2022-2026 Mid-term Governance Review

The recitals

• the 2022-2026 Mid-term Governance Review Report recommends an Ethical Framework for Members’ Staff
• Members’ staff are contract employees of the City of Ottawa, appointed by the Member, and reporting to the Member, to support the Member and their elected office as political staff, performing a variety of functions such as constituency, administrative, communications, project, policy, and strategic and advisory work
• the Ethical Framework for Members’ Staff will apply to full and part-time Councillors’ Assistants, and contractors and students paid by invoice or honorarium
• Members of Council are the managers of their staff
• the proposed Ethical Framework designates the Integrity Commissioner as ethics executive for the staff of Members of Council
• Section 5(f) of the Ethical Framework for Members’ Staff provides the following: “When the Integrity Commissioner’s report has found the complaint sustained in whole or part, the City Clerk and the Member shall determine the appropriate response/disciplinary action, which can include, but not limited to training, monitoring, a reprimand, or being subject to a transfer, a suspension, or a dismissal.”
• it is important to distinguish the consultative relationship between the City Clerk and the Member, and that the Office of the City Clerk provides human resources support to Members and their staff, while reinforcing that the Member has oversight of their employees