The Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is independent and non-partisan.
The Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner’s status as an Officer of the House of Commons ensures the Commissioner is independent of the government of the day.
The Commissioner is solely responsible to Parliament and not to the federal government or an individual minister. The Office belongs to Parliament itself. Along with the Senate, the Office of the Senate Ethics Officer, the House of the Commons, the Library of Parliament and the Parliamentary Budget Officer, it is part of the parliamentary infrastructure. The Commissioner enjoys the privileges and immunities of the House of Commons and its Members when carrying out his duties and functions.
Independence is further assured in the following ways:
The Commissioner is
appointed under the
Parliament of Canada Act by the Governor in Council after consultation with the leader of every recognized party in the House of Commons.
The Commissioner is appointed for a renewable seven-year term and may only be removed for cause by the Governor in Council on address of the House of Commons.
The Commissioner is a separate employer. Office employees are not part of the federal public administration.
The Commissioner
reports directly to Parliament rather than through a minister.
The Commissioner submits the Office’s annual budget estimate to the Speaker of the House of Commons. The Speaker transmits the estimate to the President of the Treasury Board, who tables it in the House with the Government of Canada’s estimates for the fiscal year. The Office's annual budget estimates are reviewed by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
