Item - 2015.EX10.3

The Executive Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the City Manager, in collaboration with the Accountability Officers, to undertake further review on a general hotline and report further on the benefits, risks, and financial implications.

2.  City Council authorize the City Manager to request the Province of Ontario to amend the City of Toronto Act, 2006 to clarify and reinforce the Accountability Officers' ability to share information between them as required in order to undertake their responsibilities under Part V of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and authorize the Mayor and City Manager to negotiate the changes as required.

3.  City Council authorize the City Manager to initiate a recruitment process for a Lobbyist Registrar to be appointed by City Council for a term ending in September 2019.

4.  City Council request the City Manager to report back prior to the end of the incoming Lobbyist Registrar's term with respect to the merits of appointing one person as both Integrity Commissioner and Lobbyist Registrar in future.

5.  City Council extend the term of the interim Ombudsman until a permanent Ombudsman is appointed by City Council and authorize the City Manager to initiate a recruitment process for an Ombudsman.

City Council directed an external review of Toronto's accountability functions to explore options for delivering the functions in a combined or multiple role and in a way that would strengthen the functions and improve service to the public.  City Council requested the City Manager to work with the Accountability Officers and report to Executive Committee on the results of the external review and on an implementation strategy.  This report responds to City Council's request.

The City Manager retained Lorne Sossin, Dean of Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, to undertake an independent and objective review of the accountability functions following a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

Dean Sossin's report confirms that the City of Toronto's accountability framework remains the leading structure of municipal government oversight in Canada, and among the leaders globally.  Notwithstanding that Toronto's accountability offices function efficiently and effectively, the report identified opportunities for improvements including:

-exploring the implementation of a general hotline to function as a central tip line for reporting allegations of all forms of government wrongdoing, unethical conduct and administrative unfairness in order to capture and disseminate complaints to the appropriate Accountability Office or City official;

-improving coordination and collaboration in key areas through the execution of a memorandum of understanding across the four accountability offices; and

-appointing one person to serve as both the Integrity Commissioner and Lobbyist Registrar.

The City Manager has reviewed the recommendations from Dean Sossin's review, in collaboration with the Accountability Officers. This report puts forward an implementation strategy.  The report recommends undertaking further due diligence to assess the benefits, limitations and financial implications of a general hotline and to report back once this work is complete.

The Accountability Officers have developed and executed a memorandum of understanding in order to enhance coordination and collaboration in key areas including sharing information when concurrent investigations are undertaken.  To clarify and reinforce the Accountability Officers' ability to share information with each other as required to undertake their responsibilities pursuant to Part V of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, this report recommends a technical amendment to the Act that can be considered by the Province with the other amendments the City has requested as part of the 5-year review of the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

The report recommends that the City Manager initiate a recruitment process for a Lobbyist Registrar for a term ending September 2019, to coincide with the term ending for the current Integrity Commissioner.  Ensuring that the terms of the incoming Lobbyist Registrar and the current Integrity Commissioner both conclude at the same time provides flexibility to City Council to make this change in 2019 and for future appointments.

The City Manager will report further, prior to the end of the terms for the Lobbyist Registrar and Integrity Commissioner, with respect to the merits of one person being appointed as both the Integrity Commissioner and Lobbyist Registrar.