Toronto – Acting Integrity Commissioner Lynn Morrison made the following statement today in relation to the Premier’s announcement regarding review of agency expenses: “Since 2002, this Office has had responsibility for expense review in relation to Cabinet Ministers, Opposition Leaders and their staff. An expansion of this mandate makes sense and I’ve accepted this responsibility subject to development of a legislative framework to give this Office the mandate and authority to perform this work.”

The Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, who is an Officer 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, ministers’ 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.

More information about the Office of the Integrity Commissioner is available at www.oico.on.ca.
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For more information:
Valerie Jepson
Counsel
Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario
416-314-898
Valerie.Jepson@oico.on.ca