Ethics Commissioner (Canada) - Inquiries and Examinations

Inquiries and Examinations

This is the most active and controversial duty of the Commissioner.

Members of Parliament can request an inquiry into the conduct of other members or public officials if they believe those actions contravene either the Act or the Code. The Commissioner may conduct an inquiry into whether a Member of the Canadian House of Commons as contravened the MP Code on the request of another Member or on her own initiative where there is reason to believe that a contravention has occurred. She may also be directed to conduct an inquiry by resolution of the House.

The Commissioner may also conduct an examination under the Conflict of Interest Act on the request of a member of the Senate of Canada or a member of the House of Commons, or on her initiative, where there is reason the believe that a breach has occurred.

The current Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner has issued several reports on inquiries and examinations. The previous Ethics Commissioner, Bernard Shapiro issued a number of reports on both Members of the House of Commons and public office holders, before the Act came into force.

Both the Act and the Code require that inquiries and examinations must be conducted in private, but the final report is public and tabled in the Canadian House of Commons.