Integrity Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell has filed her 2024-2025 annual report with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

In her first annual message, Commissioner Motherwell, who was appointed on April 16, 2025, highlighted activities in each of the Office’s seven mandates.

“The Office hit near-record volumes of work in all mandates, impressive milestones that are a testament to the depth and breadth of the Office’s work in government ethics,” Commissioner Motherwell said.

Examples of this work include the conclusion of 17 investigations under the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998, where six penalties were imposed following findings of non-compliance with the Act. The Office also handled more than 750 requests for advice or guidance from members of provincial parliament, ministers’ staff and senior public servants at Ontario public bodies.

The report provides anonymized examples of advice provided MPPs and direction provided to ministers’ staff based on their respective ethical obligations. Additionally, summaries of disclosure of wrongdoing cases under the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006 and completed investigations under the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998 are published in the report.

Commissioner Motherwell thanked former Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake, K.C., for his nine-year tenure. He retired on February 28, 2025.

Annual Report Highlights

• The Office received 345 inquiries from MPPs regarding the rules under the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994.
• It handled 187 inquiries from ministers’ staff regarding ethical conduct, political activity and post-employment obligations.
• It addressed 260 matters under the public sector ethics mandate, including 40 determinations to chairs and senior leaders of Ontario public bodies.
• Ontario public servants filed 40 disclosures of wrongdoing with the Office, and 13 matters were investigated and concluded.
• Lobbyists requested 58 Advisory Opinions on various topics, and the Commissioner concluded 17 investigations into potential non-compliance of lobbyist registration requirements.
• Staff reviewed 4,094 travel, meal and hospitality expense claims.

The report is available on the Office website under Publications.

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 contraventions of ethical obligations;
• 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 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 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