On May 30, 2017 ‘Bill 68, Modernizing Ontario's Municipal Legislation Act, 2017’ received Royal Assent putting into effect a number of amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001, the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and various other Acts.  One of the amendments to the Municipal Act, 2001 requires all municipalities to adopt a Code of Conduct for members of City Council and to appoint an Integrity Commissioner to enforce the Code. Report No. 22/2019 (Office of the City Clerk) Council Code of Conduct was presented at the February 4, 2019 Committee of the Whole Meeting and ratified by City Council on February 11, 2019 to approve the Code of Conduct.  The Code of Conduct for members of Council, and its local boards, were to set out behaviors that members of Council are expected to abide by and follow in support of the good governance of the municipality, and more particularly the confidence of the public in their local government. 

Code of conduct and complaint form

Integrity Commissioner

The City of Thunder Bay has contracted the services of Brian Tario to act as the Integrity Commissioner for the City of Thunder Bay. Read more about the Integrity Commissioner.

Contact information:

Brian Tario, CFI Partner, Forensics and Litigation Support

Telephone: 1-807-623-2141
Toll Free: 1-866-623-2141
Fax: 1-807-622-1282
Email: Brian.Tario@mnp.ca

Mailing address:
1205 Amber Drive, Suite 210
Thunder Bay,ON, P7B 6M4

Closed session meetings - complaints and investigations

The Municipal Act, 2001 (the Act) provides that all meetings of a council shall be open to the public; however the Act further provides specific reasons why a council may choose to close a meeting to the public.  Section 239 of the Act lists those reasons.  The Act further provides a mechanism by which members of the public can, should they feel a meeting of Council has been improperly closed to the public, file a complaint in that regard.  The Act provides for means by which such complaints can be heard, investigated and responded to through a ‘Closed Meeting Investigator’. 

The City of Thunder Bay has appointed Mr. Paul Heayn, a retired municipal administrator from the Town of Dryden.  Mr. Heayn has been appointed to receive complaints about meetings of council that have been closed to the public improperly.  Questions or complaints about closed session meetings can be directed to:

Paul Heayn
Telephone: 1-807-223-6824
Email: psheayn@drytel.net

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