Windsor to access details of a settlement agreement reached in a wrongful dismissal lawsuit involving a former municipal engineer. The denial was issued in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed by the news outlet.
City Withholds Settlement Details
On January 1, 2026, the municipality confirmed it would not release the terms of the confidential agreement. The settlement stems from a legal dispute over the termination of the engineer's employment. While the city has acknowledged the existence of the settlement, officials have cited exemptions under freedom of information legislation to justify withholding the specific financial terms and conditions agreed upon by both parties.
Transparency and Public Interest Questions
This decision raises questions about transparency in the use of public funds for legal settlements. Freedom of Information laws are designed to allow public access to government records, but they contain specific provisions that permit authorities to deny requests under certain circumstances, such as protecting personal privacy or solicitor-client privilege. The city's move to block the request suggests it is invoking one or more of these legal protections.
CTV Windsor sought the documents to inform the public about how municipal resources were being utilized to resolve the employment dispute. The denial prevents taxpayers from learning the potential cost of the settlement, which would typically be covered by the city's budget or its insurance provider.
Broader Context of Municipal Accountability
Cases like this often spark debate over where the line should be drawn between an individual's right to privacy in a personnel matter and the public's right to know how its money is spent. Municipal governments across Canada frequently grapple with balancing these competing interests when dealing with lawsuits from former employees.
The outcome of this specific FOI request may not be the final word. Media organizations sometimes appeal such denials to provincial information and privacy commissioners, who can review the city's decision and order the release of records if they determine the public interest outweighs the reasons for secrecy.
For now, the details of Windsor's settlement with its former engineer remain confidential, shielded from public scrutiny by the city's interpretation of access-to-information laws.
