On June 18, 2018, the City of Burlington’s Council appointed Principles Integrity to act as its Integrity Commissioner providing accountability services to the City. The role of the Integrity Commissioner is to support the City’s ethical framework by providing advice and education on the application of the Code of Good Governance and on City policies, procedures, protocols and rules relating to the ethical conduct of Members of Council and members of the City’s local boards, and on matters relating to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Where it is in the public interest to do so, the Integrity Commissioner will conduct inquiries in response to a complaint regarding whether a Member has contravened the Code of Good Governance, City policies, procedures, protocols and rules relating to the ethical conduct of Members, or sections 5, 5.1. or 5.2 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Informal inquires
Anyone who has identified or witnessed behaviour or an activity by a member of Council or a local board that he/she believes is in contravention of the Code of Good Governance or a policy governing their ethical behaviour, or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act may informally address their concern as follows:
- Advise the member that their behaviour or activity appears to contravene the applicable standard;
- Encourage the member to stop the prohibited behaviour or activity;
- Keep a written record of the incidents including dates, times, locations, other persons present, and any other relevant information;
- If applicable, confirm to the member your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with his/her response to your concern cited in #1
- Consider the need to pursue the matter in accordance with a formal inquiry procedure detailed below.
All persons and organizations are encouraged to initially pursue this informal complaint procedure as a means of stopping and remedying a behaviour or activity that is prohibited by the Code. However, it is not a precondition or a prerequisite that those complaining must pursue the informal inquiry procedure before pursuing a formal complaint.
Formal Inquiry Protocol
Any individual who has identified or witnessed behaviour or activity by a Member that appears to be in contravention of the Code of Good Governance, a City policy governing ethical behaviour or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act may address his or her concerns through the formal complaint process set out below, if resolution was not found through the informal complaint process.
All formal complaints should contain the following information:
- Name of municipality
- Complainant's name, mailing address, telephone number and email address
- Nature and background of the particular occurrence including a concise explanation as to why the issue raised may be a contravention of the Code of Good Governance, an identified City policy governing ethical behaviour or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, and any and all evidence in support of the allegation
- Any activities undertaken (if any) to resolve the concern
- Any other relevant information
- Original signature
Formal complaints are to be submitted directly to the Integrity Commissioner:
Principles Integrity
Attention: Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood-Petkovski
Email: Principles Integrity
Tel: 647-259-8697
For additional information please contact the Integrity Commissioner's office at the contact information provided above.