Annual report on federal conflict of interest regime tabled in Parliament

​NEWS RELEASE

Ottawa, June 5, 2018

Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion’s 2017-2018 annual report in respect of the Conflict of Interest Act was tabled today in Parliament. Click here to access the report.

The report highlights the activities of his Office in seeking to ensure full compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act, one of two conflict of interest regimes administered by Commissioner Dion.

The Act applies to ministers, parliamentary secretaries, ministerial staff and most other Governor-in-Council appointees. Its focus is largely on ensuring that these public office holders do not use their positions to further their private, largely pecuniary, interests or the private interests of their relatives and friends, or to improperly further the private interests of anyone else.

"I believe that ethical behaviour starts at the top, with our elected and appointed officials setting the tone and example that we expect others to follow," Commissioner Dion said. "They must therefore be held to high standards of conduct."

His annual report focuses on the achievements of his Office in 2017-2018 in various activity areas. They include providing direction and advice to public office holders, conducting investigations and, when necessary, making use of appropriate sanctions. It also outlines Commissioner Dion's approach to his new role, which he took on in January 2018, and discusses significant trends observed over the last ten years as well as his Office's upcoming challenges and opportunities.

The Commissioner is required to submit an annual report under the Conflict of Interest Act and an annual report under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons to Parliament by June 30 of each year.

The Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner was created under the Federal Accountability Act. The Commissioner applies the Conflict of Interest Act for public office holders and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. 

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