Accountability and Transparency

The complainant, or the Clerk and/or the Integrity Commissioner on behalf of the complainant, at the complainant’s request, may:

1. Advise the Member that their behaviour or activity appears to contravene the Code or the law;
2. Request that the Member immediately discontinue the prohibited behaviour or activity and to avoid future occurrences of the prohibited behaviour or activity;
3. Keep a written record of the incident including date, time, location, other persons present, and any other relevant information;
4. If applicable, advise the Member regarding their satisfaction with response, or, if applicable, advise the Member of their dissatisfaction with the response; and
5. Consider the need to pursue the matter in accordance with the formal complaint or inquiry outlined in Options B and C.

An individual is encouraged to initially pursue the informal complaint procedure as a means of stopping and remedying a behaviour or activity that is prohibited by the Code or the law. However, it is not a precondition or a prerequisite that the informal complaint procedure be initiated or completed prior to pursuing a formal complaint/inquiry procedure in Option B or C.

For more details on the informal complaint process, refer to Option A of the Council Code of Conduct Policy.

The formal complaint process involves filing an official complaint with the Integrity Commissioner. All formal complaints must be submitted within six weeks of becoming aware of the believed contravention.

1. Download and complete a Code of Conduct Complaint Form (PDF) and bring it to the Clerk at the Haldimand County Administration Building.
2. Pay a deposit of $200.00 to initiate the formal request (paid to Haldimand County using a municipally accepted method of payment). The deposit will be refunded if it is determined by the Integrity Commissioner that the complaint warrants investigation. The deposit will not be refunded if the Integrity Commissioner finds the request to be vexatious or frivolous.
3. The Clerk will forward the complaint to the Integrity Commissioner who will determine if the complaint violates the code and may request additional information.

For more details on the formal complaint process, refer to Option B of the Council Code of Conduct Policy.

Any individual may apply, in writing, to the Integrity Commissioner, pursuant to the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, for an inquiry to be carried out concerning an alleged contravention of sections 5, 5.1, 5.2 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, except during the regular election period (between nomination day and voting day).

The procedures to be followed for such an application shall be the same as provided for in section 18 of the Code of Conduct.

As is the case with formal complaints under the Code of Conduct, the Integrity Commissioner will determine whether to conduct an inquiry, and if such an inquiry is undertaken, the inquiry will follow the same general processes and procedures and use the same powers and authorities as apply under this Code of Conduct. If, in the opinion of the Integrity Commissioner, a request for an inquiry under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act would be more appropriately addressed under this Code of Conduct, the Integrity Commissioner shall proceed accordingly. The Integrity Commissioner has 180 days to complete an inquiry and report in response to an application under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.  

Upon completion of an inquiry, the Integrity Commissioner may, at their discretion:

1. Apply to a Judge for a determination as to whether the member has contravened sections 5, 5.1 or 5.2 of the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
2. Advise the applicant if the Integrity Commissioner will not be making an application to a judge.
3. In either case, the Integrity Commissioner will publish written reasons, in the form of a report to Council, for the decision.

For more details on the inquiry process, refer to Option C of the Council Code of Conduct Policy.