Annual Reports

• • 2023

• • 2022

• • 2021

• • 2020

• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012
• 2011
• 2010
• 2008-2009
• 2007
• 2005-2006
• 2004-2005
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001
• 2000
• 1998-1999
• 1997-1998
• 1995-1996
• 1994-1995
• 1993-1994
• 1992-1993
• 1991-1992

Opinions

2022

August 30

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE JOSIE OSBORNE, MINISTER OF LAND, WATER AND RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP, WAS IN AN APPARENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR USED HER OFFICE TO INFLUENCE A DECISION TO FURTHER HER PRIVATE INTEREST, IN RELATION TO A GOVERNMENT FUNDING DECISION

2019

August 14

• WHETHER RAVI KAHLON, MLA FOR DELTA NORTH (AND THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR MULTICULTURALISM AND SPORT), WAS IN A CONFLICT OR APPARENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN RELATION TO HIS DUTIES AS A MEMBER OF THE SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON CROWN CORPORATIONS

2018

November 6

• WHETHER MEMBERS SUBJECT TO A PENDING OR ACTUAL RECALL CAMPAIGN MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATES AND VOTES PERTAINING TO BILL 53 (RECALL AND INITIATIVE AMENDMENT ACT, 2018) 

2016

August 9

• ADDENDUM TO MAY 4, 2016 OPINION

May 4

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE CHRISTY CLARK, MLA FOR KELOWNA-WESTSIDE AND PREMIER, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY ATTENDING “EXCLUSIVE” FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR THE BC LIBERAL PARTY AND RECEIVING A LEADER’S ALLOWANCE FROM THE BC LIBERAL PARTY.

2015

March 19

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE WILLIAM BENNETT, MLA FOR KOOTENAY EAST AND MINISTER OF ENERGY AND MINES AND MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR CORE REVIEW BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY NOT RECUSING HIMSELF FROM DISCUSSIONS RELATING TO THE 2014 WILDLIFE ALLOCATION POLICY.

2014

August 30

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE PAT PIMM, MLA FOR PEACE RIVER NORTH, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY MAKING REPRESENTATIONS ON BEHALF OF A CONSTITUENT IN A MATTER BEFORE THE AGRICULTURAL LAND COMMISSION, EITHER IN HIS CAPACITY AS MLA OR AS MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE.

April 14

• WHETHER A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY HAD AN OBLIGATION UNDER THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT TO DISCLOSE A PAST BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WHICH HAD ENDED PRIOR TO THE MEMBER’S ELECTION AS AN MLA.
  • COMMISSIONER’S NOTE

2013

April 10

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE CHRISTY CLARK, MLA AND PREMIER WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY ALLEGEDLY FAILING TO RECUSE HERSELF FROM CERTAIN CABINET MEETINGS. (OPINION GIVEN BY GERALD L. GERRAND, Q.C.)

2011

June 14

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE CHRISTY CLARK, MLA AND PREMIER, WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY RECEIVING COMPLIMENTARY HOCKEY TICKETS TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS

May 10

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE CHRISTY CLARK, MLA AND PREMIER, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT IN THE COURSE OF HER BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN 

2010

December 14

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE GORDON CAMPBELL, MLA AND PREMIER, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY ALLEGEDLY MISAPPROPRIATING PUBLIC FUNDS FOR HIS PERSONAL BENEFIT BY FAILING TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL BENEFITS IN RELATION TO HIS ATTENDANCE AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

2009

April 2

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE GORDON CAMPBELL, MLA AND PREMIER, ADVANCED HIS PRIVATE INTERESTS BY SIGNING ORDERS-IN-COUNCIL THAT ALLEGEDLY BENEFITED AN ENERGY COMPANY IN WHICH HE AND HIS WIFE OWNED SHARES IN AN ACCOUNT WHERE INVESTMENTS WERE MADE SOLELY IN THE DISCRETION OF THEIR BROKER

February 25

• WHETHER THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BREACHED THE POST-EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS OF THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY ALLEGEDLY CREATING OR FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR A FORMER MEMBER, GRAHAM BRUCE, TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON BEHALF OF THE COWICHAN TRIBES

2008

September 16

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE RICH COLEMAN, MLA AND MINISTER OF FORESTS AND RANGE, WAS IN AN APPARENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN RELATION TO MAKING TWO DISCRETIONARY DECISIONS THAT, AT THE TIME THEY WERE MADE, BENEFITED A FORESTRY COMPANY WHICH THEN EMPLOYED HIS BROTHER

2007

February 5

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE GORDON CAMPBELL, MLA AND PREMIER, WAS IN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BY MAKING AN ORDER IN COUNCIL DECISION INVOLVING ALCAN, AT A TIME WHEN HE OWNED SHARES IN ALCAN THROUGH HIS RRSP TRUST PLAN HOLDINGS

2006

May 11

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE PAT BELL, MLA AND MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND LANDS, ADVANCED HIS PRIVATE INTEREST AS A MEMBER OF A SNOWMOBILING CLUB BY INTERVENING IN A LAND USE DECISION AFFECTING SNOWMOBILERS’ ACCESS TO A RECREATIONAL AREA 

2004

June 18

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE GORDON CAMPBELL, MLA AND PREMIER, USED HIS INFLUENCE TO BENEFIT A RELATIVE (THE SPOUSE OF A COUSIN-IN-LAW) IN RELATION TO THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEPUTY MINISTER, THE AWARDING OF CONTRACTS TO THE RELATIVE, AND THE FORGIVENESS OF CERTAIN DEBTS OWED BY THE RELATIVE TO THE GOVERNMENT 

2003

February 13

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE STAN HAGEN, MLA AND MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, WAS IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE BENEFITS TO FISH FARM COMPANIES WHICH HAD CONTRIBUTED TO HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN

2002

July 25

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE JOHN VAN DONGEN, MLA AND MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FISHERIES, WAS IN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST BY PROVIDING INPUT INTO AGRICULTURAL REZONING ISSUES IN AN AREA WHERE HIS BROTHER AND SISTER OWNED FARMS

February 28

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE SINDI HAWKINS, MLA AND MINISTER OF HEALTH PLANNING, WAS IN A REAL OR APPARENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST BY AWARDING A CONTRACT TO A FIRM WHOSE OWNER HAD POLITICAL AND PERSONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE MINISTER

Jan. 25/01

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE GLEN CLARK, MLA AND PREMIER, INFLUENCED A DECISION TO GRANT APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE FOR A CASINO LICENSE TO A FRIEND WHO HAD PROVIDED FREE LABOUR FOR RENOVATION WORK DONE ON THE PREMIER’S PROPERTIES (REPORT TABLED ON NOVEMBER 19, 2002)
  • APPENDIX A – RULING ON APPLICATION OF DERRICK LUU FOR FUNDING OF COUNSEL FEES
  • APPENDIX B – RULING ON APPLICATION OF PACIFIC PRESS, PUBLISHER OF THE VANCOUVER SUN

1999

December 23

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE GORDON WILSON, MLA, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY FAILING TO DISCLOSE A DEBT WHICH HE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN

June 28

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL DE JONG, MLA, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY FAILING TO DISCLOSE THAT THE BC LIBERAL PARTY HAD PAID AN UNDISCLOSED SUM OF MONEY TO SETTLE A DEFAMATION SUIT ON HIS BEHALF

May 31

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE MOE SIHOTA, MLA AND MINISTER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY FAILING TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL BENEFITS HE RECEIVED FROM SKI RESORT OPERATORS WHILE CARRYING OUT OFFICIAL DUTIES AS MINISTER

1998

June 3

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE CATHY MCGREGOR, MLA AND MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT, LANDS AND PARKS, THE HONOURABLE CORKY EVANS, MLA AND MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE HONOURABLE GLEN CLARK, MLA AND PREMIER, ATTEMPTED TO INFLUENCE A DECISION IN RELATION TO A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN ORDER TO FURTHER THEIR PRIVATE INTERESTS

May 14

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE PAUL RAMSEY, MLA, IMPROPERLY INFLUENCED THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO GRANT A LOAN TO A COMPANY WHICH HAD CONTRIBUTED TO HIS RECALL DEFENCE FUND

1997

March 24

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE MOE SIHOTA, MLA AND MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, CONTRAVENED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY PARTICIPATING IN DECISIONS TO APPOINT AND LATER REAPPOINT A PERSON TO THE BOARD OF BC HYDRO, SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER HE HAD RECEIVED FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THAT PERSON

1995

October 10

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE MOE SIHOTA, MLA, BREACHED THE MEMBERS’ CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT BY FAILING TO DISCLOSE A DEBT HE ALLEGEDLY OWED TO A FORMER CLIENT

April 17

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL HARCOURT, MLA, AND PREMIER, WAS IN AN APPARENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN RELATION TO GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS BEING AWARDED TO A COMPANY WHOSE PRESIDENT HAD A LONGSTANDING PERSONAL AND POLITICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PREMIER

1994

October 26

• WHETHER IT WAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR THE HONOURABLE MICHAEL DE JONG, MLA, AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGAL SERVICES SOCIETY AND A LEGAL AID LAWYER, TO PARTICIPATE IN DEBATES AND VOTE ON AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGAL SERVICES SOCIETY ACT

May 18

• WHETHER THE HONOURABLE DAVID ZIRNHELT, MLA AND MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD, USED INFORMATION GAINED FROM A CONSTITUENT TO FURTHER HIS PRIVATE INTEREST IN RELATION TO A PROPERTY TRANSACTION

1993

August 16

• WHETHER IT WOULD BE A REAL OR APPARENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR THE HONOURABLE ROBIN BLENCOE, MLA AND MINISTER OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, RECREATION AND HOUSING, TO MAKE A DECISION IN RELATION TO A LARGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, WHEN TWO INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT HAD RECENTLY MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Archives

Bulletins

• Sponsored Travel Bulletin
• Union Club Guest Membership
• Letters of Reference and Support
• Accepting and Disclosing Gifts – A Guide for Members – The Guide is in booklet format. To print, choose double-sided printing and select “short edge” or “flip pages up”.
• Members’ Guide to Accepting Gifts During the 2010 Olympic Games
• Ethics Bulletin No. 4 – Procedure on Conflict of Interest
• Ethics Bulletin No. 3 – Members’ Travel
• Ethics Bulletin No. 2 – Use of Constituents’ Names, Addresses, Email Addresses and Telephone Numbers for Party Political Purposes
• Ethics Bulletin No. 1 – Post-Employment
• Material Change Guidelines
• Complimentary Memberships and Passes
• Membership, Directorship, Office or Patron in Charitable/Non-profit/Social/Community Organizations

News Releases

2013

• Correspondence dated April 16, 2013 to John Cummins
• Correspondence dated March 18, 2013 to John Cummins
• Correspondence dated March 12, 2013 from John Cummins
• February 13, 2013 – Paul D.K. Fraser, Q.C.
• January 25, 2013 – Paul D.K. Fraser, Q.C.

2012

• November 13, 2012 – Paul D.K. Fraser, Q.C.

2011

• January 17, 2011 – The Honourable H.A.D. Oliver, QC

The Members’ Conflict of Interest Act – Proposed Amendments to the COI Act

In spring and summer 2012, the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills (the “Committee”) reviewed the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act. As part of its review, the Committee held public consultations and heard presentations from expert witnesses, including the Commissioner. Our Office had the opportunity to present to the Committee and offer our suggestions for possible amendments to the Act.

• On May 2, 2012, the Commissioner appeared before the Committee as the first witness for the statutory review and presented a written submission focussing on four main areas of potential reform (ethical conduct, plenary jurisdiction, application of the Act to other “public office holders”, and post-employment matters): Submission
• A further written submission, canvassing several more specific topics for the Committee’s consideration, was submitted on May 31, 2012: Submission
• At the Committee’s request, the Commissioner presented his recommendations for specific amendments and appeared before the Committee again on July 31, 2012: Submission

The Committee issued its Report on March 14, 2013, making a total of 34 recommendations. Almost all of the Commissioner’s recommendations are reflected in the Committee’s report, which is available here.