Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake has filed his 2022-2023 annual report with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The report is available on the Office website under Publications.

The report covers the activity of the Office’s seven mandates and includes anonymized examples of advice provided to Members of Provincial Parliament and direction provided to ministers’ staff based on their respective ethical obligations. Summaries of completed investigations under the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998, the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994, as well as disclosure of wrongdoing cases under the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006 are also published in the report.

In his annual message, Commissioner Wake outlines several possible legislative amendments to the Office’s mandate-enabling legislation, pointing out that regular and thoughtful review of these laws is key for Ontario’s ethics and accountability systems to remain current and effective.

Among the annual report highlights:

• the Office responded to 290 inquiries from MPPs regarding the rules under the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994;
• it handled 147 inquiries from ministers’ staff regarding ethical conduct, political activity and post-employment obligations;
• it responded to 204 matters under the public sector ethics mandate;
• 22 disclosures of wrongdoing were filed by public servants, and four matters were investigated and concluded;
• 55 Advisory Opinions were provided to lobbyists, and 12 investigations into lobbying non-compliance were concluded; and,
• staff reviewed 2,895 travel, meal and hospitality expense claims.

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;
• Lobbyists Registration, operating Ontario’s lobbyist registry and conducting investigations into potential non-compliance;
• Public Sector Ethics, providing conflict of interest advice and direction to Ethics Executives in ministries and public bodies;
• Disclosure of Wrongdoing, receiving whistleblowing disclosures from current and former members of the Ontario Public Service; 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 provincial agencies.

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