Executive committee rejects proposed changes to code of conduct

Members of Toronto’s executive committee has rejected a report from the integrity commissioner that called for changes to the code of conduct for city councillors.

Janet Leiper was pushing for 11 key changes to the code of conduct, with a greater emphasis on the spirit of good conduct, particularly about not attacking or demonizing another councillor when there’s a disagreement.

One of the key changes would be to ask incoming councillors to sign an ethics pledge, stating they had read the city’s code of conduct.

“It’s a way of saying to the public – integrity matters here,” Leiper explained.

She said this problem at council is not a new one.

“A perennial complaint all three integrity commissioners in Toronto have noted, and they have received complaints from the public — the decorum in council could be improved,” she said.

But councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong filed a winning motion to defer Leiper’s report indefinitely, saying changes to the code are not needed.

Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly agreed with Minnan-Wong, saying this move wasn’t necessary.

“I think that we have already the tools at hand to regulate the relationships between us,” Kelly said.

Following the vote Leiper told 680News that she has heard the committee’s decision and that she will now take some time to think about it, and make a decision on what to do next.

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