Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake, K.C., today filed a report with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario regarding the Honourable Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Etobicoke Centre. The report is in response to an affidavit submitted by Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition and MPP for Davenport, on October 16, 2024, in which she requested an opinion under section 30 of the Members' Integrity Act, 1994. 

Specifically, Ms. Stiles requested an opinion on whether Minister Surma contravened sections 2 and 3 of the Act in relation to the Ontario Place revitalization project, including the agreement with Therme Group Canada (“Therme”).

Under the Act, when a request is made by an MPP under section 30, the Commissioner will first determine if there are sufficient grounds to conduct an inquiry.

After assessing both the request and materials provided in a responding affidavit from Minister Surma, Commissioner Wake determined that there were insufficient grounds for him to conduct an inquiry, mainly because Minister Surma was not the minister responsible for the majority of the period under scrutiny related to the project and the agreement with Therme. The prior actions of others cannot be attributed to Minister Surma. The submissions in Ms. Stiles’ request contained no specific allegation as to how Minister Surma contravened the Act by improperly furthering Therme’s interest after she became the minister responsible for Ontario Place.

As required by the Act, the Commissioner has set out his reasons in the report filed with the Speaker. The report is available online under MPP Integrity, Commissioner’s Reports.

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