Office of the Conflict of Interest Commissioner

Reports and Opinions

• Report to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly concerning the Investigation by the Commissioner into allegations involving the Honourable Ronald MacKinley, Minister of Transportation and Public Works [193KB PDF file]
• 2007 Annual Report [36KB PDF file]
• Report to the Premier of the Investigation into the Involvement of Hon. Mitch Murphy, Provincial Treasurer and Murcon Construction Limited [44KB PDF file]
• Opinion of March 10th, 2003 regarding Messrs. Hammill and MacDonald the Members for Borden-Kinkora and Belfast-Pownal Bay respectively [140KB PDF file]
• Report of November 26, 2002 concerning Philip Brown the Member for Grand River-Cascumpec [134KB PDF file]

The Conflict of Interest Act

The purpose of the Conflict of Interest Act is to assist Members and Ministers in reconciling their private and public interests to enhance public confidence in the Legislative Assembly. Members of the Legislative Assembly must have the trust and confidence of the public who elected them to discharge their duties. To achieve that trust and confidence, Members and Ministers must adhere to the provisions of the Act and conduct their duties with integrity. The Conflict of Interest Act provides that Members of the Legislative Assembly must serve the public interest when discharging their public responsibilities. Where there is a conflict between the public interest and the Member's private or family interest, it is the public interest that should prevail.

The Conflict of Interest Act is administered by the Conflict of Interest Commissioner who is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly. The Commissioner has four separate but related roles:

First, the Commissioner acts as an advisor to Members.

Secondly, each Member is required to meet with the Commissioner at least annually to review the disclosure of the Member's private interests and general obligations imposed by the Act.

Thirdly, the Commissioner prepares a Public Disclosure Statement for each Member of the Legislative Assembly. These statements are filed with the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and are available for public inspection.

The fourth role of the Commissioner is to undertake inquiries into alleged contraventions of the Conflict of Interest Act. Where a Member alleges that another Member has contravened the Act, the Commissioner will give an opinion respecting the matter. Upon completion of the investigation, the Commissioner reports to the Legislature through the Speaker. If the Commissioner finds that the Member is in breach of the Act, the Commissioner shall recommend a suitable penalty.