City of North Bay Integrity Commissioner Guy Giorno will remain in the role he has held since 2019 after City Council approved his appointment for a second term during its regular meeting on Jan. 16.
The integrity commissioner's hourly rate of $450 has been approved for a term of five years, with an option in favour of the City to extend the agreement for three additional terms of up to one year. Four proposals were evaluated that considered experience and qualifications, delivery of service methodology, work plan, staffing plan, interview, and price. The current IC contract expires on February 29.
Giorno is a partner with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and leads the firm’s political law practice, advising clients on lobbyist registration, government accountability and ethics, public-sector conflict of interest, and government procurement. Although the City has hired Giorno as its IC, pursuant to section 223.3(3) of the Municipal Act, “the Commissioner may delegate in writing to any person, other than a member of council, any of the Commissioner’s powers and duties under this Part.”
Giorno has been involved with four integrity commissioner complaints during his first five-year term in North Bay, although he recused himself from two of them.
In June 2020, Giorno delegated a complaint regarding code of conduct breaches and Invest North Bay to George Valin, a retired judge. Valin's report included recommendations regarding conflict of interest which have yet to be fully discussed in a public setting by North Bay City Council.
See related: City officials 'thumb their noses' at Valin's report
See also: Mayoralty candidates all agree. Invite Valin no strings attached
In March 2023, Giorno appointed Nicole Singh, a partner in his firm's labour, employment and human rights practice group to act as the integrity commissioner in a complaint against Coun. Sara Inch by Deputy Mayor Maggie Horsfield. Singh ruled Inch's behaviour constituted harassment and she was sanctioned by the council.
See: Unanimous penalty for city councillor due to harassment
Giorno did act as the integrity commissioner in May 2022, finding then Coun. Bill Vrebosch did not contravene the code of conduct in an encounter with a municipal employee.
See also: Integrity Commissioner clears Coun. Bill Vrebosch of wrongdoing
Most recently, Giorno cleared Inch of penalty following a social media spat with Canadore College President/CEO George Burton.
And: Inch: Integrity commissioner is not a 'referee of free speech'
On March 1, 2019, it became mandatory under the Municipal Act, 2001, for municipalities to appoint an integrity commissioner and Giorno filled the role.
The IC performs the following functions:
- Application of the Code of Conduct.
- Application of procedures, rules, and policies governing the ethical behaviour of Council and local boards.
- Application of Municipal Conflict of Interest Act (MCIA), which includes requests from Council and local boards for advice (request and response must be in writing) respecting their obligations under Codes of Conduct, obligations under a procedure, rule, or policy that governs ethical behaviour, requests for advice re: obligations under the MCIA.
- Educational information to Council, local boards, corporations, and the public re: codes of conduct and the MCIA (IC can summarize advice provided to Council/local boards but not disclose confidential information that could identify a person concerned).
