There are two sets of conflict of interest rules for federal officials.
- The Conflict of Interest Act is a law passed by the federal government to regulate the behaviour of appointed federal officials, called “public office holders.”
- The Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons is a code of conduct created by the House of Commons for elected federal officials.
The Act and the Code share a common goal: to prevent conflicts between the public duties of Members and public office holders, and private interests. Preventing conflicts of interest helps Canadians trust that Parliament and government institutions are honest and fair.
The Act also aims to encourage experienced and competent people to take on public roles, and to make it easier for them to move between the private and public sectors.
Members and public office holders are in a conflict of interest if they use their positions to further their private interests or the private interests of their relatives (and friends, in the case of the Act) or to improperly further the private interests of anyone else.
The rules in the Act and the Code are similar but not the same.
Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons
elected Members of Parliament
The Code applies in the same way to all elected Members of the House of Commons, with some exceptions for Members who are ministers or parliamentary secretaries. That’s because ministers and parliamentary secretaries are also subject to the Conflict of Interest Act as reporting public office holders.
Conflict of Interest Act
appointed public office holders
The Act applies in different ways to different groups of public office holders, with fewer rules for some and more rules for others:
- Public office holders without reporting obligations
- Reporting public office holders
- Ministers and parliamentary secretaries
Rules for
Elected Members of Parliament are subject to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
As appointed officials, ministers and the parliamentary secretaries who assist them are subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. As MPs, they must also follow the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons.
People appointed to their position by the Governor in Council (the Governor General acting on the advice of Cabinet) or a minister are subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. Those in mostly full-time positions must follow the Act’s general rules, as well as its reporting and public disclosure provisions.
People appointed to their position by the Governor in Council are subject to the Conflict of Interest Act. Those in mostly part-time positions must follow only the Act’s general rules.