The committee was studying the Conflict of Interest Act, hearing from Ariane Mignolet, Ethics Commissioner of Québec, and Cathryn Motherwell, Integrity Commissioner of Ontario.
Mignolet emphasized that integrity and even the appearance of integrity are essential for public trust, and that Quebec’s code includes values and ethical principles that guide conduct beyond specific rules, allowing flexibility in prevention and interpretation. She noted that Quebec’s code does not define conflict of interest but prohibits certain actions, and she can recommend eight sanctions—including loss of seat or executive council membership—though the assembly decides. She stressed that transparency must balance public expectations with privacy and commissioner independence, and that ethics screens are useful but should not require daily monitoring; she recommended mandatory ethics training for elected officials, which Quebec lacks, and earlier outreach to candidates.
Motherwell described Ontario’s Members’ Integrity Act, which requires all 124 MPPs to submit annual financial disclosures and meet individually with her, and restricts ministers from holding securities or managing businesses, with blind trusts as a key tool—currently used by eight ministers. She explained that trusts are administered by arm’s-length trustees approved by her office, with all communications routed through her, and that ethics screens are used separately for relationship-based conflicts, overseen by career public servants in cabinet office without her office’s ongoing involvement. She supported regular legislative reviews and noted that Ontario’s regime builds trust through mandatory in-person meetings, but she disagreed with calls for more oversight of screens, arguing that career officials can administer them effectively.
Barrett asked Mignolet about sanctions; she confirmed Quebec’s code allows recommending reprimand, penalties, reimbursement, suspension, or loss of seat or executive council membership, but she has no fixed monetary scale. Lapointe asked about Quebec’s strengths; Mignolet cited values-based rules and the commissioner’s appointment by two-thirds of the assembly via a joint motion with the opposition, and noted that ethics training is not mandatory in Quebec. Thériault explored perceived conflicts of interest; Mignolet said Quebec’s code does not define them but includes them implicitly, and she can investigate on her own initiative. Cooper asked Motherwell about ethics screens; she said they are deployed for relationships, administered by cabinet office career staff, and she is not informed when they are triggered. Sari asked about social media regulation; Mignolet said Quebec’s code applies regardless of context, and she emphasizes awareness and respect. Thériault asked about blind trusts versus management agreements; Mignolet explained that trusts remove assets from the minister’s property while management agreements do not, and both prevent the minister from seeing assets. Hardy asked about public confidence; both commissioners agreed trust is essential, with Motherwell noting that members value the system. Saini asked about trust administration; Motherwell said trustees must be at arm’s length and are interviewed by her office, and she approves all communications. Church asked about trustee guidance; Motherwell described providing resources, templates, and approving all information sent to ministers. Thériault asked whether the prime minister should face higher standards; Mignolet was unsure, arguing that all ministers have executive functions and she can investigate on her own initiative, while Motherwell said trusts work based on her experience and evidence would be needed to change the model.
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