Chronology – Conflict of Interest Rules for Federal Legislators

This chronology highlights milestones in the development of Canada’s federal conflict of interest regimes. Information about the evolution of the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, whose predecessors include the former Office of the Ethics Counsellor and the former Office of the Ethics Commissioner, is also available on the History and Previous Offices pages of this website.

1	20 December 1867	The Rules, Orders and Forms of Proceeding of the Legislature Assembly of Canada, a report of a committee that assisted the Speaker in forming the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, is concurred in by the House and becomes the rules under which the House operates. Standing Order 21 states: “No Member is entitled to vote upon any questions in which he or she has a direct pecuniary interest, and the vote of any Member so interested will be disallowed.” (In 2004, this Standing Order is repealed and replaced by the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, an appendix of the Standing Orders.)
2	20 December 1868	House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and Organization created. This is currently known as the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
3	3 May 1886	In the House of Commons, a Member’s vote is questioned for reasons of pecuniary interest. The practice is to accept the Member’s word. (See p. 1011 of the Debates.)
4	4 June 1900	In the House of Commons, a Member’s vote is questioned for reasons of pecuniary interest. The practice is to accept the Member’s word. (See cols. 6607-6610 of the Debates.)
5	9 July 1906	Debate in the House on Standing Order 21. Determined that a vote with respect to a pay increase to Members did not amount to a case of direct monetary interest because the increase would apply to all Members rather than just one, or to certain Members but not to others. (See cols. 7470-7473 of the Debates.)
6	22 May 1956	Ruling of Speaker Louis-René Beaudoin with respect to the challenge of a Member’s vote due to allegations of pecuniary interest. It was decided that the matter would not be taken up by the House.
7	30 November 1964	Prime Minister Lester Pearson writes a letter to his ministers and colleagues with the purpose of “setting forth a code of ethics and morality that should be followed by them and their staffs in the performance of the public responsibilities.” He forbids bribery and conflicts of interest, making reference to the growing public concern about corruption in government. The letter is a response to charges of bribery and coercion in the House of Commons in relation to a Montreal extradition case.
8	August 1968	Referred to by PM Pierre Trudeau in a statement in the House on July 18, 1973: “Individuals on becoming Ministers have been urged to give up directorships in commercial intities [sic] and I referred in August 1968, to the basic policy of disposal or of the establishment of trusts in cases when conflict could arise.” This would have been raised after the June 25, 1968 general election and before the 28th Parliament began on September 12, 1968. (See p. 5736 of the Debates.)
9	28 January 1970	The President of the Privy Council submits to the House of Commons a September 1969 report by Professor Jeremy Williams of the University of Alberta on the subject of conflict of interest legislation. He recommends five cardinal rules applicable to all Crown services and agents, members of the government and their assistants, and all Members of Parliament and Senators, prohibiting: buying or selling an interest in property to for from the Crown; deriving a profit or advantage from dealings with property of the Crown; entering into competition with the Crown; using insider information; and being influenced by financial or other inducements. He also recommends creating of two committees (Senate and House) to handle conflict of interest issues arising out of Parliament.
10	17 July 1973	Allan MacEachen, President of the Privy Council, tables in the House of Commons a Green Paper entitled Members of Parliament and Conflict of Interest. The paper concludes that the House should adopt legislation, the Independence of Parliament Act, designed to prevent breaches of conflicts of interest among Members and Senators. Legislation also addresses conflict of interest involving Cabinet ministers. (See p. 5687 of the Debates)
11	18 July 1973	Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau reveals guidelines for Cabinet ministers, instead of legislation, in a statement in the House of Commons. (Ministers would be required to resign certain corporate positions, sever business associations, and dispose of certain financial interests while placing others in trust.) The PM says that the “government has concluded that guidelines are preferable to additional legislation specifically relating to ministers since certain aspects of conduct cannot readily be defined except in relation to particular circumstances. An element of discussion with the Prime Minister of the day, seems the best solution.” (See p. 5735 of the Debates.)
12	December 1973	Conflict of interest guidelines for public service workers are outlined in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister. These consisted essentially of principles that the government applied to ministers, political staff and Governor-in-Council appointees. (First Report of the Ethics Counsellor, 2001-2002, Appendix 8.)
13	May 1974	Office of Assistant Deputy Registrar General (ADRG) is created within the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, to manage the federal government’s guidelines on conflict of interest and to process the disclosure of Cabinet ministers’ assets. The first ADRG is David Taylor.
14	15 November 1974	The first registry of Cabinet ministers’ financial holdings is opened for public inspection.
15	27 November 1974	Mitchell Sharp, President of the Privy Council, tables in the House the same Green Paper as Allan MacEachen and places a motion on the Order Paper to have it referred to the Committee on Privileges and Elections. (See p. 1706 of the Debates.)
16	10 June 1975	The House of Commons Standing Committee on Privileges and Elections tables its report on the Green Paper, generally endorsing its provisions but recommending some changes.
17	29 June 1976	The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee tables its report recommending changes to the Green Paper proposal.
18	26 June 1978	Bill C-62, the Independence of Parliament Act, is introduced in the House of Commons along with proposed Standing Orders of the House of Commons and Rules of the Senate changes. The bill dies on the Order Paper.
19	16 October 1978	Bill C-6, the Independence of Parliament Act, is reintroduced with minor amendments. Proposed changes to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons and the Rules of the Senate are tabled in the House on October 30, 1978. Bill C-6 is referred to committee on March 8, 1979, but the bill dies on the Order Paper when Parliament is dissolved on March 26, 1979.
20	30 October 1978	The Rules for the House and the Senate accompanying the Independence of Parliament Act are tabled.
21	March 1979	Report of the Royal Commission on Financial Management and Accountability (Lambert Commission Report) is issued.
22	1 August 1979	New conflict of interest guidelines applicable to Cabinet ministers, their spouses and dependent children are issued by Prime Minister Joe Clark. Personal assets and those of a non-commercial nature (e.g. residences, savings bonds, and works of art) are exempt; assets considered to be non-conflicting (e.g. family business, farms, corporate securities not publicly traded) were to be publicly disclosed. Other assets had to be sold or placed in a blind trust and certain professional, corporate and commercial activities were prohibited altogether.
23	28 April 1980	Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau issues a revised set of guidelines similar to those of Prime Minister Joe Clark, but with the provisions dealing with spouses and dependent children removed.
24	1 May 1980	Conflict of Interest guidelines for Cabinet ministers are tabled by the Liberal government. The guidelines were similar to those of August 1979 but do not specifically apply to spouses and dependent children; however, ministers were not to transfer their assets to their spouses or dependent children to avoid the guidelines. (See p. 609 in the Debates.)
25	21 June 1982	A Member in the House has his vote questioned on the grounds of direct pecuniary interests. (See p. 18709 in the Debates.)
26	Winter 1982	Robert Boyle replaces David Taylor as the Assistant Deputy Registrar General.
27	7 July 1983	Appointment of a Task Force on Conflict of Interest by the federal government for a major review of the policies and procedures on conflict of interest, their evolution, and whether new approaches to the matter should be devised. This is in response to a former minister of PM Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s government allegedly lobbying his former deputy minister (the Gillespie Affair).
28	May 1984	Release of the Report of the Task Force on Conflict of Interest entitled Ethical Conduct in the Public Sector (the Starr-Sharp Report). The report recommends the creation of a Code to replace the existing guidelines. Draft Ethics in Government Act appended to the report, which contains a Code of Ethical Conduct and would have established an independent Office of Public Sector Ethics, with an Ethics Counsellor.
29	1985	Report of the Special Committee on Reform of the House of Commons (the McGrath Report) issued. The Committee was appointed December 5, 1984, to act as a Parliamentary Task Force on the reform of the House of Commons to examine the power, procedures, practices, organization and facilities of the House of Commons.
30	9 September 1985	The Mulroney Government establishes the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders. The Code is based primarily on a number of the Starr-Sharp Task Force’s recommendations. It consolidates in one document the rules for ministers, parliamentary secretaries, ministerial staff, also public servants and Governor-in-Council appointees. Instead of setting up an independent office to administer the Code, it was decided that the Code would continue to be administered by the Assistant Deputy Registrar General. The Code comes into effect on January 1, 1986.
31	10 September 1985	A Member abstains from voting on a matter in which the Member has a direct pecuniary interest. (See p. 6473 of the Debates.)
32	25 November 1985	House of Commons agrees that the Standing Committee on Management and Members’ Services will consider matters related to establish a Register of Members’ Interests. (See p. 8771 of the Debates.)
33	3 February 1986	Standing Order 22 is adopted by the House, obliging the Clerk to keep a public registry of sponsored travel. It reads: “The Clerk of the House shall maintain a public registry of foreign travel by Members of parliament in which Members shall register all visits they make outside Canada, arising from or relating to their membership in the House of Commons where the cost of any such travel is not wholly borne by the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the Member personally, any interparliamentary association or friendship group recognized by the House of Commons and any recognized party, together with the name of the sponsoring person or organization which paid for travel to and or from Canada.”
34	18 March 1986	Five Members travelled to South Korea, some of whom did not register the trip before departing leading to debate in the House with respect to Standing Order 22. The Leaders of the House concluded that a Member may register the trip before or after it takes place.
35	26 March 1986	Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee of the Management and Members’ Services on the Register of Members’ Interests. The government had asked the Standing Committee on Management and Members’ Services to consider whether it would be appropriate to establish a registry of members’ interest (disclosure of remuneration members receive for sitting on the boards of public or private firms or for performing other duties or occupying other positions in various organizations). The Committee concludes that there is no need to alter the existing legislation respecting Members’ conflicts of interest.
36	7 May 1986	Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders on the Register of Senators’ Interests.
37	15 May 1986	Appointment of the Honourable William Parker as a Commissioner to inquire into and report on the allegations of conflict of interest relating to the Honourable Sinclair Stevens.
38	June 1987	Jean-Pierre Kingsley replaces Robert Boyle as Assistant Deputy Registrar General with the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs.
39	3 December 1987	Release of the Report of the Parker Commission on Conflict of Interest (Commission of Inquiry into the Facts of Allegations of conflict of Interest Concerning the Honourable Sinclair M. Stevens). The report found that Mr. Stevens had violated conflict of interest rules on 14 counts. The report also “suggested that the ADRG be redesigned and given a separate and more visible status.”
40	24 February 1988	Introduction and first reading of Bill C-114, the Members of the Senate and House of Commons Conflict of Interest Act.
41	21-22 September 1988	A legislative committee is created to study Bill C-114. It holds three meetings but is unable to complete its deliberations prior to its dissolution on October 1, 1988.
42	9 November 1989	Introduction and First Reading of Bill C-46, the Members of the Senate and House of Commons Conflict of Interest Act (the Bill is essentially the same as Bill C-114 with a few minor changes). The bill dies on the Order Paper when Parliament is prorogued on May 12, 1991.
43	17 February 1990	Georges Tsaï replaces Jean-Pierre Kingsley as Assistant Deputy Registrar General. (Mr. Kingsley becomes the Chief Electoral Officer.)
44	22 November 1991	First reading of Bill C-43, the Members of the Senate and House of Commons Conflict of Interest Act. (This bill is virtually the same as Bill C-114 and Bill C-46.) On the same date, the subject matter of the bill is referred to as Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons.
45	10 June 1992	The Special Joint Committee on Conflict of Interests’ Report to the Senate and to the House of Commons: Subject Matter of Bill C-43 (Conflict of Interests for Parliamentarians) is tabled in the Senate and House.
46	11 March 1993	First reading of Bill C-116, the Conflict of Interest of Public Office Holders Act, which includes amendments to the Parliament of Canada Act.
47	30 March 1993	Second reading of Bill C-116 in the House and its referral to a Special Joint Committee similar to the committee that had reported in June 1992.
48	June 1993	Howard Wilson replaces Georges Tsaï as Assistant Deputy Registrar General.
49	3 June 1993	Report of the Special Joint Committee to the House of Commons recommends that Bill C-116 not be proceeded with. A similar report is made to the Senate on the same day. Both Bill C-43 and Bill C-116 die on the Order Paper when the 34th Parliament is dissolved on September 8, 1993.
50	25 June 1993	Order in Council P.C. 1993-1487: “Order transferring to the Department of Industry, Science and Technology the control and supervision of certain portions of the Public Service and Transferring to the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Amalgamating and Combining the Departments of Industry, Science and Technology and the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs under the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology.”
51	18 January 1994	The Speech from the Throne announces that an ethics counsellor would be appointed to advise ministers and public service workers and to examine the need for legislation. This person to replace the Assistant Deputy Registrar General. The Counsellor would have jurisdiction over the Lobbyist Registration Act and the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders.
52	16 June 1994	Howard Wilson is appointed Ethics Counsellor, in charge of lobbying and conflict of interest. He reports directly to the Prime Minister and serves under the general direction of the Clerk of the Privy Council (announced in speech by PM Jean Chrétien, see Hansard, p. 5395.) Administrative support for the Office of the Ethics Counsellor is provided by Industry Canada (Industry replaces the offices of the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology, and of Consumer and Corporate Affairs in March 1995). A new Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders, little changed from its predecessor, is also released. (It was subsequently amended in 2003, 2004, and 2006.)
53	May 1995	Auditor General of Canada’s May report includes “Chapter 1: Ethics and Fraud Awareness in Government.”
54	June 1995	The House and Senate pass motions to establish a Special Joint Committee to develop a Code of Conduct. (See Order of Reference; Motion in House of Commons, June 19, 1995; Motion in Senate, June 28, 1995.)
55	26 February 1996	Howard Wilson is designated as the Ethics Counsellor for the purposes of the Lobbyists Registration Act. (See Order in Council PC 1996-0266.)
56	March 1996	The House and Senate pass motions to establish a Special Joint Committee to develop a Code of Conduct. (See House of Commons Journals, March 12, 1996; Senate Journals, March 19, 1996.)
57	27 May 1996	The House is informed that a Member’s vote (that of the Minister of Finance) on one question would not be applied to another question in which the Member has a personal interest. (See p. 3041 of Hansard.)
58	March 1997	A Strong Foundation: Report of the Task Force on Public Service Values and Ethics (Tait Report) issued. This is one of nine task forces led by deputy ministers that were established by the Clerk of the Privy Council in 1995. This task force took the form of a Study Team established by the Canadian Centre for Management Development and led by John Tait, former Deputy Minister of Justice and then a Senior Fellow of the Centre.
59	20 March 1997	The Special Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct tables its proposed Code of Official Conduct, the Milliken-Oliver report. (Code of Official Conduct, Sessional Paper No. 2/35-622, see evidence/minutes of Committee here.)
60	9 December 1997	Finance Minister Paul Martin rises to indicate that in the process of the House agreeing to apply the results of one vote to another vote, he had been registered to vote on the Canada Marine Act. He asks for and is granted the unanimous consent of the House to have his vote deleted from the record. (See Hansard.)
61	1999	Office of Public Service Values and Ethics is established.
62	6 May 1999	Ethics Counsellor Howard Wilson appears before the Standing Committee on Industry regarding the Main Estimates for 1999-2000.
63	15 March 1999 to 2002	Bill C-488, NDP MP Gordon Earle’s private Member’s bill, which establishes a Parliamentarians’ Code of Conduct, is introduced. The bill dies on the Order Paper when the first session of the 36th Parliament ends on September 17, 1999, and is reintroduced as Bill C-226 in the next session. The bill again dies on the Order Paper when an election was called and the 36th Parliament ends in October 2000. In the 37th Parliament, 1st session, NDP MP Alexa McDonough introduces private Member’s bill, Bill C-299, to enact a Parliamentarians’ Code of Conduct and the position of an Ethics Commissioner, and BQ MP Stéphane Bergeron introduces Bill C-388, which enacts a statute governing ministers. Neither bill proceeds. In the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session and again in the 3rd Session, NDP MP Alex McDonough introduces private Member’s bill, Bill C-417, which would create a Parliamentarians’ Code of Conduct and the position of an Ethic Commissioner. Neither bill proceeds.
64	17 October 2000	The Auditor General of Canada in his October 2000 report recommends that parliamentarians revisit the issue of conflict of interest/code of conduct.
65	2001	Treasury Board adopts the Internal Disclosure of Information Concerning Wrongdoing in the Workplace Policy. The policy required organizations in the core public administration to establish procedures for reporting wrongdoing and created the position of Public Service Integrity Officer as a neutral third party for investigating wrongdoing in the workplace.
66	23 May 2002	The Prime Minister announces that the Milliken-Oliver report would form the basis of a code of conduct for Members of Parliament and Senators, to be developed in the fall.
67	23 May 2002	Government announces an eight-point plan of action on government ethics.
68	June 2002	Prime Minister issues Guide for Ministers and Secretaries of State. Guide requires that ministers uphold high standards of ethical conduct in both their public and their private lives. It promotes ethical conduct by providing more transparent criteria for assessing ministerial actions and makes it clear that ministers have a responsibility to respect the non-partisanship of the public service.
69	13 June 2002	Ethics Commissioner Howard Wilson appears before the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology to discuss the guidelines for ministers involved in organizing leadership campaigns, as well as any other matters concerning his mandate.
70	23 October 2002	A draft bill and code are tabled in the Senate and the House, which would create the position of the Ethics Commissioner and amend the Rules of the Senate and Standing Orders of the House of Commons: “Proposals to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Ethics Commissioner)” and “Proposals to amend the Rules of the Senate and the Standing Orders of the House of Commons to implement the 1997 Milliken–Oliver Report.” (See Hansard for the House and Senate.)
71	10 April 2003	The House of Commons and Senate committees to which the draft bill had been referred, reports to their respective chambers (27^th Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs; 8^th Report of the Senate Standing Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament).
72	30 April 2003	Bill C-34, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Ethics Commissioner and Senate Ethics Officer) and other Acts in consequence, receives first reading in the House of Commons.
73	June 2003	Privy Council Office issues Guidance for Deputy Ministers and a management accountability framework developed by the Treasury Board Secretariat.
74	June 2003	The Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service is adopted.
75	13 June 2003	The 38^th Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Bill C-34, an Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Ethics Commissioner and Senate Ethics Officer) and other Acts in consequence, is presented to the House. Committee recommends amendments to the bill.
76	13 June 2003	The 40^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs is presented to the House. Interim report on matters related to the inclusion of a code of conduct in the Standing Orders. No government response requested.
77	1 October 2003	Bill C-34 is passed the House of Commons.
78	2 October 2003	Bill C-34 is given first reading in the Senate.
79	30 October 2003	51^st Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, on the Consideration of matters related to the inclusion of a code of conduct in the Standing Orders of the House, is presented to the House. It contains a proposed Conflict of interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. No government response requested.
80	30 October 2003	52^nd Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, on the Consideration of matters related to the inclusion of a code of conduct in the Standing Orders of the House, is presented to the House. It includes opinions from the Canadian Alliance, Bloc Québécois, and New Democratic Party. No government response requested.
81	7 November 2003	Bill C-34 is amended by the Senate at third reading and a message sent to the House to that effect.
82	12 November 2003	Parliament is prorogued and Bill C-34 dies on the Order Paper. (See legislative process of the bill here.)
83	November 2003	Report of the Auditor General of Canada. Tabling of the report is postponed to February 2004 due to the prorogation of Parliament. It includes a review of accountability and ethics in government” (Chapter 2), and a government-wide audit of sponsorship, advertising and public opinion research (chapters 3, 4, 5).
84	December 2003	A revised Conflict of Interest and Post-employment Code for Public Office Holders is issued. It is the first update of the Code since 1994.
85	13 December 2003	Prime Minister Paul Martin releases Governing Responsibly: A Guide for Ministers and Ministers of State.
86	4 February 2004	Ethics, Responsibility, Accountability: An Action Plan for Democratic Reform is tabled in the House of Commons. It proposed appointing an independent Ethics Commissioner and a Senate Ethics Officer reporting to their respective Chamber, the adoption of codes of conduct, the new Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders and new guidelines for ministers and ministers of state entitled, Governing Responsibly: A Guide for Ministers and Ministers of State.
87	11 February 2004	Bill C-34 is reintroduced in the House of Commons as Bill C-4; deemed passed and referred to the Senate.
88	19 February 2004	The Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities appointed, with Justice John Gomery of the Superior Court of Quebec as the sole commissioner (the Gomery Commission).
89	31 March 2004	Bill C-4 is passed by the Senate and given Royal Assent the following day (S.C. 2004, c. 7). Because the Senate had not finalized its Code, the provisions dealing directly with the appointment and mandate of the Senate Ethics Officer were delayed. (They came into force on May 17, 2004.) Amends the Parliament of Canada Act, and creates a new Office of the Ethics Commissioner (effective in May, the former Office of the Ethics Counsellor is dissolved). The new Ethics Commissioner is to perform the duties and functions assigned by the House regarding the conduct of its Members, and to administer any ethical principles, rules or obligations established by the Prime Minister for public office holders. Administration of the Code moves out from Industry Canada; the new Commissioner operates as an Officer of Parliament. (See legislative process of the bill here.)
90	26 April 2004	The House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs adopts the 51^st Report of the 2nd session of the 37th Parliament—the Conflict of Interest Code—as the Committee’s 25th report in the 3rd session of the 37th Parliament and presents it in the House the following day.
91	26 April 2004	Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding his proposed appointment to the position of Ethics Commissioner. The Committee recommends that the House ratify his appointment; the House of Commons approves his appointment three days later, and he begins his duties on May 17, 2004.
92	29 April 2004	Bernard Shapiro is appointed as Ethics Commissioner for a term of five years, replacing Howard Wilson. He is responsible for administering the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders, and, effective October 2004, and the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Code for Members of the House of Commons. (See PC 2004-0656.)
93	29 April 2004	The House of Commons concurs in the 25^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, thus ensuring that the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons would be appended to the Standing Orders of the House Commons.
94	17 May 2004	Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Ethics Commissioner and Senate Ethics Officer) and other Acts in Consequence is proclaimed. Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro begins his duties.
95	4 October 2004	The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, which is appended to the Standing Orders (Report 25), comes into force at the beginning of the 38th Parliament. Standing Orders 21 and 22 are repealed. These state: “No Member is entitled to vote upon any question in which he or she has a direct pecuniary interest, and the vote of any Member so interest will be disallowed”; and “The Clerk of the House shall maintain a public registry of foreign travel by Members of parliament in which Members shall register all visits they make outside Canada, arising from or relating to their membership in the House of Commons where the cost of any such travel is not wholly borne by the Consolidated Revenue Fund, the Member personally, any interparliamentary association or friendship group recognized by the House of Commons and any recognized party, together with the name of the sponsoring person or organization which paid for travel to and or from Canada.”
96	7 October 2004	Revised Conflict of Interest and Post-employment Code for Public Office Holders tabled in the House of Commons (Sessional Paper No. 8525-381-02).
97	18 October 2004	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Subcommittee on the Disclosure Statement (in camera).
98	21 October 2004	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Subcommittee on the Disclosure Statement (in camera).
99	26 October 2004	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Subcommittee on the Disclosure Statement (in camera).
100	December 2004	Mr. Sinclair Stevens succeeds in having Justice Parker’s 1987 Report set aside. Federal Court judge John O'Keefe declared null and void the findings of the Parker Inquiry. The court ruled that Mr. Parker's definition of conflict of interest exceeded that in the guidelines governing ministers in the Mulroney Cabinet, and that this step exceeded Mr. Parker's mandate. In voiding the definition of conflict of interest, the judge found that Mr. Stevens's behaviour did not violate the guidelines that governed him, since no valid guidelines existed.
101	8 December 2004	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics on the mandate of the Committee. The Committee’s related Third Report recommended changes to the Standing Orders and to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, and was presented to the House December 14, 2004. Among the Committee’s recommendations: that the Commissioner submit to the Committee proposed rules to administer the Members’ Code and that the Committee undertake a comprehensive review of the Members’ Code five years after it comes into force and every five years thereafter. No date of concurrence.
102	9 December 2004	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Subcommittee on the Disclosure Statement (in camera).
103	January 2005	Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Judy Sgro resigns amid allegations of conflict of interest and ethical breaches.
104	10 February 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics on funding mechanisms. Commissioner Shapiro notes: “The legislation chosen by Parliament was to grant my office parliamentary status, establish the Ethics Commissioner as an officer rather than an agent of Parliament, and to define the budgetary approval process through the Speaker of the House of Commons. […] I’m satisfied with the arrangement, because I think the arrangement I have works well in this context.” The Committee tables its Fourth Report, on May 10, 2005, which is concurred in by the House on October 5, 2005.
105	24 February 2005	The Senate, following consideration of the matter in Committee of the Whole, approves the appointment of Mr. Jean T. Fournier as the first Senate Ethics Officer.
106	1 April 2005	Mr. Fournier begins his duties as the Senate Ethics Officer.
107	14 April 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Subcommittee on the Disclosure Statement.
108	21 April 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Subcommittee on the Disclosure Statement (in camera).
109	10 May 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics on the Main Estimates for 2005-2006.
110	10 May 2005	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics tables its Fourth Report, A New Process for Funding Officers of Parliament. It is concurred in by the House October 5, 2005. See Committee work here. Among the recommendations is Recommendation One, which states: “That a new permanent parliamentary body be created as the budget-determination mechanism for the funding of all Officers of Parliament. […]”
111	11 May 2005	The Standing Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament tables its Third Report, containing as appendices a proposed Code and consequential changes to the Rules of the Senate.
112	18 May 2005	The Senate adopts the Third Report, bringing the Conflict of Interest Code for Senators into effect immediately.
113	June 2005	The Grewal Inquiry released (Code).
114	2 June 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics to discuss the non-publication of the report of the Ethics Commissioner on the Sgro inquiry.
115	9 June 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics on the letter of the Ethics Commissioner tabled in the House of Commons by Judy Sgro on May 10, 2005.
116	21 June 2005	The Sgro Inquiry issued.
117	23 June 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics on his report on the Sgro inquiry.
118	28 June 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro is the subject of a discussion by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics following a motion of non-confidence in the Ethics Commissioner. NDP MP Ed Broadbent moved that the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics no longer has confidence in the Ethics Commissioner. After debate, the question was put on the motion and it was negative, by a show of hands: Yea: 4; Nay: 7.
119	October 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro puts out Issues and Challenges 2005, a report intended to address a number of conceptual and procedural challenges that had arisen during the first year of operation of the Office of the Ethics Commissioner.
120	5 October 2005	The House of Commons concurs in the Fourth Report of the House of Commons Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, which recommended a new funding process for officers of Parliament. No government response is requested. A two-year pilot project, the Advisory Panel on the Funding and Oversight of Officers of Parliament, is implemented. Note, the Office of the Ethics Commissioner is not subject to the Panel. For further information about the study, see the Canadian Parliamentary Review article entitled “Funding Officers of Parliament,” by Kristen Douglas and Nancy Holmes.
121	Fall 2005	The Advisory Panel on the Funding and Oversight of Officers of Parliament is created, following the concurrence by the House in the Fourth Report on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. The Panel is a two-year pilot project designed by the Treasury Board Secretariat with the participation of five officers of Parliament. For further information on how the Panel worked, see the Canadian Parliamentary Review article entitled “Funding Officers of Parliament: Canada’s Experiment,” by Jack Stillborn. The project is evaluated in March 2008, by former Clerk of the House William Corbett.
122	18 October 2005	House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs meets on a question of privilege relating to an inquiry conducted by the Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro.
123	20 October 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on a question of privilege relating to an inquiry conducted by the Ethics Commissioner.
124	25 October 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on a question of privilege relating to an inquiry conducted by the Ethics Commissioner.
125	1 November 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on a question of privilege relating to an inquiry conducted by the Ethics Commissioner.
126	1 November 2005	Phase 1 of the report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities (the Gomery Commission) released.
127	3 November 2005	Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on his report on activities in relation to public office holders in 2004-2005.
128	15 November 2005	House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on a question of privilege relating to an inquiry conducted by the Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro (in camera).
129	17 November 2005	House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on a question of privilege relating to an inquiry conducted by the Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro (in camera).
130	18 November 2005	The House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presents its 51^st Report to the House, finding Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro in contempt of the House of Commons. They do not recommend any sanctions. The report is not concurred in by the House.
131	24 November 2005	Deputy Ethics Commissioner Robert Benson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on its study of Issues and Challenges 2005 report.
132	December 2005	The Smith Inquiry (Code) released.
133	January 2006	The Grewal-Dosanjh Inquiry (Code) released.
134	February 2006	The new government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper releases a slightly revised Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders.
135	1 February 2006	The final report (phase 2) of the Commission of Inquiry into the Sponsorship Program and Advertising Activities (Gomery Commission) is released. The report recommends changes to the civil service and its relation to government.
136	March 2006	The Harper-Emerson Inquiry (Code) released.
137	30 May 2006	The 7th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Matters relating to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, recommends changes to section 24 of the Code to exclude any information relating to employment of dependent children. The report is concurred in by the House.
138	June 2006	The Vellacott Inquiry (Code) released.
139	June 2006	The Gallant Inquiry (Code) released.
140	12 December 2006	The Federal Accountability Act (Bill C-2) receives Royal Assent. See stages of study and debates here. The bill creates the Conflict of Interest Act, replacing the Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders (2006), and creates the position of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, replacing previous position of Ethics Commissioner. The new Commissioner will be responsible for administering both the Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. The bill, among other measures, was to abolish the position of the Senate Ethics Officer and transfer the duties of that position to the yet-to-be created position of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. The Senate amends the bill to keep the position; the House disagrees. The Senate insists on the amendment and the House finally concurs.
141	30 March 2007	The Obhrai Inquiry (Code) released.
142	31 March 2007	The resignation of Ethics Commissioner Bernard Shapiro becomes effective. For overview of circumstances leading to this event, see Ian Green, “The Harper Impact on the Federal Ethics Regime,” CPSA-ASCP, February 2007.
143	2 April 2007	Robert Benson, Deputy Ethics Commissioner under Bernard Shapiro, is appointed Interim Ethics Commissioner (PC-2007-0459). Mr. Benson leaves the position at the end of April for a United Nations post related to ethics.
144	11 June 2007	The 54^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs recommending changes to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons is concurred in by the House.
145	14 June 2007	Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to information, Privacy and Ethics on the certificate of her nomination to the position of Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
146	9 July 2007	Parts of the Federal Accountability Act related to the Conflict of Interest Act and the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner come into force.
147	9 July 2007	Appointment of Mary Dawson as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner comes into effect (recommendation of 5^th Report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics).
148	9 July 2007	Regulation regarding service of documents under the Conflict of Interest Act comes into force.
149	20 November 2007	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to advise the Committee of her priorities and recommend priorities to the Committee.
150	March 2008	Former Clerk of the House issues his assessment regarding the Advisory Panel on the Funding and Oversight of Officers of Parliament, a pilot project created in the fall of 2005, following the concurrence by the House in the Fourth Report on the House of Commons Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. This assessment is not publicly available, but excerpts are quoted in a letter from seven agents of Parliament (Interim Auditor General, Lobbying Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer, Information Commissioner, Privacy Commissioner, Official Languages Commissioner, Interim Public Sector Integrity Commissioner) regarding the independence and accountability of agents of Parliament (sent February 16, 2011, as well as on September 2011 to the House and Senate Speakers, to the chairs of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, the Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee Official Languages, the Standing Committee Government Operations and Estimates, and others).
151	10 April 2008	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to discuss the 2008-2009 Main Estimates.
152	7 May 2008	The Thibault Inquiry (under the Code—paragraph 3(2)(a) and section 8, Furthering Private Interests; subsections 12(1), Disclosure of a Private Interest, and 12(4) Disclosure of a Private Interest: Other Circumstances; and section 13, Debate and Voting).
153	4 June 2008	The Soudas Examination issued (under the Act—under the provisions of the 2006 Code, subsections 3(7), 22(3) and 22(8), Preferential Treatment and Private Interests).
154	5 June 2008	The motion adapted by the House of Commons in response to The Thibault Inquiry, results in amending section 3 of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
155	12 June 2008	The Honourable Jeffrey J. Oliphant is appointed to conduct an inquiry into certain allegations respecting the business and financial dealings between Mr. Schreiber and Mr. Mulroney (Order in Council PC 2008-1092).
156	17 June 2008	Response to the motion adopted by the House of Commons on June 5, 2008, for further consideration of The Thibaut Inquiry report (under the Code).
157	16 July 2008	The Flaherty Report issued (under the Act—subsection 3(4) of the 2006 Code, Private Interests, and subsections 7(1) and (2), Recusals).
158	4 December 2008	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on matters related to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
159	18 December 2008	The Flaherty Report issued (under the Act—subsection 3(7), 22(3) and 22(8) of the 2006 Code, Preferential Treatment; and subsections 22(4) and 22(8) of the 2006 Code, Influence).
160	27 January 2009	The 2^nd Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding matters related to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (disclosure forms) is concurred in by the House.
161	2 March 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to provide a briefing.
162	24 March 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Subcommittee of Gifts under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (in camera).
163	20 April 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the 2009-2010 Main Estimates.
164	28 April 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Subcommittee of Gifts under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (in camera).
165	30 April 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Subcommittee of Gifts under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (in camera).
166	7 May 2009	Bill C-30, Senate Ethics Act, is introduced. The bill abolishes to position of the Senate Ethics Officer and transfers the duties and functions of that position to the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. The bill dies in the House.
167	26 May 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Subcommittee of Gifts under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons (in camera).
168	4 June 2009	The 18^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding matters related to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, reflecting the recommendations made by the Subcommittee on Gifts, is concurred in by the House of Commons.
169	17 June 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson’s first appearance before the Commission of Inquiry into Certain Allegations Respecting Business and Financial Dealings Between Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney (the Oliphant Commission). See opening statement.
170	23 June 2009	Liberal Senator James Cowan introduces Bill S-239, to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts). It narrows the circumstances in which public office holders and families may accept gifts, and expands circumstances in which reporting public office holders make disclosures and public declarations regarding gifts they and their families receive. The bill does not pass the Senate.
171	25 June 2009	The Watson Report (under the Act—section 2, Private Interests, section 4, Conflict of Interest, section 6, Decision-making, and section 21, Duty to Recuse).
172	28 July 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson’s second appearance before the Oliphant Commission. See opening statement.
173	6 October 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on the 2008-2009 annual report in respect of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
174	20 October 2009	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on 2008-2009 annual report in respect of the Conflict of Interest Act.
175	13 January 2010	Discontinuance Report relating to an examination of allegations of partisan advertising of government initiatives (under the Act—section 5, General Duty, subsection 6(1), Decision-making; section 7, Preferential Treatment; and section 9, Influence.)
176	9 March 2010	Liberal Senator Joseph Day introduces Bill S-208, to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts). It narrows the circumstances in which public office holders and families may accept gifts, and expands circumstances in which reporting public office holders make disclosures and public declarations regarding gifts they and their families receive. The bill does not pass the Senate.
177	22 April 2010	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to discuss the Main Estimates for 2010-2011.
178	29 April 2010	The Cheques Report issued (under the Code and the Act—Act: section 4, Conflict of Interest, sections, 5, General Duty, section 7, Preferential Treatment, section 8, Insider Information, and section 9, Influence).
179	13 May 2010	The Raitt Report issued (under the Code: section 14, Gifts and other Benefits, section 25, Evasion; and the Act: section 6, Decision-making, and section 7, Preferential Treatment).
180	31 May 2010	The Honourable Jeffery J. Oliphant releases his report on the Inquiry into Certain Allegations Respecting Business and Financial Dealings Between Karlheinz Schreiber and the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney (the Oliphant Commission). Report includes three volumes and makes a number of recommendations for amendments to the Conflict of Interest Act. See Volume 1 (Executive Summary), Volume 2 (Factual Inquiry—with Chapter 11), Volume 3 (Policy and Consolidated Findings and Recommendations).
181	7 September 2010	The Dykstra Report (under the Code – section 14, Prohibition Gifts and other Benefits; section 8, Furthering Private Interests; and under the Act – section 11, Gifts and other Advantages; section 16, Fundraising).
182	5 October 2010	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on the 2009-2010 annual report in respect of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
183	26 October 2010	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the 2009-2010 annual report in respect of the Conflict of Interest Act.
184	16 February 2011	Letter sent from seven agents of Parliament (Interim Auditor General, Lobbying Commissioner, Chief Electoral Officer, Information Commissioner, Privacy Commissioner, Official Languages Commissioner, Interim Public Sector Integrity Commissioner) regarding the independence and accountability of agents of Parliament (sent February 16, 2011, as well as on September 2011 to the House and Senate Speakers, to the chairs of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, the Standing Committee on Access to Information Privacy and Ethics, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee Official Languages, the Standing Committee Government Operations and Estimates, and others).
185	29 September 2011	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on union sponsorship at the spring 2011 NDP convention.
186	14 July 2011	The Guergis Report issued (under the Code, section 8, Furthering Private Interests; section 9, Using Influence; and section 11, Attempts).
187	14 November 2011	Debate on NDP motion to refer The Guergis Report to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs to resolve outstanding questions. House Speaker Andrew Scheer comments on subsection 28(9) of the Code, which gives the Member who is the subject of the report the right to make a statement in the House: Ms. Guergis is no long a Member, and the Committee is invited to examine the Code in light of this situation and make appropriate recommendations. House voted to concur in the report.
188	15 December 2011	Conflict of Interest Act amended regarding outside employment (subsection 15(1.1) added). The amendment is included in Bill C-13, Keeping Canada’s Economy and Jobs Growing Act, which received Royal Assent on December 15, 2011.
189	13 March 2012	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Liaison Committee (in camera).
190	22 March 2012	The Paradis Report issued (under the Act—section 7, Preferential Treatment and subsection 6(1), Decision-making).
191	27 March 2012	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the Main Estimates for 2012-2013.
192	26 April 2012	The Raitt Report issued (under the Act – section 11, Gifts and other Advantages).
193	18 May 2012	Referrals from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner: The Heinke andCharbonneau Report (under the Act— section 5, General Duty, and subsection 6(1), Decision-making).
194	31 May 2012	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in the context of their five-year review of the Code.
195	6 June 2012	The 27^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the review of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons is concurred in by the House. The Committee requests an extension in its deliberations on the Code.
196	18 July 2012	Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner: The Clement Report (under the Act—section 4, Conflict of Interest).
197	17 October 2012	The Sullivan Report issued (under the Act—subsection 35(2), Prohibition on Representation).
198	11 December 2012	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act (in camera).
199	28 January 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act (in camera).
200	30 January 2013	Commissioner Mary Dawson provides the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics with a written submission outlining her recommendations for changes to the Conflict of Interest Act.
201	30 January 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Act. Meeting cut short because of votes in the House.
202	4 February 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Act. Appearing are Gregory Levine (in an individual capacity) and Ian Greene (York University).
203	6 February 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Act. Appearing are Duff Conacher (Democracy Watch) and Lori Turnbull (Dalhousie University).
204	7 February 2013	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women regarding sexual harassment in the federal workplace.
205	11 February 2013	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics as part of its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act.
206	13 February 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act. Appearing are Joe Wild (Privy Council Office) and Lorne Sossin (York University).
207	25 February 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act. Appearing are Guy Giorno (Canadian Bar Association) and Yves Boisvert (École nationale d’administration publique).
208	4 March 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act. Appearing are Jim Patrick & W. Scott Thurlow (Government Relations Institute of Canada) and Karen Shepherd (Lobbying Commissioner).
209	6 March 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act. Appearing are Lynn Morrison (Integrity Commissioner of Ontario) and Paul D.K. Fraser (Conflict of Interest Commissioner of British Columbia).
210	18 March 2013	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics as part of its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act.
211	26 March 2013	The Hill Report issued (under the Act—section 33, Prohibitions after Leaving Office, subsection 35(3), Prohibition on Former Ministers, section 37, Report to Commissioner).
212	22 April 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act—summary of evidence (in camera).
213	30 April 2013	Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner: The Fonberg Report (under the Act—subsection 6(1) Decision-making, section 7, Preferential Treatment, section 21, Duty to recuse).
214	1 May 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act—summary of evidence (in camera).
215	6 May 2013	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics as part of its statutory five-year review of the Act. Meeting is in camera. Also met in public on the Main Estimates for 2013-2014.
216	3 June 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act—summary of evidence (in camera).
217	10 June 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act—consideration of draft report (in camera).
218	13 June 2013	Liberal Senator Joseph Day introduces Bill S-222, to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts). It narrows the circumstances in which public office holders and families may accept gifts, and expands circumstances in which reporting public office holders make disclosures and public declarations regarding gifts they and their families receive. The bill does not pass the Senate.
219	26 June 2013	Bill C-60, Economic Action Plan 2013 Act, No. 1, receives Royal Assent. It amends the definition of “public office holder” in the Conflict of Interest Act to include person appointed or employed under the Public Service Employment Act who are heads of missions.
220	26 June 2013	NDP Member Alexandrine Latendresse’s private Member’s bill, Bill C-419, receives Royal Assent. It creates the Language Skills Act which requires persons appointed to certain offices, including the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, “must, at the time of his or her appointment, be able to speak and understand clearly both official languages.”
221	7 August 2013	The Paradis Report (under the Act—section 5, General Duty; section 11, Gifts and other Advantages).
222	16 October 2013	Conservative MP Mark Adler reintroduces Bill C-520, Non-Partisan Offices of Agents of Parliament Act. The bill dies in the Senate.
223	31 October 2013	Liberal Senator Joseph Day introduces Bill S-207, to amend the Conflict of Interest Act (gifts). It narrows the circumstances in which public office holders and families may accept gifts, and expands circumstances in which reporting public office holders make disclosures and public declarations regarding gifts they and their families receive. The bill does not pass the Senate.
224	19 November 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act—briefing by the analysts (in camera).
225	21 November 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act (in camera).
226	21 November 2013	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the Senate Standing Committee on Banking regarding Budget Bill C‑4, in relation to changes to the Canadian financial institutions legislation.
227	26 November 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act (in camera).
228	28 November 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act (in camera).
229	3 December 2013	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics meets on its statutory five-year review of the Conflict of Interest Act —adopt draft report (in camera).
230	3 December 2013	The Paradis Report (under the Code and the Act—section 5 [Code], Assisting Constituents, and section 64 [Act], Activities on Behalf of Constituents).
231	12 December 2013	Definition of “public office holder” and “reporting public office holder” amended in Conflict of Interest Act (paragraphs 2(1)(e) and (f), subsections 62.1(1) and 62.2(1)). Part of Bill C-4, Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2 receives Royal Assent on December 12, 2013.
232	4 February 2014	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the Senate Standing Committee on National Finance, regarding the Main Estimates for 2013-2014.
233	5 February 2014	The House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics presents its report on the Statutory Review of the Conflict of Interest Act to the House of Commons.
234	25 February 2014	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics regarding Bill C-520, CPC MP Mark Adler’s private Member’s bill on the non-partisanship of agents and officers of Parliament. The bill dies in the Senate.
235	6 May 2014	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the Main Estimates for 2014-2015.
236	10 June 2014	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to discuss the certificate of her nomination to the position of Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner.
237	12 June 2014	Reappointment of Mary Dawson as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner for two years (see Journals). (Recommended in the 5^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.)
238	19 June 2014	Bill C-23 amends the definition of “public office holder” and “reporting public office holder” in the Conflict of Interest Act to include the Chief Electoral Officer (paragraph 2(1)(a)).
239	26 June 2014	The Lynn Report issued (under the Act—Prohibited Activities, paragraph 15(1)(b) and 15(1)(e)).
240	29 September 2014	Issued: Order Designating Public Office Holders and Reporting Public Office Holders under Section 62.2 of the Conflict of Interest Act. (See Order.)
241	1 October 2014	The 1^st Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, regarding the Statutory Review of the Conflict of Interest Act concurred in by the House. A government response was presented to the House on June 5, 2014, as required, given that the report was tabled in the House in February 2014. No action is taken to amend the Conflict of Interest Act.
242	20 November 2014	The Glover Report is issued (under the Act—Fundraising).
243	4 December 2014	Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner: December 2014 Report issued (under the Act).
244	4 February 2015	The 28^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs recommending changes to the Standing Orders, including changes to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons is concurred in by the House.
245	19 February 2015	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on its review of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
246	26 February 2015	Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner: The Bonner Report issued (under the Act—Acceptability of Gifts).
247	10 March 2015	The Finley Report issued (under the Act—a Preferential Treatment).
248	25 May 2015	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the Main Estimates for 2015-2016.
249	18 June 2015	The 39^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs recommending changes to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, following a review of the Code, is concurred in by the House. (Extensive changes to the Code.)
250	15 September 2015	The Kosick Report (under the Act—subsection 35(1), Prohibition on Contracting).
251	20 October 2015	The 39^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs recommending changes to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons comes into effect, the day after the October 19, 2015 federal election. (Extensive changes to the Code).
252	13 November 2015	Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly releases, for the first time, all ministerial mandate letters. The letters outline the government’s vision to deliver change and shared prosperity, and provide a framework for what ministers are expected to accomplish, including specific policy objectives and challenges to be addressed. Each letter notes that ministers must ensure that they are aware of and fully compliant with the Conflict of Interest Act and Treasury Board policies and guidelines. Ministers are each given a copy of Open and Accountable Government, with mention of the ethical guidelines set out in Annex A of the document, which apply to ministers and their staff. Ministers must uphold the highest standards of honest and impartiality, and the performance of their official duties and arrangement of their private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny. This obligation is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.
253	27 November 2015	Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes public Open and Accountable Government (2015). The document lays out individual and collective ministerial responsibilities, details on ministers’ relationships with the prime minister and Cabinet, their portfolios and Parliament. It outlines the standards of conduct expected of ministers—including accountability and ethical guidelines—and addresses a range of administrative, procedural and institutional matters. It also provides guidance to ministerial exempt staff.
254	6 January 2016	Prime Minister Justin Trudeau makes public, for the first time, the Guide for Parliamentary Secretaries. It is designed to provide them with information about their role within Canada’s system of responsible parliamentary government. The guide outlines the rules and policies that relate to their work, including their activities pertaining to House of Commons business and their departmental-related duties as assigned by their ministers.
255	18 February 2016	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs to provide a briefing on the Office and the Committee’s recent review of the Code.
256	23 February 2016	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to brief the Committee as the Committee considers its future business.
257	24 February 2016	The Gill Report issued (under the Act—section 9, Influence).
258	7 March 2016	The 4^th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding matters relating to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons is concurred in by the House (disclosure forms).
259	3 May 2016	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the Main Estimates for 2016-2017.
260	16 June 2016	Introduction of Bill C-22, An Act to establish the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and to make consequential amendments to certain Act. Amends definition of “public office holder” in subsection 2(1) of the Conflict of Interest Act. See progress of legislation here.
261	9 July 2016	Appointment of Mary Dawson as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on an interim basis, for a term of six months, effective July 9, 2016. Issued by Privy Council Office (Parliament of Canada Act, subsection 82(2); see Privy Council Office, PC 2016-0661).
262	13 September 2016	The Vennard Report issued (under the Act—subsection 11(1), Gifts and other Advantages).
263	27 October 2016	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics to provide a briefing for the Committee (“exit interview”).
264	17 November 2016	Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner: The Bennett Report issued (under the Act—section 11, Gifts and other Advantages).
265	16 December 2016	Appointment of Mary Dawson as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on an interim basis, for a term of six months, effective January 9, 2017. Issued by Privy Council Office (Parliament of Canada Act, subsection 82(2); see Privy Council Office, PC 2016-1148).
266	21 December 2016	The Philpott Report issued (under the Act—section 7 and subsection 6(1), Preferential Treatment and Decision-making).
267	11 April 2017	Bill C-44, Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, is introduced. Makes the Parliamentary Budget Officer an independent Officer of Parliament, with restrictions, and amends the Conflict of Interest Act to include the Parliamentary Budget Officer in subsections 2(1) and 24(2) (see clauses 187 and 188 of the bill).
268	21 April 2017	The Toews Report issued (under the Act—subsections 34(1) and 35(1), Previously acting for the Crown and Prohibition on contracting).
269	2 May 2017	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the Main Estimates for 2017-2018.
270	25 May 2017	The Wright Report issued (under the Act—subsection 6(1) and section 9, Decision-making and Influence).
271	7 June 2017	Appointment of Mary Dawson as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on an interim basis, for a term of six months, effective July 9, 2017. Issued by Privy Council Office (Parliament of Canada Act, subsection 82(2); see Privy Council Office, PC 2017-0699).
272	17 October 2017	Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on Bill C-50, Canada Elections Act (political financing).
273	30 October 2017	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics agrees unanimously to study the Conflict of Interest Act, as seen in the following motion (see minutes and testimony): “That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h)(vi), the Committee undertake a study of the Conflict of Interest Act and how it relates to public office holders; that the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner be invited to discuss her 2013 recommendations provided in the context of the five-year review of the Act; and that this study begin in January or February 2018."
274	11 December 2017	Certificate of Nomination of Mario Dion as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner tabled in the House of Commons (Sessional Paper No. 8540-421-25-07, see Journals).
275	11 December 2017	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics agrees that Mario Dion, nominee for the position of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, be invited to appear. (See minutes.)
276	12 December 2017	Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the certificate of nomination as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. (See minutes and testimony.)
277	13 December 2017	The House of Commons agrees, on division, to approve the appointment of Mario Dion as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, for a term of seven years. (See Journals, p. 2562.)
278	20 December 2017	The Trudeau Report issued under the Act and Code (Act: contravened sections 5, 11, 12 and 21, but not subsection 6(1) or section 7; Code: did not contravene section 14).
279	9 January 2018	Appointment of Mario Dion as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner comes into effect. (See PC 2017-1557.)
280	10 January 2018	Former Commissioner Mary Dawson appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics regarding The Trudeau Report. (See evidence.)
281	8 February 2018	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the context of its review of the Conflict of Interest Act. (See evidence.)
282	7 March 2018	Commissioner Mario Dion sends the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics information related to questions that were asked by the Committee during his February 8, 2018 appearance.
283	23 March 2018	Commissioner Mario Dion sends the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics information related to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Lobbying Commissioner Nancy Bélanger on March 22, 2018.
284	1 May 2018	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the 2018-2019 Main Estimates. (See evidence.)
285	7 June 2018	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, on Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (political financing). (See evidence.)
286	7 June 2018	The Carson Report – Discontinuance of an Examination issued (under the Act – section 33, Influence peddling and subsection 44(3), Discontinuing a report).
287	14 June 2018	The Angus Report I and the Angus Report II issued (under the Code – subsection 27(2.1), commenting publicly on an inquiry).
288	18 June 2018	The Morneau Report issued (under the Act – subsection 6(1), Decision-making, and section 21, Recusal).
289	22 June 2018	The Chapman Report – Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner issued (under the Act – subsection 6(1), Decision-making, and section 21, Recusal).
290	12 September 2018	The LeBlanc Report issued (under the Act – subsection 6(1), Decision-making).
291	4 December 2018	The Kusie Report issued (under the Code – subsection 27(2.1), Commenting publicly on an inquiry).
292	12 December 2018	The Kristmanson Report issued (under the Act – subsection 11(1), Accepting gifts).
293	16 May 2019	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the 2019-2020 Main Estimates. (See evidence.)
294	30 May 2019	The Smolik Report issued (under Act—section 33 and subsection 35(2), Taking improper advantage, Making representations on behalf of an entity to an organization with which one had direct and significant dealings).
295	10 July 2019	The Vandenbeld Report issued (under Code – sections 9 and 11, using position as Member to further their private interests or improperly further another’s, engaging in prohibited activities).
296	14 August 2019	The Trudeau II Report issued (under Act – section 9, Using position to seek to influence the decision of another).
297	5 February 2020	The Peschisolido Report issued (under Code – subsections 20(1) and 21(3), Fully disclosing private interests during initial compliance, Notifying of material change).
298	10 March 2020	The Wernick Report – Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner issued (under Act – section 9, Using position to seek to influence the decision of another).
299	22 April 2020	The Miller Report—Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner issued (under Act – General conflict of interest concerns).
300	22 April 2020	The Qualtrough Report—Referral from the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner issued (under Act – General conflict of interest).
301	9 July 2020	The Report on Alleged Wrongdoing by a Tribunal Member issued. Referred by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner (under Act – General conflict of interest).
302	16 September 2020	Commissioner Dion issued an order under subsection 41(1) of the Conflict of Interest Act to nine regulatees to restrict their official dealings with former reporting public office holder and ambassador David MacNaughton.
303	30 September 2020	The Report on an Alleged Wrongdoing by a Deputy Minister issued. Referred by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner (under Act – Influence).
304	19 November 2020	The Maloney Report issued (under Code – failing to disclose his private interests and those of his family).
305	24 November 2020	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance on Government Spending, WE Charity and the Canada Student Service Grant. (See evidence.)
306	27 November 2020	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on Questions of Conflict of Interest and Lobbying in Relation to Pandemic Spending. (See evidence.)
307	13 May 2021	The Trudeau III Report issued (under Act – subsection 6(1) decision-making; section 7 preferential treatment; section 21 duty to recuse).
308	13 May 2021	The Morneau II Report issued (under Act – subsection 6(1) decision-making; section 7 preferential treatment; section 21 duty to recuse).
309	28 May 2021	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics on the 2021-2022 Main Estimates. (See evidence.)
310	10 June 2021	House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics tables in the House of Commons the 2nd Report, Questions of Conflict of Interest and Lobbying in Relation to Pandemic Spending. The report details the events surround the awarding of the contribution agreement for the administration of the Canada Student Service Grant, among other areas of focus.
311	15 June 2021	The Ratansi Report issued (under Code – section 8, furthering private interests).
312	14 December 2021	Commissioner Mario Dion appears before the House of Commons Procedure and House Affairs Committee to provide a briefing focussed on the functioning of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. (See evidence.)

SELECTED REFERENCES

Auditor General of Canada, 1995 May Report; 2003 November Report.

Commission of Inquiry into the Facts of Allegations of Conflict of Interest Concerning the Honourable Sinclair M. Stevens. Commissioner The Honourable W.D. Parker. Ottawa, 1987.

Greene, Ian. “Conflict of Interest and the Canadian Constitution: An Analysis of Conflict of Interest Rules for Canadian Cabinet Ministers." Canadian Journal of Political Science, June 1990, vol. 23, pp. 233-256.

House of Commons, Office of the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel.

Conflict of Interest and Members of Parliament.
Conflict of Interest Rules.

House of Commons, Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, Report 1, 41^st Parliament, 2^nd Session.

House of Commons, Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Reports 40, 51 and 52 on a Conflict of Interest Code, and Report 27 on Bill C-34, 37^th Parliament, 2^nd Session; Reports 7, 54, 39^th Parliament, 1^st Session; Reports 2, 18, 40^th Parliament, 2^nd Session; Report 27, 41^st Parliament, 1^st Session; Reports 28, 39, 41^st Parliament, 2^nd Session; Report 4, 42^nd Parliament.

Kagedan, Barbara Laine. “Public Duties and Private Interests: The Special Joint Committee on Conflict of Interest," Canadian Parliamentary Review, Vol 15, No. 2, 1992

Kasperski, Lindy, Roundtable Discussion, Canadian Parliamentary Review, Winter 1998-1999.

Office of the Prime Minister. “Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for Public Office Holders." Ottawa.

Parliament. Report of the Special Joint Committee on Conflict of Interests. Ottawa, 1992.

Parliament. The Special Joint Committee on a Code of Conduct of the Senate and the House of Commons. Second Report (the Milliken-Oliver Report). Ottawa, March 1997.

Senate. Standing Senate Committee on Rules, Procedures and the Rights of Parliament, 8^th Report, on Bill C-34, 37^th Parliament, 2^nd Session.

Special Committee on Reform of the House of Commons, Report (The McGrath Report), June 1985.

Tait, John (Chair), “A Strong Foundation: Report of the Task Force on Public Service Values and Ethics (the summary)," Canadian Public Administration, volume 40, No. 1(Spring/Printemps), pp. 1-22.

Task Force on Conflict of Interest. Ethical Conduct in the Public Sector. Report. Michael Starr and Mitchell Sharp, Co-Chairmen. Ottawa, 1984.

Treasury Board, What is Ethics, July 23, 2015.

Turnbull, Lori, “The Federal Accountability Act: How Ottawa Steps Backward in Monitoring Political Ethics and Integrity," p. 88, How OttawaSpends 2007-2008.

Young, Margaret. Bill C-34: An Act to Amend the Parliament of Canada Act (Ethics Commissioner and Senate Ethics Officer) and Other Acts in Consequence. Legislative Summary 454E. Parliamentary Research Branch, Library of Parliament, Ottawa, June 2003.

Chronology – Conflict of Interest Rules for Federal Legislators

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SELECTED REFERENCES