Integrity Commissioner of Ontario

Integrity Commissioner of Ontario
Post	Integrity Commissioner of Ontario
Body	Ontario
Formation	1988

Integrity Commissioner of Ontario The Integrity Commissioner of Ontario is an independent officer appointed under the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to administer rules governing ethical conduct, conflicts of interest, and disclosure for members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and designated public institutions. The office operates at the intersection of statutes such as the Members' Integrity Act, 1994, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (where comparative practice is relevant), and administrative standards shaped by decisions, advisories, and reports referencing institutions including the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, the Auditor General of Ontario, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and provincial ministries such as the Ministry of the Attorney General (Ontario).

History

The office was created in the late 20th century against a backdrop of reforms connected to high-profile events like debates following the Patronage controversies and inquiries similar to the Krever Commission and the Walkerton Inquiry. Early developments mirrored federal counterparts including the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (Canada) and international models such as the Ombudsman tradition in Sweden and standards advanced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Prominent figures influencing provincial oversight include legal scholars associated with the University of Toronto and the Osgoode Hall Law School, and public commissions such as the Task Force on Public Ethics. Over time the office’s remit evolved alongside legislation like the Members' Integrity Act, 1994 and case law from the Ontario Court of Appeal, with interactions involving authorities such as the Canadian Judicial Council, the Law Society of Ontario, and the Superior Court of Justice (Ontario).

Mandate and Powers

Statutory authority derives principally from the Members' Integrity Act, 1994, which articulates duties comparable to provisions in the Conflict of Interest Act at the federal level. The Commissioner issues advisory opinions, registers disclosures comparable to filings under the Lobbying Act (Canada) and liaises with entities such as the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario on confidentiality. Powers include investigation, reporting to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and recommending sanctions or remedial measures akin to those used by the Ethics Commissioner (New Brunswick) or the Integrity Commissioner (British Columbia). The office’s practice is informed by precedents from bodies like the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) review bodies and standards developed by the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research and policy units in the Munk School of Global Affairs.

Appointment and Tenure

Appointments are made by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario often following consultation with leaders from parties represented on the floor, including the Ontario Liberal Party, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, and the Ontario New Democratic Party. Commissioners have been senior lawyers or former judges with backgrounds at institutions such as the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Supreme Court of Canada in the careers of peers, or academic appointments at the Queen’s University Faculty of Law or McGill University Faculty of Law where comparative ethics scholarship is developed. Tenure and removal provisions reflect safeguards similar to those in place for officers like the Auditor General of Canada and the Information Commissioner of Canada, involving reports to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and, in high-profile disputes, scrutiny from committees such as the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

Complaint and Investigation Process

Complaints may be initiated by members of the public, elected members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, or organizations such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and unions like the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. The process typically involves preliminary screening, discretionary jurisdictional assessment analogous to procedures used by the Ontario Human Rights Commission, followed by formal investigations employing techniques used by provincial regulatory bodies including the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the Law Society of Ontario. Investigations result in interim communications, confidential inquiries, and published reports to the Assembly where matters intersect with parliamentary privilege as considered in cases before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Notable Cases and Reports

The Commissioner’s public reports have addressed conduct by members associated with parties such as the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, the Ontario Liberal Party, and the Ontario New Democratic Party. High-profile matters have engaged institutions including the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario), the Ministry of Education (Ontario), and agencies like Hydro One. Reports have been cited in media outlets including the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, and the National Post, and have influenced legislative responses akin to reforms following inquiries such as the Goudge Inquiry. Decisions have been discussed in academic journals published by the University of Toronto Press and policy papers from think tanks like the Institute for Research on Public Policy and the Fraser Institute.

Relationship with Other Oversight Bodies

The office maintains working relationships and occasional overlaps with the Ombudsman of Ontario, the Auditor General of Ontario, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, and federal counterparts including the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner (Canada). Coordination occurs with regulatory agencies such as the Ontario Securities Commission when financial disclosure intersects with disclosure regimes, and with law enforcement bodies including the Ontario Provincial Police in matters warranting criminal referral. Cross-jurisdictional dialogue has involved organizations like the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management and international partners including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to harmonize standards of public sector integrity.

Category:Politics of Ontario Category:Canadian government officials