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The Commissioner's Office has a range of educational resources to help Members and public office holders understand their responsibilities under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons and the Conflict of Interest Act. We offer the following learning opportunities: Educational sessions: Scheduled, live online sessions covering key topics related to the Code and the Act.Online training: Self-paced modules focused on the Code and the Act.Presentations: Tailored sessions offered to departments, agencies, or other groups. On this page, you’ll find information about our educational sessions, links to online training modules, and downloadable presentation materials. Not sure what training you need? Find out here. Education for: Members' offices Ministers and parliamentary secretaries Reporting public office holders Public office holders Education for Members' offices Expand all Collapse all Upcoming educational sessions View and register for upcoming educational sessions. Members’ offices and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Register for the English session, 3:00 to 3:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 1:30 to 2:15 pm ET Thursday, February 18, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Online training for Members and their staff Training on the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons is mandatory for all Members. They must complete the training within 120 days after their election is confirmed. The course can only be accessed by Members and their staff on their training platform on the parliamentary intranet. If you are not a Member or a Member’s employee and would like more information on this course, please send us an email. The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Education for ministers and parliamentary secretaries Expand all Collapse all Upcoming educational sessions View and register for upcoming educational sessions. Reporting public office holders and the Conflict of Interest Act Wednesday, August 19, 2026: Register for the English session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ETRegister for the French session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ET Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Wednesday, October 7, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Thursday, November 26, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Tuesday, January 19, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Tuesday, February 23, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Thursday, March 18, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Online training modules Training on the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons is mandatory for all Members. In their role as Members, ministers and parliamentary secretaries must complete the training within 120 days after their election is confirmed. The course can only be accessed by Members and their employees on their training platform on the parliamentary intranet. If you are not a Member or a Member’s employee and would like more information on this course, please send us an email. The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are reporting public office holders under the Conflict of Interest Act. It is recommended they complete training to understand their obligations. Overview of the Conflict of Interest Act for reporting public office holders Education for reporting public office holders This information is for public office holders with reporting obligations. They include ministerial staff working 15 or more hours a week, ministerial advisers, heads of federal departments, agencies, Crown corporations or other organizations, embassy/consulate staff, full-time members of federal tribunals, boards or commissions, and individuals designated as reporting public office holders by the Governor in Council or a minister. Expand all Collapse all Upcoming educational sessions View and register for upcoming educational sessions. Reporting public office holders and the Conflict of Interest Act Wednesday, August 19, 2026: Register for the English session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ETRegister for the French session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ET Tuesday, September 15, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Wednesday, October 7, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Thursday, November 26, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Tuesday, January 19, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Tuesday, February 23, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Thursday, March 18, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Online training module This online course provides a practical overview of the Conflict of Interest Act, helping reporting public office holders understand their obligations and reporting requirements, how to manage potential conflicts, and when to seek guidance. Overview of the Conflict of Interest Act for reporting public office holders Education for public office holders This information is for public office holders without reporting obligations. They include ministerial staff working less than 15 hours a week, part-time members of federal tribunals, boards or commissions, and individuals designated as public office holders by the Governor in Council or by a minister. Expand all Collapse all Upcoming educational sessions View and register for upcoming educational sessions. Public office holders and the Conflict of Interest Act Wednesday, September 16, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:30 to 2:15 pm ETRegister for the French session, 3:00 to 3:45 pm ET Tuesday, November 24, 2026: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Thursday, January 21, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Wednesday, March 17, 2027: Register for the English session, 1:00 to 1:45 pm ETRegister for the French session, 11:30 am to 12:15 pm ET Online training module This online course is a practical overview of the Conflict of Interest Act, helping public office holders understand their obligations, how to manage potential conflicts, and when to seek guidance. Overview of the Conflict of Interest Act for public office holders

All elected Members of the House of Commons must follow the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must also follow the Conflict of Interest Act. The rules in the Act that apply to you are listed in the Summary of rules for ministers and parliamentary secretaries. This summary is intended as a quick reference and does not list every rule. The Code itself is the final authority. The mandatory training, (also available on Source) on the Code that all Members must complete within the first 120 days after their election or re-election can help you understand these rules. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all General rules of conduct When doing your job as a Member, you may not act in any way to: further your private interestsfurther the private interests of a member of your family (your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children, and your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent children)improperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests (section 8) This prohibition includes: Using your position to influence someone else’s decision. (section 9)Using or communicating insider information (section 10). Insider information is information you got while in office and that is not available to the public. You are also not allowed to try to do any of these things, even if no private interests are furthered in the end. (section 11) Furthering private interests Members further a person’s private interests, including their own, when their actions result, directly or indirectly, in: increasing or protecting the value of the person’s assets (things they own)reducing or eliminating their liabilities (debts they owe)allowing them to acquire a financial interest (get something that could make or save them money, or increase the value of what they own)an increase in their income from employment, a contract, business or professionthem becoming a director or officer in a company, association or trade unionthem becoming a partner in a partnership (subsection 3(2)) You are not considered to further private interests if the matter in question: applies to everyone in general (general application exception)affects the person as part of a large group of people (broad class exception)is part of a legal proceeding about something you did in your official dutiesis about the pay or benefits you get for being a Member (subsection 3(3)) Gifts or other benefits You and your family members may not accept any gift or other benefit that could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you—that is, if it could look like the giver wanted to affect how you do your job as a Member. (section 14) This acceptability test also applies to gifts you get at a charitable or political event, or from an all-party caucus (a group of Members from different political parties) focused on a specific topic or interest. There are some exceptions. You and your family members may accept gifts that are: received as a normal expression of courtesy or protocol, orwithin the customary standards of hospitality that normally accompany your position as a Member. You may also accept, from family and friends, gifts that are not related to your position. Disclosing private interests You may have a private interest that could be affected by a matter that comes before the House of Commons or a committee you are part of. You cannot participate in a debate or vote on such a matter. (section 13) If present when the matter is being discussed, you must disclose the general nature of your private interest as soon as possible, either orally or in writing. You must also disclose it, in writing, to the Clerk of the House immediately. (subsection 12(1)) If you later become aware of a private interest that you should have disclosed, you must do so right away. (subsection 12(2)) The Clerk of the House will have the disclosure recorded in the Journals and send it to the Commissioner, who will post it in the public registry. (subsection 12(3)) If you have a private interest that could be affected by your parliamentary work in other situations, you must inform the party concerned about the general nature of the interest as soon as possible, either orally or in writing. You must also send a written notice about it to the Commissioner, who will post it in the public registry. (subsection 12(4)) Sponsored travel If you are not a minister or parliamentary secretary, you may accept sponsored travel for yourself and your guests. This is any travel worth more than $200 that is not fully paid by the government, a political party, a recognized parliamentary association or the Members. (section 15) Government contracts You cannot knowingly be part of a contract (unless it existed before you were elected) with the Government of Canada or any federal organization if you get a benefit from it, either directly or through a subcontract, unless the Commissioner believes it will not affect your obligations under the Code. (subsection 16(1)) You cannot have an interest in any partnership or private corporation that benefits from such a contract. The Commissioner may make an exception if he believes the contract or interest is unlikely to affect your obligations under the Code. (section 18) You may participate in a program run or funded by the government and get benefits from it if you qualify for the program, do not get special treatment, and do not get benefits that others do not get. (subsection 16(2)) You can own securities (like stocks) in a publicly traded company that contracts with the Government of Canada, unless the Commissioner believes your investment is big enough to interfere with your responsibilities under the Code. (subsection 17(1)) Initial compliance Within 60 days after your name is published in the Canada Gazette confirming your election, you must fill out and give to the Commissioner’s Office a confidential Disclosure Statement that includes: The value of each of your and your family members’ assets (property and investments) and liabilities (debts) of $10,000 or moreThe amount and source of any income of $1,000 or more that you or your family members received in the previous 12 months, or will receive in the next 12 monthsAny trust you know about that could give you a benefit or income, either directly or indirectlyAny benefits that you, your family, or any private corporation any of you have a stake in received in the last 12 months or might receive in the next 12 months from a contract or subcontract with the Government of CanadaDetails about any private corporations you mentionedAny positions you or your family members hold in corporations, trade or professional associations, or trade unions, and any partnerships in which you or a family member is a partnerAny other information the Commissioner asks for (section 21) The Commissioner’s Office prepares a summary of the information in your Disclosure Statement. You must review, sign, and send it back to the Commissioner’s Office within 60 days. (subsection 23(1)) The Disclosure Summary includes: The source and nature, but not the value, of your income, assets and liabilitiesThe subject and nature of any contracts or subcontracts with the Government of CanadaThe names of any affiliated corporationsAny public declarations of gifts, other benefits or sponsored travelA list of the positions you or your family members hold in corporations, trade or professional associations, or trade unions, and partnerships in which you or a family member is a partnerA list of any trusts you could get a benefit or income from (section 24) Annual review Every year, you must review the information in your Disclosure Statement and update it as needed. You must give the Commissioner’s Office a new Disclosure Statement that reflects any necessary changes. The Commissioner’s Office will contact you to launch the annual review process. You must complete it within 60 days. (subsection 20(1)) Ongoing reporting requirements Material changes (changes to any of the information in your Disclosure Statement), within 60 days (subsection 21(3))Any gifts or other benefits, or a series of gifts from one source in a 12-month period, worth $200 or more that you or a family member accept, within 60 days (subsection 14(3))Any sponsored travel you accept, within 60 days after the end of a trip (subsection 15(1)) Investigations The Commissioner can investigate possible contraventions of the Code. Reports on investigations under the Code (called inquiries) are tabled in the House of Commons and made public. (section 28)

If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must follow both sets of rules that the Commissioner’s Office administers: Conflict of Interest Act, andConflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. As a Member, you must complete mandatory training on the Code within 120 days after your election or re-election is confirmed. As a minister or parliamentary secretary, you are subject to the Act as a reporting public office holder. This means you must not only follow its general conflict of interest and post-employment rules, but are also subject to its: Reporting and public disclosure requirementsRestrictions on activities outside of your job as a minister or parliamentary secretary, andProhibition on holding some kinds of assets (called “controlled” assets). Plus, the Act has some extra rules for ministers and parliamentary secretaries. The Commissioner’s Office will work closely with you during your time in public office. It assigns each Member, minister and parliamentary secretary an advisor. You can ask your advisor for advice at any time. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand how to follow the rules and prevent conflicts of interest. So can the mandatory training on the Code. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send an email. Expand all Collapse all General rules under the Act You have a general duty under the Conflict of Interest Act to arrange your private affairs to prevent conflicts of interest. While doing your job, you are not allowed to: Make or participate in decisions that could put you in a conflict of interest.Give preferential (special) treatment to someone because of the person or organization representing them.Use insider information (information that is not available to the public) to further private interests.Use your position to try to influence a decision to further private interests.Let offers of outside employment affect how you do your work.Accept gifts or other benefits that might reasonably be seen as an attempt to influence you (if it could look like the donor wanted to affect how you do your job). Your family members may not accept these either.Hire or give contracts to your spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling or parent, or let your organization do so.Personally solicit donations if it puts you in a conflict of interest.Do anything to try to get around the Act’s rules. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules. So can your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office. Please call 613-995-0721 or send an email. General rules under the Code Under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, while doing your job as an MP, you are not allowed to act in any way to: Further your private interestsFurther the private interests of a member of your family, orImproperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests. This includes furthering your private interests or those of a family member, or improperly furthering another person’s or entity’s private interests by: Using your position to influence someone else’s decisionUsing insider information (information you got while in office and that is not available to the public), andCommunicating insider information. You’re also not allowed to try to do any of these things. The mandatory training on the Code that all Members must complete within 120 days after their election is confirmed can help you understand these rules. So can your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office. Please call 613-995-0721 or send an email.

If you are a part-time member of a federal board, commission or tribunal, or a ministerial staffer who works less than 15 hours a week on average, you are subject to the Conflict of Interest Act as a public office holder without reporting obligations. This means you only need to follow the Act’s general conflict of interest and post-employment rules. You do not have any reporting requirements, and there are no restrictions on your activities outside of your job as a public office holder, or on the types of assets you can own. Some of the Act’s rules also affect your family members. They are your spouse, your common-law partner, your dependent children, and the dependent children of your spouse or common-law partner. Compliance with the Act is a condition of your appointment or employment as a public office holder. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand how the Act applies to you. If you have questions, you are welcome to call 613-995-0721 or send an email. General conflict of interest rules You have a general duty under the Conflict of Interest Act to arrange your private affairs to prevent conflicts of interest. While doing your job, you are not allowed to: Make or participate in decisions that could put you in a conflict of interest. Give preferential (special) treatment to someone because of the person or organization representing them. Use insider information (information that is not available to the public) to further private interests. Use your position to try to influence a decision to further private interests. Let offers of outside employment affect how you do your work. Accept gifts or other benefits that might reasonably be seen as an attempt to influence you (if it could look like the giver wanted to affect how you do your job). Your family members may not accept such gifts or other benefits either. Hire or give contracts to your spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling or parent, or let your organization do so. Personally solicit donations if it puts you in a conflict of interest. Do anything to try to get around the Act’s rules.

Category Conflict of Interest Act Category Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Applies to Applies to about 3,000 appointed officials, called "public office holders" The Act sets out a general duty for public office holders to arrange their private affairs in a way that will prevent them from being in a conflict of interest. It also identifies specific things they are not allowed to do in their job, if they know or should know that those actions would further their private interests or those of a relative or friend, or improperly further the private interests of anyone else. They include: Making or participating in a decision Giving preferential (special) treatment to a person or organization because of who is representing them Using insider information (information they got while in office and that is not available to the public) Trying to influence someone else’s decision Letting themselves be influenced by offers of outside employment Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are not allowed to vote on a question that would put them in a conflict of interest. Applies to 343 elected Members of the House of Commons The Code prohibits Members from acting in any way to further their private interests or those of a family member, or to improperly further the private interests of anyone else. It also identifies specific things they are not allowed to do in their job if those actions would further their private interests or those of a family member, or improperly further the private interests of anyone else. They include: Using their position to influence someone else’s decision Using insider information (information they got while in office and that is not available to the public) Sharing insider information with someone else General rules of conduct General rules of conduct for Conflict of Interest Act The Act sets out a general duty for public office holders to arrange their private affairs in a way that will prevent them from being in a conflict of interest. It also identifies specific things they are not allowed to do in their job, if they know or should know that those actions would further their private interests or those of a relative or friend, or improperly further the private interests of anyone else. They include: Making or participating in a decision Giving preferential (special) treatment to a person or organization because of who is representing them Using insider information (information they got while in office and that is not available to the public) Trying to influence someone else’s decision Letting themselves be influenced by offers of outside employment Ministers and parliamentary secretaries are not allowed to vote on a question that would put them in a conflict of interest. General rules of conduct for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons The Code prohibits Members from acting in any way to further their private interests or those of a family member, or to improperly further the private interests of anyone else. It also identifies specific things they are not allowed to do in their job if those actions would further their private interests or those of a family member, or improperly further the private interests of anyone else. They include: Using their position to influence someone else’s decision Using insider information (information they got while in office and that is not available to the public) Sharing insider information with someone else Gifts Gifts for Conflict of Interest Act Public office holders and their family members are not allowed to accept any gift or other advantage if it could look like the donor wanted to affect how the public office holders do their job. There are exceptions in the Act for gifts or other advantages that are: from relatives or friends a usual way of showing courtesy or following protocol, or that are within the customary standards that normally accompany the public office holders’ position (typically given to someone in that position) allowed under the Canada Elections Act (this exception applies to candidates during an election period, or during a nomination or leadership campaign) Public office holders must forfeit any courtesy, protocol or “customary standards” gift with a commercial value of $1,000 or more. Gifts for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Members and their family members are not allowed to accept any gift or other benefit if it could look like the donor wanted to affect how the Members do their job. They and their family members may accept gifts or other benefits that are: seen as a usual way of showing courtesy or following protocol, like fees for events that Members attend as parliamentary representatives considered normal hospitality for someone in the Members’ position, like a ceremonial gift from a visiting official from another country They may also accept, from family and friends, gifts that are not related to their position as a Member. Travel Travel for Conflict of Interest Act The Act restricts the kinds of travel that ministers, parliamentary secretaries, their family members, ministerial advisers, and ministerial staff can accept. They are not allowed to accept travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft unless it’s needed for their job as public office holders, in special situations, or if they get the Commissioner’s approval first. Travel for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons The Code does not restrict how Members who are not ministers or parliamentary secretaries may travel. It also lets them accept sponsored travel for themselves and their guests. Government contracts Government contracts for Conflict of Interest Act Ministers and parliamentary secretaries cannot knowingly be part of a contract with a public sector entity if they get a benefit from it, except for contracts that give them pension benefits. Government contracts for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Members cannot knowingly be part of a contract (unless it existed before they were elected) with the Government of Canada or any federal organization if they get a benefit from it, unless the Commissioner believes it will not affect how they do their job. However, they may participate in a program run or funded by the Government of Canada and get benefits from it if they qualify, do not get special treatment, and do not get benefits that others don’t get. Partnerships and private companies Partnerships and private companies for Conflict of Interest Act Ministers and parliamentary secretaries cannot have a stake in a partnership or private company that has a contract with a public sector entity if the partnership or company gets a benefit from it, unless the Commissioner believes the stake is unlikely to affect how they do their job. Partnerships and private companies for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Members may own shares in a publicly listed company that has contracts with the Government of Canada, unless the Commissioner thinks the size of their holdings is so big that it may affect their obligations under the Code. They cannot have a stake in a partnership or private corporation that is a party to a contract with the Government of Canada, if the partnership or corporation gets a benefit from it, unless the Commissioner believes it will not affect how they do their job. Contracting with or hiring family members Contracting with or hiring family members for Conflict of Interest Act There are rules in the Act to prevent public office holders from using their position to give a contract to or hire their spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling, or parent. They cannot let their public sector entity do that either, unless it’s through a fair process they are not involved in. Ministers and parliamentary secretaries cannot let anyone acting on their behalf contract with or hire the spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling or parent of another minister or parliamentary secretary or party colleague in Parliament, unless it’s done through a fair process that they are not involved in. Contracting with or hiring family members for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons The Code does not say anything about giving contracts to or hiring Members’ family. Outside activities Outside activities for Conflict of Interest Act Ministers, parliamentary secretaries and other reporting public office holders are not allowed to take part in certain activities that are not part of their job. They can’t: have another job or practise a profession manage or operate a business or commercial activity serve as a director or officer in a corporation or organization hold office in a union or professional association serve as a paid consultant be an active partner in a partnership Outside activities for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons There are no restrictions on Members’ activities outside Parliament unless they are ministers or parliamentary secretaries. They can: have another job or practise a profession run a business be a director or officer in a corporation, association, trade union or non-profit organization be a partner in a partnership Reporting requirements Reporting requirements for Conflict of Interest Act All reporting public office holders must complete an initial compliance process soon after they are appointed. They must give the Commissioner’s Office information about their financial interests, personal interests, and anything else that could affect how they make decisions, by filling out a Confidential Report. While in office, reporting public office holders must tell the Commissioner’s Office about: any changes to the information in their Confidential Report (these are called material changes) any gifts or other advantages worth $200 or more that they or a family member accept recusals (when they stepped back from talking about, deciding on, debating, or voting on anything they might have a conflict of interest in) private flights accepted by ministers, parliamentary secretaries, their family members, ministerial advisers, or ministerial staff firm offers of outside employment the acceptance of an offer of employment Reporting public office holders must also complete an annual review. Every year, they must review their information with their advisor in the Commissioner’s Office and update it as needed. Reporting requirements for Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons Members must complete an initial compliance process soon after they are elected. They must give the Commissioner’s Office information about their financial interests, personal interests, and anything else that could affect how they make decisions, by filling out a Disclosure Statement. While in office, Members must tell the Commissioner’s Office about: any changes to the information in their Disclosure Statement (these are called material changes) any gifts or other benefits worth $200 or more that they or a family member accept recusals (when they stepped back from debating or voting on anything in which they have a private interest). They must disclose the general nature of any private interest they have in a matter that comes before them any sponsored travel they accept Members must also complete an annual review. Every year, they must review their information with their advisor in the Commissioner’s Office and update it as needed. Post-employment Post-employment for Conflict of Interest Act After they leave public office, public office holders must follow the Act's post-employment rules. Some of those rules apply for life to all former public office holders. They are not allowed to: take improper advantage of their previous public office switch sides (work for or represent a person or organization on a legal matter, deal, negotiation or case if they previously worked for or advised the government on it) advise a client, business associate or employer using insider information (information they got while in office and that is not available to the public) There are extra rules for former reporting public office holders. They must observe a cooling-off period (two years for former ministers and one year for everyone else). During that time, they are not allowed to: work for, contract with or serve on the board of directors of an entity, other than a public sector entity, if they had direct and significant official dealings with it during their last year in public office make representations on behalf of a person or entity to a department, organization, board, commission, or tribunal that they had direct and significant official dealings with during their last year in public office There are no post-employment rules in the Code.

There are post-employment rules in the Conflict of Interest Act that you must follow after leaving public office. Some of them apply for life. Others apply only during a “cooling-off” period that begins on your last day in office. It is two years for former ministers, and one year for former parliamentary secretaries. You may ask the Commissioner to waive or reduce your cooling-off period under the Act. If the Commissioner decides to grant a waiver or reduction, the decision and the reasons for it will be posted in the public registry. You are also subject to certain restrictions under the Lobbying Act. For more information, please contact the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying by email or by telephone at 613-957-2760. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand the Act’s post-employment rules, as can your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all Post-employment rules in the Act After leaving public office, you must follow the Conflict of Interest Act’s general post-employment rules. You are not allowed to: Take improper advantage of your previous public office“Switch sides” on a specific proceeding, transaction, negotiation or case to which the Crown (the federal government) is a party—that is, work for or represent a person or organization on that matter after you acted for or advised the Crown on itAdvise a client, business associate or employer using information you got while in office and that is not available to the public These rules apply indefinitely and are not subject to any exemption, waiver or reduction. You must also follow some extra rules during your cooling-off period (two years for former ministers and one year for former parliamentary secretaries). You are not allowed to: Work for, contract with or serve on the board of directors of an entity, other than a federal government or parliamentary entity, if you had direct and significant official dealings with it during your last year in public officeMake representations on behalf of a person or entity to a department, organization, board, commission, or tribunal that you had direct and significant official dealings with during your last year in public office(If you’re a minister or minister of state) make representations to a current minister who was in Cabinet at the same time as you Under section 37 of the Act, you must report to the Commissioner certain communications and meetings arranged with any of these federal officials: An officer or employee of any federal department or agencyA member of the Senate or the House of Commons or a member of their staffA Governor in Council appointee (other than judges and provincial lieutenant governors)An officer, director or employee of a federal board, commission, or other tribunalA member of the Canadian ForcesA member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police You must also report any meetings you arrange between a federal official listed above and any other person, by filing a section 37 return as soon as possible. You must also inform the Commissioner if any information in a section 37 return is no longer correct or if, since filing it, you have learned new information that the form requires. What happens to my records in the public registry after I leave office? Your information under the Conflict of Interest Act, including the date you started post-employment, will stay in the public registry during your cooling-off period (two years for former ministers and one year for former parliamentary secretaries). Once your cooling-off period is over, the Commissioner’s Office will no longer make that information publicly available. Your information under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons will be removed from the public registry as soon as you leave Parliament, and will no longer be available from the Commissioner’s Office. The registry only contains information about sitting Members. The same happens when a federal election is called: incumbents are no longer considered Members for purposes of the Code, so the Commissioner’s Office pulls your information under the Code from the registry (but not your information published under the Act). It will be returned to the registry if you are re-elected. If you are a parliamentary secretary, you enter post-employment under the Act when an election is called. If you’re a minister, you stay in office until a new Cabinet is sworn in, unless you leave for another reason before then.

The Conflict of Interest Act is divided into five parts. The first part describes conflict of interest rules; the second, compliance measures; the third, post-employment obligations; the fourth, its administration and enforcement; and the fifth, generalities. This summary is intended as a quick reference. The Conflict of Interest Act itself is the final authority. There are detailed information notices available on the Office website on specific subjects and you are also encouraged to seek advice from your advisor by contacting the Office at 613-995-0721 or by email. If you are a reporting public office holder, please refer to the Summary of Rules for Reporting Public Office Holders. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, please consult the Summary of Rules for Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries. Expand all Collapse all Conflict of interest rules Public office holders are in a conflict of interest when they exercise an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity to further their private interests or those of their relatives or friends, or to improperly further another person’s private interests (section 4). Compliance with the Act is a condition of your appointment or employment as a public office holder (s. 19). You have a general duty to arrange your private affairs to prevent conflicts of interest (s. 5). You are prohibited from: making a decision or participating in making a decision relating to the exercise of an official power, duty or function that would place you in a conflict of interest (subsection 6(1));providing preferential treatment to any person or organization based on the identity of the person or organization representing them (s. 7);using information that is not available to the public to further private interests (s. 8);using your position to influence a decision to further private interests (s. 9);being influenced in exercising your duties by plans for or offers of outside employment (s. 10);accepting any gift or other advantage that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you in the exercise of your official duties, with certain exceptions. This prohibition also extends to members of your family (s. 11);entering into a contract or employment relationship, in the exercise of your official duties, with a spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling or parent, or permitting the entity for which you work to do so (s. 14);personally soliciting funds if it places you in a conflict of interest (s. 16); andtaking any action aimed at circumventing the Act (s. 18). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on gifts or other advantages, fundraising, and offers of outside employment. Compliance measures You must recuse yourself from any discussion, decision, debate or vote if you would be in a conflict of interest (s. 21).You must take any appropriate measures to comply with the Act, as determined by the Commissioner (ss. 29 and 30). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notice on recusal obligations. Post-employment You are prohibited, indefinitely, from: acting in a manner that takes improper advantage of your previous office (s. 33);acting for or on behalf of any person or organization in connection with any specific proceeding, transaction, negotiation or case where the Crown is a party and where you had acted for, or provided advice to, the Crown while in public office (subs. 34(1));providing advice to clients, business associates or employers using information that was acquired in the course of your official duties and that is not available to the public (subs. 34(2)). Administration and enforcement The Commissioner may conduct an examination: on the written request of a Senator or Member of the House of Commons who has reasonable grounds to believe that a public office holder or former public office holder has contravened the Act (s. 44), oron the Commissioner's own initiative if the Commissioner has reason to believe that a public office holder or former public office holder has contravened the Act (s. 45). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notice on investigations under the Act.

You and members of your family may be offered gifts and other advantages in connection with your position as a public office holder, either directly or indirectly, from a variety of individuals and in a range of situations. Before accepting a gift, you must consider whether you’re allowed to accept it under the Conflict of Interest Act. As a public office holder without reporting obligations, you do not need to tell the Commissioner’s Office about the gifts or other advantages you accept, or publicly declare them. An information notice issued by the Commissioner details the Act’s gift rules. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can also help you understand them. If you are unsure if a gift is acceptable, please speak to one of our advisors by calling 613-995-0721 or sending us an email. Expand all Collapse all What is a gift or other advantage? The Conflict of Interest Act talks about “gifts or other advantages.” These can take many forms, including: Money (if you do not have to repay it and nobody expects you to)Consumer goods such as books, flowers, artwork, furniture or wineProperty such as vehicles, offices, houses or cottagesThe use of property or facilities at no cost or for less than their commercial value (the amount someone in Canada would have to pay for something similar)Membership in a club or other organization at no cost or for less than its commercial valueServices, such as dry cleaning or a haircut, at no cost or for less than their commercial valueMeals, travel or accommodation costs paid for by another individual or organizationInvitations or tickets to attend an event, such as a sports match, gala, concert, play or fundraiser, at no cost or for less than its commercial value Acceptability test Under section 11 of the Conflict of Interest Act, you and your family members may not accept any gifts or other advantages that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you in the exercise of an official power, duty or function. Simply put, a gift is unacceptable if it could look like the person offering it wanted to affect how you do your job. It doesn’t matter if the person or organization who gave it to you intended to influence you, or if you were indeed influenced. What matters is how things might look to a reasonable and neutral outside observer. You should consider who is offering the gift, the nature of the gift and the circumstances around the offer. The giver's current or future relationship with you and your office is particularly important. Gifts that could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you include those from: someone who is registered to lobby you or your office, andsomeone whose interests could be affected by a decision you may be called upon to make. Promotional items of low value like pens, notepads, keychains, T-shirts or inexpensive carrying cases given to attendees at events would generally be acceptable since they would not reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you. Exceptions to the acceptability test There are three exceptions to the Conflict of Interest Act’s acceptability test. You and your family members may accept gifts or other advantages: from a relative or friend that they personally paid forthat are allowed under the Canada Elections Act (it has rules about gifts or other advantages offered to candidates during an election period or a nomination or leadership campaign)that are a normal expression of courtesy or protocol, or that are within the customary standards that normally accompany your position. Courtesy or protocol gifts and those within customary standards include: thank-you gifts for performing a ceremonial or representational role at an event, as a speaker, presenter, host or government representativeentrance fees for you and a guest to a conference where you are a keynote speaker in your official capacitylow-value gifts or hospitality (with a commercial value of less than $40 before taxes or shipping) received from registered lobbyists at an in-person meeting. The cumulative value of such gifts or hospitality from the same source must not exceed $200 over a 12-month period ceremonial gifts offered by a visiting official from a foreign or international organization that are reasonably proportionate to the official duties or functions you exercised during your interaction with them​ The acceptability test also doesn’t apply to gifts or other advantages (including invitations) offered by a federal public sector entity as defined in the Act. These include federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations, but not the Senate or House of Commons.​ The Commissioner’s information notice on gifts provides more information on how these exceptions are applied. What to do if someone offers you or a family member an unacceptable gift If a gift or other advantage offered to you or a family member is unacceptable, you are prohibited not only from accepting it directly, but also from accepting it indirectly. Your staff or someone else may not accept it on your behalf or instead of you.You may not give or redirect it to someone else.You may not donate it to a charity or direct that it be donated to a charity in your name or in the name of another person, including a family member. If, in error, you or a family member accept a gift that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you, you must return it immediately or reimburse the giver for its cost. You may face situations where refusing the offer of a gift, hospitality or other advantage or benefit may cause offence to the giver. In such situations, you have the options of: returning it immediatelyreimbursing the giver for its commercial value (what someone would have to pay in Canada to buy a similar item), orredirecting it to a registered charity of your choosing, provided you do not get a benefit from the donation. Forfeiture If you accept any gifts that are a normal expression of courtesy or protocol or that are within the customary standards associated with your position, but have a commercial value of $1,000 or more, you must forfeit them. Your department is responsible for managing forfeited gifts. You may ask the Commissioner for an exemption from this requirement.

The Conflict of Interest Act is divided into five parts. The first part describes conflict of interest rules; the second, compliance measures; the third, post-employment obligations; the fourth, its administration and enforcement; and the fifth, generalities. This summary is intended as a quick reference. The Conflict of Interest Act itself is the final authority. There are detailed information notices available on the Office website on specific subjects and you are also encouraged to seek advice from your advisor by contacting the Office at 613-995-0721 or by email. A general summary of the rules that apply to reporting public office holders who are not ministers or parliamentary secretaries is available in the Summary of Rules for Reporting Public Office Holders. Expand all Collapse all Conflict of interest rules Public office holders are in a conflict of interest when they exercise an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity to further their private interests or those of their relatives or friends, or to improperly further another person’s private interests (section 4). Compliance with the Act is a condition of your appointment or employment as a public office holder (s. 19). You have a general duty to arrange your private affairs to prevent conflicts of interest (s. 5). You are prohibited from: making a decision or participating in making a decision related to the exercise of an official power, duty or function that would place you in a conflict of interest (subsection 6(1));as a minister or parliamentary secretary, you are also prohibited from debating or voting on a question that would place you in a conflict of interest (subs. 6(2));providing preferential treatment to any person or organization based on the identity of the person or organization representing them (s. 7);using information that is not available to the public to further private interests (s. 8);using your position to influence a decision to further private interests (s. 9);being influenced in exercising your duties by offers of outside employment (s. 10);accepting any gift or other advantage that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you in the exercise of your official duties, with certain exceptions. This prohibition also extends to members of your family (s. 11);accepting travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft, including those offered by other levels of government, for any purpose unless required in your official capacity or in exceptional circumstances or with the prior approval of the Commissioner. This prohibition extends to members of your family and ministerial staff (s. 12);being party to a contract with a public sector entity under which you receive a benefit (other than pension rights), or having an interest in a partnership or private corporation that is party to a contract with a public sector entity under which the partnership or corporation receives a benefit, unless the Commissioner is of the opinion that the contract is unlikely to affect the exercise of your official duties (s. 13);entering into a contract or employment relationship, in the exercise of your official duties, with a spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling or parent, or permitting the entity for which you work to do so (s. 14);participating in certain outside activities,[i] except as required in the exercise of your official powers, duties and functions (s. 15). This includes: engaging in employment or the practice of a profession;[ii]managing or operating a business or commercial activity;continuing as or becoming a director or officer in a corporation or organization; [iii]holding office in a union or professional association;serving as a paid consultant; andbeing an active partner in a partnership. personally soliciting funds if it places you in a conflict of interest (s. 16);holding controlled assets (s. 17); andtaking any action aimed at circumventing the Act (s. 18). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on gifts and other advantages; outside activities; fundraising; categories of assets; offers of outside employment; political activities of ministers, ministers of state, parliamentary secretaries and ministerial staff during a federal election period; and serving your constituents and complying with the Act when you are a minister, minister of state, or parliamentary secretary. [i] Political activities are expressly excluded from the prohibition against outside activities (subs. 15(4)). [ii] If the Commissioner is of the opinion that it is not incompatible with your duties as a public office holder, you may, for the purpose of maintaining your employment opportunities or ability to practice your profession on leaving public office, engage in employment or the practice of a profession in order to retain any licensing or professional qualifications or standards of technical proficiency necessary for that purpose, provided you do not receive any remuneration. [iii] The Commissioner may allow you to continue as a director or officer of an organization of a philanthropic, charitable or non-commercial nature if the Commissioner is of the opinion that it is not incompatible with your public duties. Compliance measures Recusal You must recuse yourself from any discussion, decision, debate or vote if you would be in a conflict of interest (s. 21). Confidential Disclosure Within 60 days after your appointment, you must submit to the Commissioner a Confidential Report describing your assets, liabilities, income and certain activities (s. 22).You must also make reasonable efforts to include in this report similar information for members of your family.[iv]Within 60 days after your appointment, you must submit to the Commissioner a Confidential Report describing your assets, liabilities, income and certain activities (s. 22).You must also make reasonable efforts to include in this report similar information for members of your family. any material change to any matter in respect of which you are required to provide a Confidential Report, within 30 days (subs. 22(5));gifts and other advantages from any one source, other than relatives and friends, the total value of which exceed $200 in value over a 12-month period, within 30 days after acceptance or after the day on which their value exceeds $200 (s. 23);firm offers of outside employment, within seven days of receiving them. You must disclose them in writing (subs. 24(1));the acceptance of an offer of outside employment, within seven days. If you are a minister, you must also notify the Prime Minister. If you are a parliamentary secretary, you must also notify the minister you assist (subs. 24(2)). You must review the information in your Confidential Report annually and comply with any new measures required to satisfy your obligations under the Act (s. 28). Public Declaration You must publicly declare: any recusals made pursuant to section 21, within 60 days after the recusal (subs. 25(1));all assets that are neither controlled nor exempt, within 120 days after your appointment (subs. 25(2));any liabilities of $10,000 or more, within 120 days, and provide sufficient detail to identify the source and nature of the liability but not the amount (subs. 25(3));outside activities approved by the Commissioner, referred to in subsection 15(2) or 15(3), within 120 days after your appointment (subs. 25(4));any single acceptable gift or other advantage, other than from a relative or friend, whose value is $200 or more, within 30 days after acceptance (subs. 25(5));as a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must publicly declare all travel aboard non-commercial chartered or private aircraft, including those offered by other levels of government, that you, a member of your family, your ministerial advisors or your ministerial staff have accepted within 30 days after the acceptance and provide sufficient detail to identify the source and circumstances (subs. 25(6)). Divestment You must: divest yourself of any controlled assets by selling them in an arm's-length transaction or by placing them in a blind trust within 120 days after your appointment (s. 27); andtake any appropriate measures to comply with the Act as determined by the Commissioner (ss. 29 and 30). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on categories of assets, recusal obligations, conflict of interest screens, and divestment and blind trusts. [iv] Subsection 2(2) of the Act defines family members as: (a) his or her spouse or common-law partner; and (b) his or her dependent children and the dependent children of his or her spouse or common-law partner. Post-employment You are prohibited, indefinitely, from: acting in a manner that takes improper advantage of your previous office (s. 33);acting for or on behalf of any person or organization in connection with any specific proceeding, transaction, negotiation or case where the Crown is a party and where you had acted for, or provided advice to, the Crown while in public office (subs. 34(1));providing advice to clients, business associates or employers using information that was acquired in the course of your official duties and that is not available to the public (subs. 34(2)). During a cooling-off period of two years following your last day in office if you were a minister, or of one year if you were a parliamentary secretary, you are prohibited from: entering into a contract of service with, accepting an appointment to the board of directors of, or accepting an offer of employment with an entity—including a federal public sector entity—with which you had direct and significant official dealings during your last year in office (subs. 35(1));making representations to a department, organization, board, commission or tribunal with which you had direct and significant official dealings during your last year in office (subs. 35(2));if you are a former minister, making representations to a current minister who was a minister at the same time as you (subs. 35(3)). For this period, you must also report to the Commissioner any communication or meeting as defined in paragraphs 5(1)(a) and (b) of the Lobbying Act (s. 37). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notice on post-employment rules. Administration and enforcement The Commissioner may conduct an examination: on the written request of a Senator or Member of the House of Commons who has reasonable grounds to believe that a public office holder or former public office holder has contravened the Act (s. 44); oron the Commissioner's own initiative if the Commissioner has reason to believe that a public office holder or former public office holder has contravened the Act (s. 45). The Commissioner may impose administrative monetary penalties for failure to comply with certain reporting requirements (ss. 52 and 53). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on the administrative monetary penalties regime and on investigations under the Act.

The Conflict of Interest Act is divided into five parts. The first part describes conflict of interest rules; the second, compliance measures; the third, post-employment obligations; the fourth, its administration and enforcement; and the fifth, generalities. This summary is intended as a quick reference. The Conflict of Interest Act itself is the final authority. There are detailed information notices available on the Office website on specific subjects and you are also encouraged to seek advice from your advisor by contacting the Office at 613-995-0721 or by email. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, please consult the Summary of Rules for Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries. Expand all Collapse all Conflict of interest rules Compliance with the Act is a condition of your appointment or employment as a public office holder (s. 19). You have a general duty to arrange your private affairs to prevent conflicts of interest (s. 5). You are prohibited from: making a decision or participating in making a decision related to the exercise of an official power, duty or function that would place you in a conflict of interest (subsection 6(1));providing preferential treatment to any person or organization based on the identity of the person or organization representing them (s. 7);using information that is not available to the public to further private interests (s. 8);using your position to influence a decision to further private interests (s. 9);being influenced in exercising your duties by plans for or offers of outside employment (s. 10);accepting any gift or other advantage that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you in the exercise of your official duties, with certain exceptions. This prohibition also extends to members of your family (s. 11);in the case of ministerial advisers and ministerial staff, accepting travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft, including those offered by other level of government, for any purpose unless required in your official capacity or in exceptional circumstances or with the prior approval of the Commissioner (s. 12);entering into a contract or employment relationship, in the exercise of your official duties,​ with a spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling or parent, or permitting the entity for which you work to do so (s. 14);participating in certain outside activities,[i] except as required in the exercise of your official powers, duties and functions (s. 15). This includes: engaging in employment or the practice of a profession;[ii]managing or operating a business or commercial activity;continuing as or becoming a director or officer in a corporation or organization; [iii]holding office in a union or professional association;serving as a paid consultant; andbeing an active partner in a partnership. personally soliciting funds if it places you in a conflict of interest (s. 16);holding controlled assets (s. 17); andtaking any action aimed at circumventing the Act (s. 18). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on gifts or other advantages, outside activities, fundraising, and offers of outside employment. [i] Political activities are expressly excluded from the prohibition against outside activities (subs. 15(4)). [ii] If the Commissioner is of the opinion that it is not incompatible with your duties as a public office holder, you may, for the purpose of maintaining your employment opportunities or ability to practice your profession on leaving public office, engage in employment or the practice of a profession in order to retain any licensing or professional qualifications or standards of technical proficiency necessary for that purpose, provided you do not receive any remuneration. [iii] The Commissioner may allow you to continue as a director or officer of an organization of a philanthropic, charitable or non-commercial nature if the Commissioner is of the opinion that it is not incompatible with your public duties. Compliance measures Recusal You must recuse yourself from any discussion, decision, debate or vote if you would be in a conflict of interest (s. 21). Confidential Disclosure Within 60 days after your appointment, you must submit to the Commissioner a Confidential Report describing your assets, liabilities, income and certain activities (s. 22).Throughout your term of office, you must disclose to the Commissioner: gifts and other advantages from any one source, other than relatives and friends, the total value of which exceeds $200 over a 12-month period, within 30 days after acceptance or after the day on which their value exceeds $200 (s. 23);firm offers of outside employment, within seven days of receiving them. You must disclose them in writing (subs. 24(1));the acceptance of an offer of outside employment, within seven days (subs. 24(2)); andany material change to any matter in respect of which you are required to provide a Confidential Report, within 30 days (subs. 22(5)). You must review the information in your Confidential Report annually and comply with any new measures required to satisfy your obligations under the Act (s. 28). Public Declaration Within 120 days of your appointment, you must sign your Summary Statement (s. 26). You must publicly declare: any recusals made pursuant to section 21, within 60 days after the recusal (subs. 25(1));all assets that are neither controlled nor exempt, within 120 days after your appointment (subs. 25(2));outside activities approved by the Commissioner, referred to in subsection 15(2) or 15(3), within 120 days after your appointment (subs. 25(4)); andany single gift or other advantage, other one than from a relative or friend, whose value is $200 or more, within 30 days after acceptance (subs. 25(5)). Divestment and Other Measures You must: divest yourself of any controlled assets by selling them in an arm's-length transaction or by placing them in a blind trust within 120 days after your appointment (s. 27);take any appropriate measures to comply with the Act as determined by the Commissioner (ss. 29 and 30). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on categories of assets, recusal obligations, conflict of interest screens, and divestment and blind trusts. Post-employment You are prohibited, indefinitely, from: acting in a manner that takes improper advantage of your previous office (s. 33);acting for or on behalf of any person or organization in connection with any specific proceeding, transaction, negotiation or case where the Crown is a party and where you had acted for, or provided advice to, the Crown while in public office (subs. 34(1)); andproviding advice to clients, business associates or employers using information that was acquired in the course of your official duties and that is not available to the public (subs. 34(2)). During a cooling-off period of one year following your last day in office, you are prohibited from: entering into a contract of service with, accepting an appointment to the board of directors of, or accepting an offer of employment with an entity—other than a federal public sector entity—with which you had direct and significant official dealings during your last year in office (subs. 35(1));making representations to a department, organization, board, commission or tribunal with which you had direct and significant official dealings during your last year in office (subs. 35(2)). For this period, you must also report to the Commissioner any communication or meeting as defined in paragraphs 5(1)(a) and (b) of the Lobbying Act (s. 37). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on post-employment rules. Administration and enforcement The Commissioner may conduct an examination: on the written request of a Senator or Member of the House of Commons who has reasonable grounds to believe that a public office holder or former public office holder has contravened the Act (s. 44); oron the Commissioner's own initiative if the Commissioner has reason to believe that a public office holder or former public office holder has contravened the Act (s. 45). The Commissioner may impose administrative monetary penalties for failure to comply with certain reporting requirements (ss. 52 and 53). For more information, you may wish to consult our information notices on the administrative monetary penalties regime and on investigations under the Act.

After leaving public office, you are not allowed to: Act in a way to take improper advantage of your previous office“Switch sides” on a specific legal matter, transaction, negotiation or case to which the Crown (the government) is a party—that is, work for or represent a person or organization on that same matter after you worked for or advised the government on it Give advice to clients, business associates or employers using information you obtained in office and that is not available to the public These rules apply for life. You must also comply with a one-year “cooling-off” period following your last day in public office. During this period, you are not allowed to: Enter into a service contract with, accept an appointment to the board of directors of, or accept an offer of employment with any organization—other than​ a federal government or parliamentary entity—that you had direct and significant official dealings with during your last year in officeMake representations on behalf of a person or entity to a department, organization, board, commission or tribunal with which you had direct and significant official dealings during your last year in office Over the course of this year, you must also report to the Commissioner any communication or meeting as defined in paragraphs 5(1)(a) and (b) of the Lobbying Act. An information notice issued by the Commissioner explains the post-employment rules in greater detail. You are also subject to certain restrictions under the Lobbying Act. For more information, please contact the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying email or at 613-957-2760. What happens to my records in the public registry after I leave office? Your information under the Conflict of Interest Act, including the date you started post-employment, will stay in the public registry during your one-year cooling-off period. Once your cooling-off period is over, the Commissioner’s Office will no longer make that information publicly available.

Recusal—stepping away from a discussion, decision, debate or vote—is the best way to address or manage a conflict of interest. It means having nothing to do with the matter. A recusal is different from an abstention. It is more than simply staying silent during a discussion or not voting, because the mere presence of an individual can influence another participant. You must leave the room (physical or virtual) and refrain from having any further involvement in the matter. Under the Conflict of Interest Act, you must recuse yourself from all discussions or decision-making on any matter when there is an opportunity to: further your private interestsfurther the private interests of your relatives or friendsimproperly further the private interests of anyone else It doesn’t matter if those private interests would actually be furthered. An information notice issued by the Commissioner provides more information on recusals. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can also help you understand these rules. If you have questions, you are welcome to call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Preventing the need for recusals Conflict of interest screens help prevent situations where the Conflict of Interest Act would require you to recuse yourself (step away) from a discussion, decision, debate or vote. Screens are formal plans that the Commissioner’s Office can help you set up ahead of time to avoid seeing or dealing with files that could put you in a conflict of interest. If a screen is in place and working correctly, files that might pose a conflict are not shown to you, so you do not need to recuse. An information notice issued by the Commissioner provides more information on conflict of interest screens.

The Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons both prohibit you from participating in a discussion, decision, debate or vote in which you have a conflict of interest. However, they have different requirements regarding abstentions and recusals. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules, as can the mandatory training on the Code that all Members must complete within 120 days after their election is confirmed. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all Recusal rules in the Act Under section 21 of the Conflict of Interest Act, you must recuse yourself (step away from) from any discussion, decision, debate or vote on any matter in which you have a conflict of interest. Recusal means having nothing to do with the matter. You must leave the room (physical or virtual), because your mere presence could influence another participant, and refrain from having any further involvement in the matter. If you recuse yourself to avoid a conflict of interest, you must tell the Commissioner’s Office about the recusal as soon as possible. Except in limited circumstances, you must publicly declare the recusal within 60 days. Your public declaration must identify the conflict of interest that you avoided. The Commissioner’s Office will post it in the public registry. If it is very likely that you could be involved in discussions or decision-making processes where you have a conflict of interest, a conflict of interest screen is recommended. It can prevent situations where you would need to recuse to avoid a conflict of interest, by ensuring that you are not involved in those discussions or decision-making processes. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can help you set up a screen. As a minister or parliamentary secretary, you may abstain instead of recusing from debates or votes in the House of Commons or at committee on matters that would put you in a conflict of interest. This means you do not have to leave the chamber or committee room while the debates or votes are taking place, but you must disclose your private interest if you remain in the room. Abstention rules in the Code Under section 13 of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, you are not allowed to participate in debates on, or vote on, questions in which you have a private interest. You must abstain from such debates or votes. This means you do not have to leave the House of Commons chamber or committee room while the debates or votes are taking place, though you cannot participate. Section 12 explains what you must do if you have a private interest that could be affected by a matter that comes before the House of Commons or a committee you are part of. If present when the matter is being discussed, you must disclose the general nature of your private interest. You must do that as soon as possible, either orally or in writing. You must also disclose it, in writing, to the Clerk of the House right away. If you later become aware of a private interest that you should have disclosed, you must do so right away. The Clerk of the House will have the disclosure recorded in the Journals and send it to the Commissioner. The Commissioner will post it in the public registry. If you have a private interest that could be affected by your parliamentary work in other situations, you must inform the party concerned about the general nature of the interest as soon as possible, either orally or in writing. You must also send a written notice about it to the Commissioner, who will post it in the public registry.

Assets are things of value that you own. You can use them to generate income or get future benefits, or you can sell them. They include: Buildings and landBusinesses that you own or in which you have a financial interestInvestmentsTrustsMoney owed to you Under the Conflict of Interest Act, you are not allowed to own assets that it calls “controlled assets.” These are assets whose value could be directly or indirectly affected by government decisions or policy. They include: Publicly traded securities (investments that are bought and sold on a public stock exchange)Self-administered registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs), self-administered registered education savings plans (RESPs), registered retirement income funds (RRIFs), exchange-traded funds (ETFs), tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs) and first home savings accounts (FHSAs) that include at least one asset that would be considered controlled if held outside the plan or fundCommodities, futures, foreign currencies and cryptocurrencies held or traded for speculative purposesStock options, warrants, rights and similar instrumentsShares of a private company that itself holds controlled assets Within 120 days after your appointment, you must divest any controlled assets you have, by: selling them in an arm’s-length transaction (where there is no special or close connection between you and the buyer), orputting them in a blind trust. This means transferring your assets to another person to manage. They will make all the investment decisions without you knowing where your money is being invested. For more information, you may wish to consult our information notice on divestments of assets and blind trusts. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can help you meet the Act’s divestment requirements. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.

There is only one provision in the Conflict of Interest Act that explicitly addresses fundraising. Under section 16, you are not allowed to personally solicit funds from any person or organization if doing so would place you in a conflict of interest. For example, you must not: use your organization’s resources for fundraisingsolicit funds from a person or organization that you, your office or your organization have had or is likely to have official dealings withsolicit funds from a person or organization that has lobbied or is likely to lobby you, your office or your organizationset up a charitable foundation for the purpose of raising money to specifically benefit your private interests or those of a relative or friendidentify yourself as a public office holder when soliciting funds on behalf of a charitable foundation You must also keep in mind your other obligations under the Act. An information notice issued by the Commissioner provides more information on your obligations when participating in fundraising activities. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can also help you understand these rules. If you have questions, you are welcome to call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.

After you leave public office, you must follow the Conflict of Interest Act’s general post-employment rules. You are not allowed to: Take improper advantage of your previous public office“Switch sides” on a specific legal matter, transaction, negotiation or case to which the Crown (the government) is a party—that is, work for or represent a person or organization on that same matter after you worked for or advised the government on itAdvise a client, business associate or employer using information you got while in office and that is not available to the public These rules apply for life. An information notice issued by the Commissioner provides more information on the Act’s post-employment rules. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can also help you understand these rules. If you have questions, you are welcome to call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.

Under the Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, you must give the Commissioner’s Office detailed personal and financial information about you and your family members. Most of it is kept private, but some is posted in the public registry, as required by the Act and Code. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these reporting requirements, as can the mandatory training on the Code that all Members must complete within 120 days after their election is confirmed. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all Initial reporting requirements under the Act Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office will walk you through the initial compliance process​ under the Conflict of Interest Act. It starts when you are appointed as a minister or parliamentary secretary. Step 1 You must give the Commissioner’s Office detailed personal and financial information about you and your family members. You have 60 days to fill out and submit a Confidential Report listing: Your assets (things you own) and liabilities (debts you owe)The source and amount of all income that you received in the 12 months before your appointment or that you will receive in the next 12 monthsYour past or ongoing activities in the two years before your appointment, like jobs, and business or commercial activitiesAny benefits from a contract or subcontract with the Government of Canada that you, your family, or any private corporation you or your family have a stake in received in the last 12 months or might receive in the next 12 months The Commissioner’s Office keeps most of this information private but makes some of it public (see Step 3 for details). Step 2 Your advisor reviews your information and helps you determine what measures, if any, are required to avoid conflicts of interest. These measures could include: withdrawing from prohibited activitiesdivesting any controlled assetssetting up any required conflict of interest screens preparing any necessary public declarations The Commissioner might ask to meet with you and your family members to make sure you have shared all the necessary information, and to discuss in more detail your obligations under the Act. Step 3 Your advisor prepares a Summary Statement (a summary of information in your Confidential Report). It lists: “controlled assets” that you have divestedany matters the Commissioner has ordered you to recuse yourself from, and information about the process you or others have put in place to implement the recusal It does not list “exempt” assets like open-ended mutual funds or primary and secondary residences and cars that are for your private, non-commercial use. Other required public declarations include: any property you own that is not for your personal use and for which you receive paymentany interest in a private corporation (even if the corporation is inactive)money owed to you under a mortgage or hypothec greater than $10,000any outside activities (activities that are not part of your official duties) that the Commissioner has reviewed and is letting you continue You have 120 days after your appointment to review and approve your Summary Statement and any other public declarations (by approving them in the disclosure portal or signing paper copies) and give them back to the Commissioner’s Office. Step 4 When the Commissioner’s Office receives all your approved declarations, it posts them in the public registry, and the initial compliance process is over. This shows you have met your initial reporting obligations under the Act. Initial reporting requirements under the Code To achieve compliance with the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, you must complete an initial compliance process that begins soon after you are elected or re-elected. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office will walk you through it. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must also follow a similar process under the Conflict of Interest Act. Step 1 You must fill out a confidential Disclosure Statement with detailed information on assets, liabilities, outside activities and other interests for yourself and your family members. You must submit it with supporting documents, such as financial statements, to the Commissioner’s Office no later than 60 days after notice of your election is published in the Canada Gazette. Step 2 Your advisor reviews the information in your Disclosure Statement and advises you on achieving and maintaining compliance with the Code. They might ask for further information to clarify or confirm the information provided, and may recommend specific compliance measures to prevent conflicts of interest. Step 3 Once the Commissioner’s Office has received all the required information, your advisor prepares a Disclosure Summary (a summary of the information in your Disclosure Statement). You have 60 days to review and approve your Disclosure Summary (through the disclosure portal or by signing a paper copy) and give it back to the Commissioner’s Office. Step 4 When the Commissioner’s Office receives your approved disclosure summary, it posts it in the public registry, and the initial compliance process is over. This means you have met your initial reporting obligations under the Code. The Commissioner’s Office publishes a Members' Compliance Status Report that identifies where each Member is in the initial compliance process on a specific day. It is updated every month. Ongoing reporting requirements under the Act You must meet ongoing reporting requirements during your whole time in public office. If you miss reporting deadlines, or do not submit accurate and complete reports, you risk an administrative monetary penalty. Material changes​: You must tell the Office about any material change, within 30 days. A material change is a change to any of the information in the Confidential Report that you filled out during the initial compliance process. Examples: A change in marital statusA new source of incomeBuying or selling an asset (property or investment)Taking on or paying off a debtA new volunteer activity Gifts or other advantages: You must publicly declare any acceptable gifts or other advantages that you or your family members accept from any one source in a 12-month period with a total value of over $200. You must do that within 30 days after the day on which the value exceeds $200. Travel: As a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must publicly declare any travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft accepted for yourself, your family, or ministerial staff or advisers. You must do that within 30 days. Recusals: If you have recused to avoid a conflict of interest, you must tell the Commissioner’s Office about the recusal as soon as possible. Except in limited circumstances, you must also publicly declare it within 60 days. Firm offers of outside employment: You must tell the Commissioner’s Office about all firm offers of outside employment, within 7 days after receiving them. Acceptance of offers of outside employment: You must tell the Commissioner’s Office about any offer of outside employment you have accepted, within 7 days. If you are a minister, you must also tell the Prime Minister. If you’re a parliamentary secretary, you must also tell the minister you assist. Ongoing reporting requirements under the Code You must meet ongoing reporting requirements during your whole time in elected office. Material changes: You must tell the Office about any material change, within 60 days. A material change is a change to any of the information in the Disclosure Statement that you filled out during the initial compliance process. Examples: A change in marital statusA new source of income greater than $1,000Buying or selling an asset (property or investment) worth $10,000 or moreTaking on or paying off a debt of $10,000 or more Please contact your advisor to file your Notice of Material Change (PDF). They will advise you if the change requires a public declaration. Gifts or other benefits: You must publicly declare any acceptable gifts or other advantages worth $200 or more that you or a family member accepts, within 60 days. You must publicly declare multiple gifts received from one source in a 12-month period with a total value of $200 or more, within 60 days after the value reaches $200 or more. Sponsored travel: You must publicly declare any sponsored travel you accept, within 60 days after the end of the trip. Abstentions: You must abstain from debating or voting on any matters in which you have a private interest, and notify the Clerk of the House of Commons of the conflict. You also need to abstain from any matter that comes up in the course of your parliamentary duties in which you have a private interest. In these cases, you must notify the Commissioner’s Office. Annual reviews Every year, you must file a new Disclosure Statement under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. It will also be used to review your disclosures under the Conflict of Interest Act. The Commissioner’s Office will contact you to launch the review process under both sets of rules. There is no deadline in the Act for completing your annual review, but you have 60 days to complete your annual review under the Code.

The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons allows Members to accept, for themselves and their guests, sponsored travel that arises from or relates to their position. Sponsored travel is any travel worth more than $200 that is not fully paid by the government, a political party, a recognized parliamentary association or Members themselves. It is not considered a gift under the Code and is therefore excluded from its acceptability test. That rule prohibits you and your family members from accepting gifts or other benefits that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you. The mandatory training on the Code, which all Members must take in the 120 after their election is confirmed, can help you understand these rules. So can your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all Disclosing sponsored travel Within 60 days after the end of a sponsored trip, you must disclose it to the Commissioner’s Office by filling out a Public Statement of Sponsored Travel by Members. A document called How to disclose sponsored travel explains the specific information required in the statement and how you can submit it to the Commissioner’s Office. The Commissioner’s Office will post the statement in the public registry. The Commissioner is required to submit to the Speaker of the House of Commons, by March 31 each year, a List of sponsored travel by Members during the previous calendar year. The Speaker tables it in the House of Commons.

You and members of your family may be offered gifts in connection with your position as a Member of Parliament, or as a minister or parliamentary secretary. The Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons both have rules about whether or not you can accept them, and some reporting requirements. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules. So can the mandatory training on the Code that all Members must complete within 120 days after their election is confirmed. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all What is a gift? The Conflict of Interest Act talks about “gifts and other advantages.” The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons refers to “gifts and other benefits.” Gifts can take many forms. They could include: Money (if you do not have to repay it and nobody expects you to)Consumer goods like books, flowers, artwork, furniture or wineProperty like vehicles, offices, houses or cottagesThe use of property or facilities at no cost or for less than their commercial value (the amount someone in Canada would have to pay for something similar)Membership in a club or other organization at no cost or for less than its commercial valueServices, like dry cleaning or a haircut, at no cost or for less than their commercial valueMeals, travel or accommodation costs paid for by another individual or organizationInvitations or tickets to attend an event, like a sports match, gala, concert, play or fundraiser, at no cost or for less than its commercial value Acceptability test The Conflict of Interest Act and the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons have similar acceptability tests that apply when you or your family members are offered gifts or other advantages (language of the Act) or gifts or other benefits (language of the Code). You and your family members are not allowed to accept any gift or other advantage/benefit that could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you. Simply put, a gift is unacceptable if it could look like the giver wanted to affect how you perform your duties as a Member, or as a minister or parliamentary secretary. It doesn’t matter if the person or organization who offered the gift intended to influence you, or if you were indeed influenced. What matters is how things might look to a reasonable and neutral outside observer. The Code’s acceptability test also covers gifts or other benefits you get from attending a charitable or political event, or from an all-party caucus (a group of Members from different political parties) focused on a specific topic or interest. Exceptions to the Act’s acceptability test Under the Conflict of Interest Act, you and your family members may accept gifts or other advantages that are: from a relative or friendallowed under the Canada Elections Act (it has rules about gifts or other advantages offered to candidates during an election period, or a nomination or leadership campaign)a normal expression of courtesy or protocol or that are within the customary standards that normally accompany your position as a minister or parliamentary secretary Courtesy gifts include entrance fees to a conference where you are a keynote speaker in your official capacity, and a ticket offered to your guest. Whether a gift is a normal expression of protocol depends on the circumstances. For example, a gift given by a visiting official from a foreign or international organization is normally covered by this exception. Gifts that are within customary standards are small thank-you gifts for performing a role at an event as a speaker, presenter, host or government representative. They also include low-value gifts or hospitality (that is, with a commercial value of less than $40 before taxes or shipping) received from interested parties or registered lobbyists during an in-person gathering. Such cumulative gifts or hospitality received from the same source must not exceed $200 in a 12-month period. This is consistent with the low-value amounts and annual limits on gifts in the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct (2023). The Act’s acceptability test also doesn’t apply to gifts or other advantages (including invitations) offered by a federal government entity or a federal parliamentary entity. Federal government entities and federal parliamentary entities include federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations, the Senate and the House of Commons. It’s a good idea to speak with your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office whenever you or a family member accepts a gift or other advantage that was given in connection with your position. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Exceptions to the Code’s acceptability test Under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, you and your family members may accept gifts or other benefits: that are received as a normal expression of courtesy or protocol, orthat are within the customary standards of hospitality that normally accompany your position as a Member. You may also accept, from family and friends, gifts that are not related to your position as a Member. It’s a good idea to speak with your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office whenever you or a family member accepts a gift or other benefit that was given in connection with your position. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. What to do if someone offers you or a family member an unacceptable gift If a gift or other advantage (language of the Conflict of Interest Act), or gift or other benefit (language of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons) offered to you or a family member does not pass the acceptability test in the Act or the Code, and does not fall within the exceptions, you or your family member must refuse it. If, in error, you or a family member accept a gift that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you, you must return it immediately or reimburse the giver for its cost. You may face situations where refusing the offer of a gift, hospitality or other advantage or benefit may cause offence to the giver. In such situations, you have the options of: returning it immediatelyreimbursing the giver for its commercial value (what someone would have to pay in Canada to buy a similar item), orredirecting it to a registered charity of your choosing, provided you do not get a benefit from the donation. Reporting gifts under the Act Under the Conflict of Interest Act, you must tell the Commissioner’s Office about: Any single gift or other advantage accepted by you or a family member (other than one from a relative or friend) that has a commercial value (what someone would have to pay in Canada to buy a similar item) of $200 or more. You must submit a public declaration within 30 days.​ Multiple gifts from one source whose combined commercial value in a 12-month period adds up to more than $200. You must disclose the gifts within 30 days after the day on which the value exceeds $200. If you miss these deadlines, you risk an administrative monetary penalty. You do not need to disclose to the Commissioner’s Office or publicly declare acceptable gifts worth less than $200, or with a cumulative value under that amount. Keep in mind that the value of a gift does not determine if it’s acceptable. The $200 amount is a disclosure threshold only. Please refer to the Act’s acceptability test or consult your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office. You must forfeit any gifts that are a normal expression of courtesy or protocol or that are within the customary standards associated with your position, but that have a commercial value of $1,000 or more. Your department is responsible for managing forfeited gifts. You may ask the Commissioner for an exemption from this forfeiture requirement. Reporting gifts under the Code Under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, if you have accepted an acceptable gift or other benefit related to your position that has a value of $200 or more, you must publicly declare it. You must do that within 60 days, by filling out a Gift Declaration form (PDF) and submitting it to the Commissioner’s Office. It’s a good idea to speak with your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office whenever you or your family members accept gifts or other advantages that were given in connection with your position. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Forfeiture If you accept any gifts that are a normal expression of courtesy or protocol or that are within the customary standards associated with your position, and that have a commercial value of $1,000 or more, you must forfeit them. Your department is responsible for managing forfeited gifts. You may ask the Commissioner for an exemption from this requirement.

To achieve and maintain compliance with the disclosure provisions of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, you must meet various reporting requirements. This means giving the Commissioner’s Office detailed personal and financial information about you and your family members. The Commissioner’s Office keeps most of that information private, and only uses it to determine what you need to do to ensure you are following the rules. As required by the Code, the Commissioner’s Office makes some of it public, by posting in the public registry. This supports transparency and accountability. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can help you meet the Code’s reporting requirements. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all Initial reporting requirements To achieve compliance with the initial disclosure requirements of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, you must complete an initial compliance process that begins soon after notice of your election or re-election is published in the Canada Gazette. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office will walk you through it. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must also follow a similar process under the Conflict of Interest Act. Step 1 You must fill out a confidential Disclosure Statement with detailed information on assets, liabilities, outside activities and other interests for yourself and your family members. You must submit it with supporting documents, such as financial statements, to the Commissioner’s Office no later than 60 days after notice of your election is published in the Canada Gazette. Step 2 Your advisor reviews the information in your Disclosure Statement and advises you on achieving and maintaining compliance with the Code. They might ask for further information to clarify or confirm the information provided, and may recommend specific compliance measures to prevent conflicts of interest. Step 3 Once they have received all the required information, your advisor prepares a Disclosure Summary (a summary of the information in your Disclosure Statement). You have 60 days to review and approve your Disclosure Summary (through the disclosure portal or by signing a paper copy) and give it back to the Commissioner’s Office. Step 4 When the Commissioner’s Office receives your approved disclosure summary, it posts it in the public registry, and the initial compliance process is over. This means you have met your initial reporting obligations under the Code. The Commissioner’s Office publishes a Members' Compliance Status Report that identifies where each Member is in the initial compliance process on a specific day. It is updated every month. Ongoing reporting requirements Members face a number of ongoing reporting requirements under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons throughout their terms of office. While you’re in office, you must tell the Commissioner’s Office about: Material changes: You must tell the Office about any material change, within 60 days. A material change is a change to any of the information in the Disclosure Statement that you filled out during the initial compliance process. Examples: A change in marital statusA new source of income greater than $1,000Buying or selling an asset (property or investment) worth $10,000 or moreTaking on or paying off a debt of $10,000 or moreIf the value of an asset or a liability goes above or below $10,000 Please contact your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office to file your Notice of Material Change (PDF). They will advise you if the change requires a public declaration. Gifts or other benefits: You must publicly declare any acceptable gifts or other benefits worth $200 or more that you or a family member accepts, within 60 days. You must publicly declare multiple gifts received from one source in a 12-month period with a total value of $200 or more, within 60 days after the value reaches $200 or more. Sponsored travel: You must publicly declare any sponsored travel you accept, within 60 days after the end of the sponsored trip. Abstentions: You must not participate in debate or vote on any matters in which you have a private interest. In these cases, you must notify the Clerk of the House of Commons. You also need to recuse yourself from any matter that comes up in the course of your parliamentary duties in which you have a private interest. In these cases, you must notify the Commissioner’s Office. Annual reviews Every year, you must file a new Disclosure Statement with the Commissioner’s Office. The Office will contact you to launch the review process. The Code gives you 60 days to file the new Disclosure Statement.

As a reporting public office holder under the Conflict of Interest Act, you must give the Commissioner’s Office a lot of personal and financial information. Most of it is kept private, but some is made public, as required by the Act. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand the Act’s reporting requirements. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all Initial reporting requirements A compliance advisor assigned to you will walk you through the initial compliance process​ under the Conflict of Interest Act. It starts when you are appointed as a reporting public office holder. Step 1 You must give the Commissioner’s Office detailed personal and financial information about yourself and your family. You have 60 days to fill out and submit a Confidential Report disclosing: Your assets (things you own) and your liabilities (debts you owe)The source and amount of all income that you received in the 12 months before your appointment or that you will receive in the next 12 monthsYour past or ongoing activities in the two years before your appointment, like jobs, and business or commercial activitiesAny benefits from a contract or subcontract with the Government of Canada that you, your family, or any private corporation you or your family have a stake in received in the last 12 months or might receive in the next 12 months The Commissioner’s Office keeps most of this information private but makes some of it public (see Step 3 for details). Step 2 Your advisor reviews your information and helps you determine what measures, if any, are required to avoid conflicts of interest. The Commissioner might ask to meet with you and your family members to make sure you have shared all the necessary information, and to discuss in more detail your obligations under the Conflict of Interest Act. Step 3 Your advisor prepares the public declarations you will need to make based on the information in your Confidential Report. These declarations will be posted on the public registry. Your public declarations will not list “exempt” assets like open-ended mutual funds or primary and secondary residences and cars that are for your private, non-commercial use. But they will list other assets, like: “controlled assets” that you have divested (gotten rid of)any residence you own that generates income through a long-term lease or rental agreementany interest in a private corporation that does not hold controlled assets (even if the corporation is inactive)money owed to you under a mortgage or hypothec greater than $10,000any outside activities (activities that are not part of your official duties) that the Commissioner has reviewed and is letting you continue ​any matters the Commissioner has ordered you to recuse yourself from, and information about the process you or others have put in place to implement the recusal. You must review, sign and send these public declarations back to the Commissioner’s Office, within 120 days after your appointment. Step 4 When the Commissioner’s Office gets all your approved declarations, it posts them in the public registry, and the initial compliance process is over. This shows you have met your initial reporting obligations under the Act. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can also help. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Ongoing reporting requirements You must meet ongoing reporting requirements during your whole time in public office. If you miss reporting deadlines, or do not submit accurate and complete reports, you risk an administrative monetary penalty. Annual review: Each year, you must review your disclosures with your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office and update your information as needed. Material changes​: You must tell the Office about any material change, within 30 days. A material change is a change to any of the information in the Confidential Report that you filled out during the initial compliance process. Examples include: A change in marital statusA new source of incomeBuying or selling an asset (property or investment)Taking on or paying off a debtA new volunteer activity Gifts or other advantages: You must publicly declare any acceptable gifts or other advantages that you or your family members accept from any one source in a 12-month period with a total value of over $200. You must do that within 30 days after the day on which the value exceeds $200. Travel: If you are a minister, you must publicly declare any travel on non-commercial chartered or private aircraft accepted for yourself, your family, or ministerial staff or advisers. You must do that within 30 days. Recusals: If you have recused to avoid a conflict of interest, you must tell the Commissioner’s Office about the recusal as soon as possible. Except in limited circumstances, you must also publicly declare it within 60 days. Firm offers of outside employment: You must tell the Commissioner’s Office about all firm offers of outside employment, within seven days after receiving them. Acceptance of offers of outside employment: You must tell the Commissioner’s Office about any offer of outside employment you have accepted, within seven days. If you are a deputy head, you must also tell the Clerk of the Privy Council. In the case of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, you must tell the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons. In all other cases, you must tell the appropriate minister. Annual reviews Every year, you must review with your advisor the personal and financial information you gave the Commissioner’s Office under the Conflict of Interest Act, and update it as needed. This means going through all the information in the Confidential Report that you filled out during the initial compliance process and making any necessary changes. The Commissioner’s Office will contact you to launch the review process.

The Conflict of Interest Act does not restrict what activities you can do outside of your job as a public office holder without reporting obligations. You are allowed, for example, to have another job or manage a business. You must, however, arrange your private affairs in a manner that prevents you from being in a conflict of interest. The Act doesn’t prevent you from engaging in political activities. There may be internal rules within your organization or guidelines from the Privy Council or Treasury Board that you have to follow. You must keep your general obligations under the Act in mind when doing any of these activities. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules. If you have questions, you are welcome to call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.

As a public office holder without reporting obligations, you do not have to divest (get rid of) any specific types of assets (things of value you own). You don’t have to tell the Commissioner’s Office about your assets or liabilities (debts you owe) either. Keep in mind, however, that you are not allowed to use your position to further private interests, like increasing the value of your assets or reducing your debts. You cannot use insider information (information that is not available to the public) to further private interests. You must also recuse yourself (step away) from discussions, decisions, debates or votes if a conflict of interest comes up. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can help you understand these rules. If you have questions, you are welcome to call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.

You and members of your family may be offered gifts and other advantages in connection with your position as a reporting public office holder, either directly or indirectly, from a variety of individuals and in a range of situations. Before accepting a gift, you must consider whether you’re allowed to accept it under the Conflict of Interest Act. An information notice issued by the Commissioner details the Act’s gift rules. Educational sessions offered by the Commissioner’s Office can also help you understand them. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. Expand all Collapse all What is a gift or other advantage? The Conflict of Interest Act talks about “gifts and other advantages.” These can take many forms, including: Money (if you do not have to repay it and nobody expects you to)Consumer goods like books, flowers, artwork, furniture or wineProperty like vehicles, offices, houses or cottagesThe use of property or facilities at no cost or for less than their commercial value (the amount someone in Canada would have to pay for something similar)Membership in a club or other organization at no cost or for less than its commercial valueServices, like dry cleaning or a haircut, at no cost or for less than their commercial valueMeals, travel or accommodation costs paid for by another individual or organizationInvitations or tickets to attend an event, like a sports match, gala, concert, play or fundraiser, at no cost or for less than its commercial value Acceptability test Under section 11 of the Conflict of Interest Act, you and your family members may not accept any gifts or other advantages that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you in the exercise of an official power, duty or function. Simply put, a gift is unacceptable if it could look like the person offering it wanted to affect how you do your job. It doesn’t matter if the person or organization who offered the gift intended to influence you, or if you were indeed influenced. What matters is how things might look to a reasonable and neutral outside observer. You should consider who is offering the gift, the nature of the gift and the circumstances around the offer. The giver's current or future relationship with you and your office is particularly important. Gifts that could reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you include those from: someone who is registered to lobby you or your officesomeone whose interests could be affected by a decision you may be called on to make Promotional items of low value like pens, notepads, keychains, T-shirts or inexpensive carrying cases given to attendees at events would generally be acceptable since they would not reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you. Exceptions to acceptability test There are three exceptions to the Conflict of Interest Act’s acceptability test. You and your family members are allowed to accept gifts or other advantages: from a relative or friendthat are allowed under the Canada Elections Act (it has rules about gifts or other advantages offered to candidates during an election period, or a nomination or leadership campaign)that are a normal expression of courtesy or protocol, or are within the customary standards that normally accompany your position. Courtesy or protocol gifts and those within customary standards include: thank-you gifts for performing a ceremonial or representational role at an event, as a speaker, presenter, host or government representativeentrance fees for you and a guest to a conference where you are a keynote speaker in your official capacitylow-value gifts or hospitality (with a commercial value of less than $40 before taxes or shipping) received from interested parties or registered lobbyists at an in-person meeting. The cumulative value of such gifts or hospitality from the same source must not exceed $200 over a 12-month period.ceremonial gifts offered by a visiting official from a foreign or international organization that are reasonably proportionate to the official duties or functions you exercised during your interaction with them​ The Act’s acceptability test also doesn’t apply to gifts or other advantages (including invitations) offered by a federal government entity or a federal parliamentary entity. Federal government entities and federal parliamentary entities include federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations, the Senate and the House of Commons. What to do if someone offers you or a family member an unacceptable gift If a gift or other advantage offered to you or a family member is unacceptable, you may not accept it directly or indirectly. Your staff or someone else may not accept it on your behalf or instead of you.You may not give or redirect it to someone else. If, in error, you or a family member accept a gift that might reasonably be seen to have been given to influence you, you must return it immediately or reimburse the giver for its cost. You may face situations where refusing the offer of a gift, hospitality or other advantage or benefit may cause offence to the giver. In such situations, you have the options of: returning it immediatelyreimbursing the giver for its commercial value (what someone would have to pay in Canada to buy a similar item), orredirecting it to a registered charity of your choosing, provided you do not get a benefit from the donation. Reporting gifts As a reporting public office holder, you must tell the Commissioner’s Office about: Any single gift of other advantage accepted by you or a family member (other than one from a relative or friend) that has a commercial value (what someone would have to pay in Canada to buy a similar item) of $200 or more. You must file a public declaration with the Commissioner’s Office within 30 days after you or your family member accepted it. Multiple gifts from one source whose combined commercial value in a 12-month period adds up to more than $200. You must disclose the gifts within 30 days after the day on which the value exceeds $200. If you miss these deadlines, you risk an administrative monetary penalty. Keep in mind that the value of a gift does not determine if it’s acceptable. The $200 amount is a disclosure threshold only. Please refer to the Act’s acceptability test that is described above or consult your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office. Forfeiture If you accept any gifts that are a normal expression of courtesy or protocol or that are within the customary standards associated with your position, and that have a commercial value of $1,000 or more, you must forfeit them. Your department is responsible for managing forfeited gifts. You may ask the Commissioner for an exemption from this requirement.

If you are a Member of Parliament, you must follow the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. If you’re a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must follow the Conflict of Interest Act as well. You must complete mandatory training on the Code, within 120 days after your election is confirmed. The Commissioner’s Office will work closely with you during your time in public office. After your election or re-election is confirmed, it assigns each Member an advisor. Your advisor can help you follow the Code’s rules and prevent conflicts of interest. You can ask them for advice at any time. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. General rules of conduct When performing parliamentary duties or functions, you’re not allowed to act in any way to: further your private interestsfurther the private interests of a member of your family, orimproperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests. Notably, the Code prohibits doing so by: using your position to influence someone else’s decisionusing insider information (information you got while in office and that is not available to the public), orcommunicating insider information.

There is no fundraising provision in the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. However, some of its provisions could apply to fundraising activities. Please contact your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office if you have any questions, by calling 613-995-0721 or sending us an email. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must also follow the Conflict of Interest Act, which does have a specific rule about fundraising.

You are subject to the Conflict of Interest Act as a reporting public office holder if you are: A ministerA parliamentary secretaryA member of ministerial staff who works 15 hours or more per week on averageA ministerial adviser as defined in the ActSomeone appointed by the Governor in Council (the Governor General acting on the advice of Cabinet) or a minister who works in their public office full-time, or part-time but with an annual salary and benefitsThe Chief Electoral OfficerThe Parliamentary Budget Officer Some other appointed officials are not subject to the Act. If you are a reporting public office holder, you must not only follow the Act’s general conflict of interest and post-​employment rules, but are also subject to its: Reporting and public disclosure requirementsRestrictions on outside employment and other activitiesProhibition on holding certain kinds of assets (called “controlled” assets) Some of the rules also affect your family members. They are your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children, and the dependent children of your spouse or common-law partner. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must follow some extra rules in the Act, and are also subject to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. Please consult the section of our website meant specifically for you. Compliance with the Act is a condition of your appointment or employment as a public office holder. The Commissioner’s Office assigns each reporting public office holder an advisor. Your advisor can help you follow the Act’s rules and prevent conflicts of interest. You can reach your advisor by calling 613-995-0721 or sending us an email. The Commissioner’s Office also offers educational sessions on the Act. You are welcome to join any sessions that you would find helpful. General conflict of interest rules You have a general duty under the Conflict of Interest Act to arrange your private affairs to prevent conflicts of interest. While doing your job, you are not allowed to: Make or participate in decisions that could put you in a conflict of interestGive preferential (special) treatment to someone because of the person or organization representing themUse insider information (information that is not available to the public) to further private interestsUse your position to try to influence a decision to further private interestsLet offers of outside employment affect how you do your workAccept gifts or other advantages that might reasonably be seen as an attempt to influence you (if it could look like the person offering the gift wanted to affect how you do your job). Your family members may not accept such gifts either.Hire or give contracts to your spouse, common-law partner, child, sibling or parentPersonally solicit donations if it puts you in a conflict of interestDo anything to try to get around the Act’s rules

You must keep your obligations under the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons in mind when writing letters of support on behalf of individuals or businesses in your riding, or helping them deal with federal entities. The Code says in section 5 that Members are not contravening the Code if they are doing something that is a normal and proper part of their duties to constituents. As with other activities, when writing letters of support you are not allowed to act in any way to: Further your private interestsFurther the private interests of a member of your familyImproperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests This includes furthering your private interests or those of a family member, or improperly furthering another person’s or entity’s private interests by using your position to influence someone else’s decision. It’s a good idea to contact your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office for guidance. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email. If you are a minister or parliamentary secretary, you must also keep your obligations under the Conflict of Interest Act in mind when writing letters of support.

Public officials should act for the benefit of the public. In their jobs, they shouldn’t do things to benefit themselves, another individual, or a small group of people. A conflict of interest happens when they have competing interests that could interfere with their ability to be fair and objective when doing their job. Their judgment could be affected by the possibility of benefitting themselves or someone they know, like a friend or relative. Under the Conflict of Interest Act, appointed federal officials (called public office holders) are in a conflict of interest when they exercise an official power, duty or function that provides an opportunity to further their private interests or those of their relatives or friends, or to improperly further another person’s private interests. As noted in the Trudeau III Report, this definition includes only real conflicts of interest, not apparent ones. For a conflict of interest to be real, there must be a private interest, the public office holder must know about it, and it must be related to their public duties or responsibilities in a way that can influence how they do their job. The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons has a similar definition of conflict of interest. It says that when performing parliamentary duties and functions, Members must not act in any way to further their private interests or those of their family, or to improperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests. Expand all Collapse all What is a private interest? The Act and the Code do not define “private interest.” The Code defines “furthering a private interest.” It says that Members further a person’s private interests (including their own) when their actions result, directly or indirectly, in: increasing or protecting the value of the person’s assets (things they own)reducing or eliminating their liabilities (debts they owe)allowing them to acquire a financial interest (get something that could make or save them money, or increase the value of what they own)an increase in their income from employment, a contract, business or profession them becoming a director or officer in a company, association or trade unionthem becoming a partner in a partnership The Act does not have a similar list of what can be considered a private interest. While other types of interests are not specifically ruled out, the Commissioner’s Office has, to date, considered private interests to be financial ones, like those listed in the Code. What isn’t a private interest? Under both the Act and the Code, a “private interest” does not include an interest in a decision or matter that: applies to everyone in general (general application exception)affects the Member, public office holder or other person as part of a large group of people (broad class exception)is about the pay or benefits they get for being a public office holder or Member. Under the Code, a private interest also does not include being part of a legal action about something a Member did as part of their official duties.

The Conflict of Interest Act does not restrict your political activities. You must, however, keep its other provisions in mind when participating in political activities. For example, if you do political fundraising, you are not allowed, under section 16 of the Act, to personally solicit funds from any person or organization if that would place you in a conflict of interest. You should not use resources from your position as a public office holder for political activities. You should engage in these activities during your personal time, in your personal capacity. Other government guidelines and policies on political activities may also apply to you. Your advisor in the Commissioner’s Office can answer any questions you may have about political activities. Please call 613-995-0721 or send us an email.