Come March 1, members of Newmarket’s local and adjudicative boards will be governed by the Town’s Code of Conduct.
This is in keeping with amendments made under Bill 68, Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act 2017, which saw wide-ranging reforms to several laws, including the Municipal Act and Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Newmarket council has had a code of conduct in place since 2007 that includes expectations for behaviour and rules around such things as the complaint process, gifts and hospitality, transparency and openness in decision-making, undue use of influence, use of Town property, use of social media, staff relations, penalties, and more.
In addition, the updated code of conduct now gives Town integrity commissioner, Robert Swayze, the authority to investigate Municipal Conflict of Interest Act complaints.
In 2017, Swayze did not receive a single complaint regarding council conduct, according to the Town's Accountability and Transparency Measures report dated Feb. 16, 2018. Aside from staff discussions on process, Swayze provided advice to one council member on their involvement with a foundation, and verified that the foundation’s expenses were properly paid while ensuring that the councillor stays at arm’s length, the report states. Swayze's activity in 2017 was so minimal that it did not justify him preparing an annual report for that year.
The integrity commissioner stated in a June 2016 report that 12 complaints were investigated against councillors' conduct, all of which were dismissed. An additional four outstanding complaints were also dismissed later that year.
Other updates include requiring a council member to file a written statement of pecuniary interest or conflict of interest and its general nature with the Town Clerk. That information will become part of the Town’s registry of disclosures and will be made publically available.
The following local and adjudicative boards are now covered under the Council Code of Conduct:
Adjudicative boards
- Appeal Committee
- Committee of Adjustment
- Property Standards Committee
Local boards
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
- Audit Committee
- Elman W. Campbell Museum Board
- Heritage Newmarket Advisory Committee
- Main Street District Business Improvement Area Board of Management
- Newmarket Downtown Development Committee
- Newmarket Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Newmarket Environmental Advisory Committee
