Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake today released his report into a complaint regarding Minister Bob Chiarelli, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, Minister Michael Coteau, Member of Provincial Parliament for Don Valley East and Minister Yasir Naqvi, Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa Centre. The complaint was filed by Catherine Fife, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener-Waterloo, under section 30 of the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994.
The inquiry examined the allegation that, in the organization of partisan fundraising events, the ministers breached the conflict of interest provision in s.2 of the Act.
The Commissioner found that the ministers did not further their respective private interests, and therefore did not breach the Act. The Commissioner also found no proof that the ministers directed their senior staff to participate in fundraising activities. Accordingly, there was no deliberate attempt by the ministers to use their offices in such a way that the lines between partisan fundraising and government business were blurred.
The Commissioner also released a report into a complaint regarding former Minister Madeleine Meilleur. This complaint was also filed by Ms. Fife. As Ms. Meilleur was not an MPP when the complaint was filed, the Commissioner found that he had no jurisdiction to deal with the matter.
The full reports can be found at www.oico.on.ca under MPP Integrity. The Commissioner is not available for interviews.
About the OIC
The Office of the Integrity Commissioner has five key responsibilities: members’ integrity, ministers’ staff ethical conduct, lobbyists registration, disclosure of wrongdoing (whistle-blowing) and expenses review for Cabinet Ministers, opposition leaders, and selected agencies.
An Officer of the Legislative Assembly, the Integrity Commissioner is independent of government.
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Contact:
Andrew Willis, Communications Coordinator
Office of the Integrity Commissioner
416-314-5902
andrew.willis@oico.on.ca