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The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons seeks to prevent conflicts between private interests and the public duties of all 338 Members of the House of Commons.
The Code was adopted by the House of Commons in April 2004 and amended in June 2007, June 2008, June 2009 and October 2015. It is appended to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons, the permanent written rules under which the House regulates its proceedings.
The Code is administered by the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, who is mandated under the Parliament of Canada Act to "perform the duties and functions assigned by the House of Commons for governing the conduct of its members when they are carrying out the duties and functions of their office as members of that House." (subsection 86(1))
The Code includes rules on avoiding conflict of interest, processes for the confidential disclosure of private interests to the Commissioner, procedures for making Members’ summary information public, an advisory role for the Commissioner and a process for conducting inquiries into alleged contraventions of the rules by Members.
The House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs is mandated to review and report on all matters relating to the Code. The Commissioner meets from time to time with the Committee to discuss matters related to the administration of the Code.
