Integrity Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell has filed the Office of the Integrity Commissioner 2025-2026 Annual Report with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The report reflects high and record-setting activity across the Office’s seven mandates. This activity included responding to more than 800 requests for advice or guidance from members of provincial parliament, ministers’ staff and senior public servants at Ontario public bodies. The Office also received and assessed 62 disclosures of wrongdoing submitted by Ontario public servants, and conducted 422 compliance reviews of lobbyist registrations and activity.

In her message Commissioner Motherwell emphasised the important role of ethics offices in supporting the work of elected officials and public servants.  “At its core, public sector ethics is about democracy. It instills trust in the system to ensure that government decision-making is conducted in the public interest.”

Annual Report Highlights

• 399 inquiries received from MPPs regarding their obligations under the Members’ Integrity Act, 1994.
• 170 inquiries received from ministers’ staff regarding ethical conduct, political activity and post-employment obligations.
• 235 public sector ethics matters addressed, and 46 Ethics Executives trained.
• 62 disclosures of wrongdoing submitted by Ontario public servants, and 11 matters investigated and concluded.
• 75 Advisory Opinion requests received from lobbyists, 23 lobbying investigations concluded, and 422 compliance reviews completed.
• 4,419 travel, meal and hospitality expense claims reviewed.
• 48 outreach, training and speaking events delivered.

“I thank the staff of the Office for their energy, enthusiasm and dedication to their work in serving Ontario MPPs and public servants. And I thank MPPs and public servants for their continued support of an ethics framework that works.” – Commissioner Motherwell

The report is available on the Office website under Publications.

About the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario

The Office has seven mandates under five pieces of legislation:

• Members’ Integrity, providing confidential conflict of interest advice to MPPs and conducting inquiries into alleged contraventions of ethical obligations;
• Ministers’ Staff Ethical Conduct, providing conflict of interest advice and direction to public servants in ministers’ offices;
• Lobbyists Registration, operating Ontario’s lobbyist registry and conducting investigations into potential non-compliance;
• Public Sector Ethics, providing conflict of interest advice and direction to Ethics Executives in public bodies;
• Disclosure of Wrongdoing, receiving whistleblowing disclosures from current and former members of the Ontario Public Service; and,
• Expenses Review:
  • Reviewing the travel, meal and hospitality expenses of ministers, parliamentary assistants, Opposition leaders, and their staff; and,
  • Reviewing the travel, meal and hospitality expenses of selected provincial agencies.

Following the municipal elections in October, the Office will have new responsibilities related to municipal integrity under the Municipal Act, 2001, and the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

Contact: Natalie Ardanaz, Manager, Communications, Training and Outreach | natalie.ardanaz@oico.on.ca