The Honourable J. David Wake, Integrity Commissioner, today released his report into a complaint regarding Stephen Crawford, MPP for Oakville. The report is in response to an affidavit submitted by Stephen Blais, Member of Provincial Parliament for Orleans, on June 1, 2021, in which he requested an opinion under section 30 of the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994.

Mr. Blais alleged that Mr. Crawford contravened the conflict of interest provisions of the Act by holding investments in companies involved in long-term care and failing to recuse himself from decisions that would have a material impact on these companies, specifically decisions relating to the Ministry of Infrastructure’s Long-Term Care Development Program and by voting on Bill 218, Supporting Ontario’s Recovery and Municipal Elections Act, 2020. 

Following the inquiry, Commissioner Wake found that Mr. Crawford did not have any influence in the decision-making process related to the Long-Term Care Development Program. Further, the Commissioner found that Mr. Crawford was not in breach of the Act when he voted for Bill 218, because it was a law of general application and his private interest was not engaged by the Bill.

Commissioner Wake makes the following recommendation in the report: that the Members’ Integrity Act be reviewed to consider whether the restriction for cabinet ministers from holding or trading in securities, futures or commodities be extended to members and parliamentary assistants who have significant assets or stock portfolios.

The full report can be found at www.oico.on.ca under MPP Integrity, Commissioner’s Reports.

The Commissioner is not available for interviews.

About the OIC

The Office has seven mandates under five pieces of legislation:

• Members’ Integrity, providing confidential conflict of interest advice to MPPs and conducting inquiries into alleged breaches;
• Ministers’ Staff Ethical Conduct, providing conflict of interest advice and direction to public servants in ministers’ offices;
• Lobbyist Registration, operating Ontario’s lobbyist registry and conducting investigations into potential non-compliance;
• Disclosure of Wrongdoing, receiving whistleblowing disclosures from current and former members of the Ontario Public Service;
• Public Sector Ethics, providing conflict of interest advice and direction to Ethics Executives in ministries and public bodies; and,
• Expenses Review:
  • Reviewing the travel, meal and hospitality expenses of Cabinet ministers, parliamentary assistants, Opposition leaders, and their staff; and,
  • Reviewing the travel, meal and hospitality expenses of selected agencies.

Contact: Michelle Renaud, Manager, Communications and Outreach | michelle.renaud@oico.on.ca |