Councillors may soon have to disclose relationships with staff
Posted Oct 5, 2022 08:30:00 PM.
Ottawa's mayor and city councillors may soon need to reveal if they are having a relationship with a City of Ottawa staff member.
Ottawa city councillors passed a motion by Coun. Eli El-Chantiry and seconded by Coun. Cathy Curry at the latest council meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 5 calling on the City's integrity commissioner to consider additions to council's code of conduct for members of council to “address the issue of personal relationships between members of council and staff.”
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson linked the vote to previous allegations against former College ward Coun. Rick Chiarelli from multiple former staffers.
“This is to ensure we have the rules in place for the industry best standards,” he said.
Some councillors wanted to wait to vote so they could hear from experts in workplace protection, but the vote went ahead.
The City's clerk urged council members to deal with the motion before the municipal election as the integrity commissioner is currently reviewing the code of conduct.
