Accountability and Transparency

The Municipality of Clarington provides a variety of critical services in our community. We want to make sure that our actions are accountable and transparent. The Municipality strives to ensure that it is responsible to its residents and stakeholders and accountable for its actions or inactions. The Municipality encourages resident participation in order to foster an atmosphere of openness in all decision-making.

To enhance public trust, Council has established a system of checks and balances. Council has appointed three accountability officers to independently investigate matters about closed meetings, the conduct of Members of Council, and municipal services.

Council Code of Conduct

The Council Code of Conduct helps to ensure that members of Council engage and debate using acceptable conduct. These standards should serve to enhance public confidence that the Municipality's elected representatives conduct Council business in a civil and courteous manner.

Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

The Municipal Conflict of Interest Act endorses the following principles in relation to the duties of members of councils and of local boards under this Act:

1. The importance of integrity, independence and accountability in local government decision-making.
2. The importance of certainty in reconciling the public duties and pecuniary interests of members.
3. Members are expected to perform their duties of office with integrity and impartiality in a manner that will bear the closest scrutiny.
4. There is a benefit to municipalities and local boards when members have a broad range of knowledge and continue to be active in their own communities, whether in business, in the practice of a profession, in community associations, and otherwise.

Declaration of Interest Registry

In accordance with the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, the Municipal Clerk maintains a Declaration of Interest Registry, which is a record of each time a Member of Council declares an interest at a Standing Committee meeting or at a Council meeting. The Registry contains links to the Member’s declaration of interest form as well as a link to the minutes for the meeting.

• Council/Committee Member Declaration of Interest Form (PDF)

As of September 1, 2019, the Declaration of Interest Registry is linked directly from the Council Meeting calendar.

Closed Meeting Investigator

The Closed Meeting Investigator is responsible for investigating complaints about the conduct of closed meetings of Council, Committee and local boards.

Learn more about closed meetings.

Municipal Ombudsman

The Municipal Ombudsman investigates concerns about Municipal services and administrative unfairness. We recommended that you speak to the department responsible for the service if you are unhappy with the quality of service you received.

Where your concerns have not been addressed or resolved informally, residents must follow Clarington's internal formal complaint process before sending a complaint to the Ombudsman. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal complaint process, you may then file a complaint with the Municipal Ombudsman.

For more information, view the ADR Chambers Ombuds Office poster, or visit the ADR Chambers Ombuds Office website.

Formal complaints process

The Municipality of Clarington strives to deliver quality services. We have highly trained staff ready to assist you, answer your questions, and help resolve issues. We value your feedback and want to know what you think about our services, programs, facilities and staff. If you feel our staff were rude, unhelpful and dismissive, please let us know.

Learn more about filing a formal complaint.

Useful resources

The following are by-laws, policies, and procedures that ensure the Municipality is transparent in its operations and residents are aware of how decisions are made and carried out:

• Transparency and Accountability Policy (PDF)
• Council Code of Conduct
• Procedural By-law
• Procurement of Goods and Services - Purchasing Policy
• Hiring of Employees Policy (PDF)
• Sale and Disposition of Land Policy
• Public Complaints Policy (PDF)
• Closed Meeting Investigator Process (PDF)
• Integrity Commissioner Complaint Process (PDF)
• Code of Ethics (PDF)
• Municipal Law Enforcement Policy (PDF)