Norwich looks to update council code of conduct

Luke Edwards, Post Contributor

Before he took a bite or even accepted the invitation, a recent meal out had one Norwich councillor feeling a little queasy. But it wasn’t the state of the food that left him feeling uneasy.

Coun. Karl Toews had to ask himself when a meal becomes more than just a meal recently, when he was invited out to supper while attending the Good Roads conference. A company that regularly bids on township contracts offered the invitation. And while a review of the township’s code of conduct for councillors seemed to suggest accepting the invitation wouldn’t have crossed the line, Toews still wasn’t so sure.

As a result, he put forward a motion at the May 13 Norwich Township council meeting that called for a revamping of a section the township’s code of conduct for councillors.

“That’s a sensitive area to say the least,” he said.

“We shouldn’t be accepting any gifts or hospitality that could compromise our decision making.”

Councillors approved the motion, removing a section of the code that ostensibly gave councillors permission to accept such invitations.

Toews said the idea of unconscious bias is something political leaders should take seriously. And while a random dinner out at a yearly conference may seem innocent, it’s something councillors should be very wary of.

The discussion led to councillors and staff trying to determine where to draw the line. For instance, at conferences like Good Roads there’s often a lunch provided that’s sponsored by a business. So, would that count?

Being careful not to overstep his own authority while also trying to help council along, CAO Matt Smith said the line might be where a councillor or township representative is specifically being invited out to a meal as opposed to a general sponsorship of a meal for all attendees.

“There’s a difference between the dinner at night time hosted outside the conference venue and the lunch hosted at the conference,” he said.

He said he’d been in touch with the township’s integrity commissioner, John Mascarin. The wording in Norwich’s code of conduct is common throughout Ontario and indeed is the same as Oxford County’s, however Mascarin told Smith his office is now wording things slightly differently, including putting a dollar amount limit.

The change might all be moot anyway, as Smith told council that there’s proposed legislation at Queen’s Park that would change the code of conduct rules so there’s one set of rules for all municipalities in the province. Nevertheless, councillors approved the motion.