Background

On January 26, 2019, the Town of Midland Council appointed Principle Integrity as the Town's Integrity Commissioner for the period February 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021.

The Role of the Integrity Commissioner

The role of the Integrity Commissioner is to:

provide advice on the application of the Council Code of Conduct, and the Town's policies, procedures, protocols and rules relating to the ethical conduct of Members, and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act;
investigate complaints regarding whether a Member has contravened the Code of Conduct, Town policies, procedures, protocols and rules relating to the ethical conduct of Members, or Section 5 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act;
provide opinions on policy matters and report to Council on issues of ethics and integrity;
upon request by the Town, provide educational information and training to Council, to Members and to the public on matters related to the Code of Conduct and issues of ethics and integrity and to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act;
provide general information to members of the public, on request, about the Code of Conduct, complaint protocols and the availability of complaint resolution services or referrals;
maintain custody and control of the Integrity Commissioner's complaint and inquiry files and, on completion of his or her term of appointment, transfer open files relating to ongoing matters to the incoming Integrity Commissioner appointed by Council;
provide such other services respecting ethical and integrity matters as assigned by Council or as may be required by the Municipal Act, 2001; and
report annually to Council on the advice, education and investigations carried out in the previous year, and developments or recommendations of significance related to the role of the Town's Integrity Commissioner.

The Integrity Commissioner must undertake these duties impartially and with neutrality, in a skillful, competent, independent manner, and in accordance with all applicable laws.

Complaint and Investigations

Complaints are to be submitted directly to the Integrity Commissioner:

Principles Integrity
Jeffrey A. Abrams and Janice Atwood-Petkovski
Email: postoffice@principlesintegrity.org
Tel: 647-259-8697

For additional information, please contact the Integrity Commissioner's office at the contact information provided above.

Informal Complaint Procedure

Any person or representative of an organization who has identified or witnessed behaviour or an activity by a member of Council that they believe is in contravention of the Council Code of Conduct (the "Code") may wish to address the prohibited behaviour or activity themselves as follows:

1) advise the member that the behaviour or activity contravenes the Code;

2) encourage the member to stop the prohibited behaviour or activity;

3) keep a written record of the incidents including dates, times, locations, other persons present, and any other relevant information;

4) if applicable, confirm to the member your satisfaction with the response of the member; or, if applicable, advise the member of your dissatisfaction with the response; and

5) consider the need to pursue the matter in accordance with the formal complaint procedure, or in accordance with another applicable judicial or quasi-judicial process or complaint procedure.

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. With the consent of the complaining individual or organization and the member, the Integrity Commissioner may be part of any informal process. However, it is not a precondition or a prerequisite that those complaining must pursue the informal complaint procedure before pursuing the Formal Complaint Procedure.

Formal Complaint Procedure

A request for an investigation of a complaint that a member has contravened the Code of Conduct shall be sent directly to the Integrity Commissioner on the prescribed form by email at: postoffice@principlesintegrity.org

All complaints must contain the following:

Complainant's name and contact information
Name of the member who has allegedly convened the Code, the Municipal Act, or the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act
Details highlighting the reasonable and probable grounds for the allegation, i.e. provision of the Code allegedly contravened, facts constituting the alleged contravention, the names and contact information of witnesses
Any other information deemed relevant to the investigation
Original signature

Please contact the Integrity Commissioner if you require additional information.

File a Complaint

Complaint Form

Codes of Conduct

2019-10 Code of Conduct - Council

2019-11 Code of Conduct - Local Boards & Committees

​Background