History of the Office: 2006-2010

​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. ​

The Vellacott Inquiry (Code) released.​​​

​​​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.​​​

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.​​

​​The 54^th R​eport 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.​​

​​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.​​​​

​​Regulation regarding service of documents under the Conflict of Interest Act comes into force.​

​​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 Febru​ary 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).​

​​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).​​​​

​​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.​​​​

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).​​​​​

​​​The Flaherty Report issued (under the Act—subsection 3(4) of the 2006 Code, Private Interests, and subsections 7(1) and (2), Recusals).​​​​

​​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.​​​​

​​​​The 2nd 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.​​​

​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).​

​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).​

​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.​

​The 18th 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.​

​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).  Ope​ning Statement no longer publicly available.

​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.​

Commissioner Mary Dawson’s second appearance before the Oliphant Commission. Ope​ning Statement no longer publicly available.​​

​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.​

​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.​

​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).​

​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). ​

​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).​

​​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.​

​​​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.​