The Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario (OICO) today filed its Annual Report with the Speaker of the Ontario Legislature.

Since its inception in 1989, the role of the OICO has expanded. In addition to its original mandate for members’ conduct under the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994 (originally called the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act, 1988), the office has responsibility for four additional mandates: lobbyist registration, the review of ministers’ and opposition leaders’ expenses, ministers’ staff ethical conduct and receiving disclosures of potential wrongdoing from the Ontario public service (whistle-blowing).

“While our mandate has expanded significantly in the last 20 years, the original objectives remain the same – reassuring the electorate of the integrity of the Legislature and of the Government in an effort to improve and maintain public confidence in our system of government,” said Acting Integrity Commissioner Lynn Morrison. “I am pleased to be tabling my annual report, which includes a report on all areas of responsibility.” 

This Annual Report includes statistics on all areas of operation.

Among the statistics in the 2008-2009 Annual Report:

• the OICO received 360 inquiries from MPPs regarding members’ integrity;

• there were 108 inquiries received from ministers’ staff regarding ethical conduct, political activity and post-employment obligations;

• as of March 31, 2009, there were 1,853 active registrations in the lobbyist registry; and,

• there were 19 files reviewed related to the disclosure of wrongdoing in the public service, 7 of these were referred for further investigation to the appropriate deputy minister/public body chair.

The Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, which is an Office of the Legislative Assembly and is independent from government, is responsible for five key areas – members’ integrity, lobbyist registration, the review of Ministers and opposition leaders’ expenses, Minister’s staff ethical conduct and the public service disclosure of wrongdoing (whistle-blowing). These responsibilities are outlined in the Members Integrity Act, 1994, the Lobbyist Registration Act, 1998, Cabinet Ministers’ and Opposition Leaders’ Expenses Review and Accountability Act, 2002 and the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.

The Annual Report is available at www.oico.on.ca.

Ce communiqué est également disponible en français. 

For more information:

Valerie Jepson
Counsel
Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario
416-314-8983

Valerie.Jepson@oico.on.ca