The Peel Regional Council Code of Conduct Committee met on February 6, 2014, at 8:34 a.m. in the Chair’s Boardroom, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

Members Present:	E. Kolb; G. Miles; P. Saito; R. Paterak
Members Absent:	Nil
Also Present:	D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer; P. O’Connor, Director of Legal Services and Regional Solicitor; K. Lockyer, Director of Clerk’s and Regional Clerk; D. Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations; S. Mistry, Senior Policy Advisor, Public Policy and Planning; A. Macintyre, Manager, Legislative Services; C. Law, Committee Clerk

_______________________________
* See text for arrivals
¨See text for departures

C. Law, Committee Clerk presided.

1. ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

RECOMMENDATION PRCCCC-1-2014:

That Councillor Saito be elected Chair of the Peel Regional Council Code of Conduct Committee for the term ending November 30, 2014, or until a successor is appointed by Regional Council.

RECOMMENDATION PRCCCC -2-2014:

That Councillor Paterak be elected Vice-Chair of the Peel Regional Council Code of Conduct Committee for the term ending November 30, 2014, or until a successor is appointed by Regional Council.

Councillor Saito assumed the Chair.

2. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION PRCCCC-3-2014:

That the agenda for the February 6, 2014 Peel Regional Council Code of Conduct Committee meeting, be approved.

4. DELEGATIONS - Nil

5. REPORTS

a) Peel Regional Council Code of Conduct

Presentation by David Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

David Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy and Government Relations, provided a draft Regional Council Code of Conduct for the Committee's review. He provided the rationale for adoption of a Code of Conduct both from the perspective of the ongoing provincial requirement as a stipulation for future funding agreements; and also to provide coverage for Regional Councillors given that their local municipal Codes of Conduct do not cover their duties when conducting Regional business.

Regional Chair Kolb stated that he did not support a separate Regional Code of Conduct because the actions of a Councillor at the local level should be seen no differently from a Councillor at the regional level, and that a Regional Code of Conduct would simply duplicate rules.

Councillor Saito stated that the City of Mississauga's Code of Conduct has resulted in increased frivolous cases due to its 'rules-based' nature and language, resulting in increased taxpayers’ expense to investigate.

Councillor Miles concurred with Councillor Saito noting that the City of Brampton’s experience with their 'values-based' Code of Conduct has been similar to the City of Mississauga.

David Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer, advised that many of the complaints that arise from the public would occur whether or not a Code of Conduct is in place. He noted that having a Code of Conduct in place can be a positive experience: most notably being a common and clear set of guidelines to use for the benefit, not only for individual Councillors, but for Regional Council acting collectively as well.

In response to comments by Regional Chair Kolb and Councillor Saito, Patrick O'Connor, Regional Solicitor, advised that the terms of the Oath of Office recited by Regional Councillors is set by law and cannot be changed to reflect additional Code of Conduct-type language. He added that a Code of Conduct is a starting point for shared norms and values and could be a requirement to sign by individual Regional Councillors, but would have to remain a separate document from the Oath of Office.

Councillor Saito expressed support for a shorter, simpler, more principle or values-based Code of Conduct for the Region and directed staff to set another meeting where the Committee could look at the proposed Code clause by clause. Regional Chair Kolb suggested the meeting should be a longer timeframe to examine the Code in detail.

In response to comments from several Councillors, David Szwarc advised that when the finalized Code comes back for the Committee’s approval, staff will also address the subject of the application of the Code in practice and how it could be implemented.

6. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

7. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

8. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

9. NEXT MEETING

To be determined.

10. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:40 a.m.