As one can observe from the chart above, there has been a steady increase over time of "Requests for Advice" as well as formal Letters of Advice under Rule 19.0. During this period, eight Requests for Advice were received – the same as in the previous reporting period even though the Municipal Election occurred during this time frame -- and seven of these Requests resulted in formal Letters of Advice being provided; only one File required no formal Letter of Advice. On one File, however, it became necessary to provide two Letters of Advice. [Update: January 1st and June 30th, 2020, there was one Request for Advice; no formal Letter was required.]
Advisory Bulletins:
During the Reporting period, I issued two Advisory Bulletins. The purpose of the Advisory Bulletins is in part educative but also preventative. The Advisory Bulletins are intended to provide guidance to Members of Council and others to whom the Code of Conduct applies so that they can avoid violations of the Code. Advisory Bulletins, generally, concern matters of importance that Members of Council or members of the public have raised with me or they concern issues that have been identified by other Municipal Integrity Commissioners. Advisory Bulletins are placed on the Integrity Commissioner's webpage and are, therefore, available to Members of Council and the public alike. The link to the Advisory Reports is found at: citywindsor.ca/cityhall/Municipal-Accountability-and-Transparency/Integrity- Commissioner/Pages/Advisory-Bulletins.aspx. The two Advisory Bulletins issued during the Reporting period were the following:
- Advisory Bulletin Regarding 2018 Election-Related Activities (June 1, 2018); and
- Advisory Bulletin Regarding Gifts and Benefits (June 15, 2018). This Bulletin includes a "Gifts and Benefits Disclosure Statement for the Use of Members."