Long-awaited updates to modernize council’s Code of Conduct now irrelevant

The long-awaited modernization to London’s Code of Conduct will likely be delayed again. CTV’s Daryl Newcombe explains why.

Delayed again, this time possibly forever.

On Friday, efforts at London City Hall to update council’s Code of Conduct that included rules related to social media, emails, and pecuniary conflicts of interest were put on hold by the Governance Working Group (GWG).

Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis argued updates to the local rules that govern municipal politicians’ activities and behaviour would likely be superseded in a couple months when the provincial government is expected to approve a standardized Code of Conduct for all Ontario municipalities.

“The legislation is at second reading at Queen’s Park,” Lewis told colleagues on GWG. “Is now really the time? Only to find in the new year we’re changing the rules yet again. I think there’s some prudence in waiting on this.”

In May 2024, council directed the city clerk to bring forward potential updates to modernize the Code of Conduct.

However, the city clerk paused a process after learning the province was working on the legislation.

Later, council retained a new Integrity Commissioner who recommended some changes.

However, now members of GWG expect the province-wide rules to be in place before the start of the upcoming municipal election period on May 1, 2026.

Earlier this year, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack toured the province gathering feedback before drafting provincewide rules, including a process that could remove councillors for egregious violations.

“We’ve got over 440 municipalities in the Province of Ontario, and everybody has a different [Code of Conduct]. That’s not how you instill public confidence. I think the province is right to bring forward a provincial standard,” Lewis told CTV News after the meeting.

The working group voted to pause the local update until after the province makes its decision.

However, a set of standardized forms to assist members of the public file complaints about councillors’ conduct were recommended for implementation.

“It does help from the public perspective, because it can be onerous to make a complaint right now,” explained Coun. Corrine Rahman.

The forms also aim to ensure that individuals filing complaints include sufficient information to allow the Integrity Commissioner to launch an investigation, if warranted.

“It’s very concerning when we hear that the Integrity Commissioner receives complaints that don’t even have the councillor’s name on it!” Lewis added.

During the interim period, London City Council will continue to be governed by the existing Code of Conduct.