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The Municipality of West Perth appointed Aird & Berlis LLP as Integrity Commissioner on March 1, 2019. The role of the Integrity Commissioner is to help ensure that Members of Council and Local Boards perform their functions in accordance with the Code of Conduct and other procedures, rules or policies governing their ethical behaviour.
The Integrity Commissioner is responsible for the following:
provide confidential written and oral advice to the Mayor, Councillors and Local Board appointees about their own situations respecting the Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Local Boards and other by-laws, policies and procedures governing ethical behaviour, including general advice about the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. The Integrity Commissioner also provides opinions and reports to Council and Local Boards (Restricted Definition), on issues of ethics and integrity.
deal with complaints about breaches of the Code of Conduct pursuant to the Council approved Complaint Protocol. Complaints can be dealt with through a formal or informal process. When carrying out a formal complaint investigation, the Commissioner can summon evidence and examine witnesses under oath. Should the Integrity Commissioner find a contravention, he can recommend various penalties for imposition by Council. The available penalties range from suspension of remuneration to a reprimand or apology.
Any individual who has identified or witnessed a behaviour or activity by a Member that appears to be in contravention of the Code of Conduct or Municipal Conflict of Interest Act may submit an informal or formal complaint.
1. Any individual may seek to address the prohibited behaviour or activity themselves in the following manner by following the Informal Complaint Procedure:
2. Individuals are strongly encouraged to pursue the Informal Complaint Procedure as the first means of remedying behaviour or activity of a Member that they believe violates the Code of Conduct.
3. With the consent of both the complaining individual and the Member, the Integrity Commissioner may participate in any informal process. The parties involved are encouraged to take advantage of the Integrity Commissioner’s potential role as a mediator/conciliator of issues relating to a complaint.
4. The Informal Complaint Procedure is not a precondition or a prerequisite to pursuing the Formal Complaint Procedure.
Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Local Boards
Formal Complaint Form/Affidavit
John Mascarin | jmascarin@airdberlis.com | 416-865-7721
Aird Berlis LLP
Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street, Suite 1800
Toronto, Canada
M5J 2T9