The Integrity Commissioner is an independent and impartial officer that reports directly to City Council and whose powers and duties are set out in the Municipal Act, 2001.
The City’s Integrity Commissioner is responsible for:
- Providing advice to Members of Council and members of local boards respecting their obligations under their respective codes of conduct, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (MCIA) or other related policies;
- Offering education and training to Members of Council, members of local boards, the City administration and the public about the codes of conduct and the MCIA;
- Resolving complaints related to a potential breach of a code of conduct or the MCIA, either through informal resolution or a formal investigation;
- Administering the City’s Lobbyist Registry including ensuring compliance with the Lobbyist Registry By-law and the Lobbyist Code of Conduct, investigating complaints, and imposing sanctions, as necessary; and
- Reviewing the appropriateness of meetings of City Council, a local board or committee that are closed to the public.
Rulings and periodic reports by the Integrity Commissioner are posted on ottawa.ca.
The Commissioner also produces an annual report summarizing complaints, investigations and advice and makes recommendations for any improvements to the accountability process.
City Council approved the establishment of an Integrity Commissioner in July 2012 as part of the City’s Accountability Framework, which contains key elements of governance renewal intended to make municipal government more transparent and accountable.
Integrity Commissioner's biography
Robert Marleau, B.A., D.U.
Robert Marleau has 32 years of parliamentary service, 13 of which were spent as Clerk of the House of Commons (DM 2 equivalent). He left a rich legacy of achievement, including the authoritative procedural manual House of Commons Procedure and Practice, now in use in most Canadian legislatures.
On his retirement in 2001 he was made an honorary officer of the House of Commons by unanimous resolution of the House, and received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Ottawa, his alma mater.
During his career at the House of Commons he occupied such positions as Deputy Secretary General for Interparliamentary Relations, Principal Clerk of the Committees Branch, Clerk Assistant, Clerk of the House and Special Advisor to the Speaker of the House. As Clerk of the House he was secretary to the Board of Internal Economy (BOIE).
His international assignments included serving as President of the parliamentary management committee for parliamentary co-operation with Russia and involvement with parliamentary co-operation with African, Caribbean and other Commonwealth countries. He has attended many Commonwealth, European and Francophonie international conferences. He also participated in missions to Hong Kong and Cuba.
He is a lifetime member of the Commonwealth Society of Clerks at the Table, an honorary member of the Association of Canadian Clerks at the Table and an honorary member of the Association of Former Parliamentarians.
In June 2003, he was appointed by the Governor in Council for a six-month term as Interim Privacy Commissioner of Canada with a mandate to restore credibility and sound management practices to the Privacy Office following the resignation of the former Commissioner. In December 2003, he returned to retirement and his parliamentary consulting practice with clients in Canadian, Caribbean and African legislatures, as well as municipal councils in Canada.
In January 2007, by unanimous resolution of the Senate and of the House of Commons, he was appointed Information Commissioner of Canada. After serving for two years and renewing and re-engineering the OIC and presenting a legislative review to Parliament, he returned to retirement in 2009.
He has appeared several times before House of Commons and Senate committees as an expert witness. He also has worked with McLaughlin Associates (CEO TV) as an associate in training programs for witnesses appearing before parliamentary committees.
He was a member of the panel of external senior advisors for the Auditor General's Office and has completed several assignments for that office. He was also a member of the panel of external advisors for the Public Service Commission of Canada
As part of his consulting practice, he has completed several assignments under contract for government departments and agencies (PCO, Treasury Board, PWGSC etc.)
He has also done work in Namibia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
He is a recognized expert in parliamentary practice and procedure and has proven management and strategic planning skills.
Security clearance: Top Secret
Honours:
- Doctorate Honoris Causa, University of Ottawa
- Honourary Table Officer of the House of Commons
- Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal
- Canada 125 Medal
- Knight, Sovereign Military Order of Malta
- Commander, Ordre de la Pléiade et de la Francophonie
- Officer, Ordre de la Pléiade et de la Francophonie
Married to Ann, with two sons and four grandchildren
To contact the Integrity Commissioner, e-mail integrity@ottawa.ca.
