Accountability Officer Services

Integrity Commissioner and Closed Meeting Investigator

The Town of Ingersoll is committed to open, transparent, and accountable government. In compliance with the Municipal Act, 2001, Council has appointed an Integrity Commissioner and a Closed Meeting Investigator to support these principles. Both officers are independent of Council and Town staff and report directly to Council.

Legislative Update: Upcoming Provincial Changes

On June 2, 2026, the Province of Ontario’s Municipal Accountability Act, 2025 (Bill 9) received Royal Assent. Once the relevant provisions come into force, the Municipal Act, 2001 will be amended to replace municipal codes of conduct with a single standard code of conduct established by the Province that will apply to all Ontario municipalities and local boards.

The Town of Ingersoll’s current Code of Conduct for Members of Council and Members of Council’s Boards and Advisory Committees (By-law 21-5147) will remain in effect until the new provincial requirements come into force. This page will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Integrity Commissioner

The Integrity Commissioner is an independent and impartial officer appointed by Council under section 223.3 of the Municipal Act, 2001. Reporting directly to Council, the Integrity Commissioner is responsible for performing in an independent manner the functions assigned by the municipality with respect to promoting and enforcing ethical conduct by Members of Council, members of local boards, and members of advisory committees.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Education and training: providing guidance to Members on the Code of Conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (MCIA).

• Advice and compliance: assisting Members with their obligations under the Code of Conduct, the MCIA, and related policies.

• Policy review: recommending updates to the Code of Conduct and complaint procedures.

• Complaint investigations: investigating and reporting on alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct or the MCIA.

• Public inquiries: addressing questions from residents regarding ethical governance.

• Reporting: submitting regular reports to Council on activities and findings.

Who to Contact

The Integrity Commissioner function for the Town of Ingersoll is shared between senior counsel at Aird & Berlis LLP to ensure independent oversight. Please direct your inquiry to the appropriate contact below:

FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC — to file a complaint or ask a question

Meghan Cowan

Integrity Commissioner — public intake and complaint investigations

Aird & Berlis LLP

Phone: 416-865-4722

Email: mcowan@airdberlis.com

FOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES — to request confidential advice

John Mascarin

Integrity Commissioner — confidential advice to Members

Aird & Berlis LLP

Phone: 416-865-7721

Email: jmascarin@airdberlis.com

Closed Meeting Investigator

Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001 requires that all meetings of Council and its committees be open to the public, with certain limited exceptions. The Closed Meeting Investigator is an independent officer appointed by Council under section 239.2 of the Act to investigate complaints that Council or one of its committees improperly closed a meeting to the public.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Receiving and reviewing complaints from members of the public regarding closed meetings.

• Investigating whether the closed meeting complied with the open-meeting requirements of section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001, and the Town’s Procedure By-law.

• Reporting findings to Council, including any recommendations for changes to procedure.

• Promoting public confidence in the open and transparent conduct of Council and committee business

How to Address a Concern or File a Complaint — Code of Conduct

Members of the public, Members of Council, or Town staff who have reasonable grounds to believe that a Member of Council, a member of a local board, or a member of an advisory committee has contravened the Code of Conduct have two pathways to address the issue under Section 21 of the Code:

1. The Informal Complaint Process

Individuals are encouraged to initially attempt to resolve or remedy Code-prohibited behavior informally. To use the informal process, you may:

- Advise the Member directly, either verbally or in writing, that their behavior or activity does not comply with the Code of Conduct, and clearly request that the prohibited behavior be discontinued.

- Maintain a detailed written record of the incident, including the specific date, time, location, any witnesses present, and any other relevant information.

- Advise the Member of your satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their response.

If you are dissatisfied with the outcome, or if you feel an informal approach is inappropriate for the situation, you may immediately proceed to the formal complaint procedure.

2. The Formal Complaint Process

If an informal resolution cannot be reached, a formal complaint must be made in writing using the official Council Code of Conduct Complaint Form and Affidavit.

- Affidavit Requirement: The formal complaint must be accompanied by a sworn affidavit attesting to the facts. This affidavit must be signed and sworn or affirmed in person before the Town Clerk, a Deputy Clerk, a Notary Public, or a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits.

Required Information: At a minimum, the formal submission must include the name of the member, the specific provision(s) of the Code allegedly breached, background details (dates, times, and locations), and the names of any witnesses.

How to Submit: Completed forms and affidavits can be submitted to the Town Clerk by email at clerks@ingersoll.ca, by mail to the Town Clerk (130 Oxford Street, 2nd Floor, Ingersoll, Ontario, N5C 2V5), or in person at the Town Centre. The Clerk will forward the document, unopened, directly to the Integrity Commissioner. Complaints may also be submitted directly to the Integrity Commissioner.

Note: In accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, no formal complaints may be submitted or investigated during a regular municipal election period, beginning on Nomination Day and ending on Voting Day.

How to File an Application — Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

An elector, or a person demonstrably acting in the public interest, may apply in writing to the Integrity Commissioner for an inquiry into an alleged contravention of section 5, 5.1, or 5.2 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Applications must be submitted within six (6) weeks of the applicant becoming aware of the alleged contravention. If the applicant became aware of the alleged contravention during the six weeks prior to Nomination Day, the application may be submitted within six (6) weeks after Voting Day.

Applications must be made using the Application for Municipal Conflict of Interest Act Inquiry and must include a statutory declaration sworn before a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. A separate application form must be completed for each member named in the application.

Applications cannot be submitted during a regular election period, beginning on Nomination Day and ending on Voting Day.

How to File a Closed Meeting Complaint

Any person may request an investigation of a meeting or part of a meeting that was closed to the public. Complaints should be submitted in writing to the Town Clerk by email at clerks@ingersoll.ca, by mail to the Town Clerk, 130 Oxford Street, 2nd Floor, Ingersoll, Ontario, N5C 2V5, or in person at the Town Centre.

Please include in your complaint:

• Your name and contact information;

• The date, time, and location of the meeting in question;

• A description of the matters that you believe were improperly discussed in closed session; and

• Any supporting documentation or background information.

The Clerk will forward the complaint to the Closed Meeting Investigator.

Contact

CLOSED MEETING INVESTIGATIONS

Aird & Berlis LLP

John Mascarin

Closed Meeting Investigator

Aird & Berlis LLP

Phone: 416-865-7721

Email: jmascarin@airdberlis.com

Accountability Officer Services

Accountability Officer Services

Integrity Commissioner and Closed Meeting Investigator

Integrity Commissioner

Who to Contact

Closed Meeting Investigator

How to Address a Concern or File a Complaint — Code of Conduct

1. The Informal Complaint Process

2. The Formal Complaint Process

How to File an Application — Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

How to File a Closed Meeting Complaint

Contact

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