Rules for Members of the House of Commons

When doing your job as a Member, you may not act in any way to:

• further your private interests
• further 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)

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 union
• them 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 duties
• is about the pay or benefits you get for being a Member (subsection 3(3))

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, or
• 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.

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))

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)

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))

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 more
• The 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 months
• Any trust you know about that could give you a benefit or income, either directly or indirectly
• Any 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 Canada
• Details about any private corporations you mentioned
• Any 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 partner
• Any 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 liabilities
• The subject and nature of any contracts or subcontracts with the Government of Canada
• The names of any affiliated corporations
• Any public declarations of gifts, other benefits or sponsored travel
• A 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 partner
• A list of any trusts you could get a benefit or income from (section 24)

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))

• 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))

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)