Municipalities across the province are calling on the government to establish an independent integrity office to oversee ethical conduct in local governments.
The request comes after a recent survey conducted by the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) revealed that 80% of municipalities believe an independent office is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in their operations.
According to AUMA President Barry Morishita, the lack of an independent body to investigate complaints of misconduct has been a long-standing concern for municipalities.
“Currently, if a complaint is made against a municipal official, it is up to the municipality to investigate and determine the appropriate course of action,” Morishita explained. “This can create a conflict of interest and erode public trust in the integrity of our local governments.”
The proposed integrity office would be responsible for receiving and investigating complaints of misconduct, as well as providing guidance and training to municipal officials on ethical standards and conflict of interest rules.
The AUMA is also calling for the office to have the power to impose penalties, such as fines or suspensions, for those found to have violated ethical standards.
Morishita emphasized that the establishment of an independent integrity office would not only benefit municipalities, but also the public.
“Having an independent body to oversee ethical conduct in local governments would increase transparency and accountability, ultimately leading to better governance and stronger public trust,” he said.
The AUMA’s request has received support from the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC), which represents rural municipalities in the province.
AAMDC President Al Kemmere stated that an independent integrity office would provide a consistent and fair process for addressing complaints, regardless of the size or location of the municipality.
“We believe that this office would help to maintain the high ethical standards that our communities expect from their local governments,” Kemmere said.
The AUMA and AAMDC have submitted their proposal to the provincial government and are hopeful that it will be considered in the upcoming legislative session.
In the meantime, Morishita urged municipalities to continue to prioritize ethical conduct and to work towards building public trust in their operations.
“Establishing an independent integrity office would be a significant step towards ensuring that our local governments are held to the highest standards of integrity and accountability,” he concluded.
