Prince Edward County’s newly appointed Integrity Commissioner steps into the role at a time when trust in local government feels fragile. In 2025 alone, Council has spent hours behind closed doors dealing with litigation, personnel changes, and land sales. Add in heated debates over provincial “Strong Mayor” powers, mounting road complaints, and the balancing act of approving new subdivisions while protecting farmland, and residents are watching closely for signs that accountability is more than a buzzword.
So where should the new Commissioner start? Other municipalities offer some lessons.
Start with closed meetings.
PEC isn’t alone in using closed sessions extensively. But residents need reassurance that secrecy doesn’t equal impropriety. In Ottawa, the city clerk now issues plain-language summaries after every in-camera session, outlining what was discussed and why it qualified for closed treatment. Similarly, Niagara Region posts regular “closed meeting compliance reports” that detail whether rules were followed. PEC’s Integrity Commissioner could push Council toward similar practices, balancing confidentiality with transparency.
Shine a light on conflicts of interest.
Development approvals and land sales create fertile ground for conflicts, real or perceived. Toronto requires councillors to file written conflict-of-interest declarations that are then published in an online registry, accessible to the public. Brampton, after facing multiple ethics controversies, has gone a step further: the Integrity Commissioner publishes quarterly summaries of advice given to councillors (anonymized), so residents can see that members are seeking guidance. PEC could adopt these practices to normalize disclosures and prevent conflict scandals before they happen.
Keep the tone civil.
Council chambers across Ontario can get heated, but decorum matters. After repeated code-of-conduct breaches, Mississauga instituted mandatory annual civility training for councillors, facilitated by its Integrity Commissioner. In Kingston, the Integrity Commissioner has occasionally mediated disputes between councillors before they escalated publicly. PEC’s Commissioner should be ready to step in early, ensuring disagreements stay about policy, not personalities.
Back up big decisions with fair process.
Few issues will spark as much debate in PEC as the 2026 ballot question on Council size and ward boundaries. For residents to trust the outcome, they need to trust the process. London, Ontario, when it introduced ranked ballots in 2018 (later overturned provincially), partnered with its Integrity Commissioner and Clerk’s office to run extensive public engagement campaigns. Even though the system was short-lived, the process demonstrated how transparency can legitimize reform. PEC would benefit from similar clarity as it approaches its governance review.
Make ethics accessible.
Finally, residents must feel they can raise concerns safely. Hamilton simplified its complaint system with a one-page online form, while Waterloo Region publishes anonymized annual Integrity Commissioner reports showing how many complaints were filed, dismissed, or upheld. These practices demystify the process and show residents the system is working.
At its core, the Integrity Commissioner’s job isn’t just to police councillors—it’s to safeguard the public’s faith in democracy. Prince Edward County can learn from its neighbours: report back after closed meetings, publish conflict registries, mediate when civility slips, ensure governance reforms are transparent, and make complaints simple and safe.
If the new Commissioner can import those best practices here, they won’t just be enforcing rules. They’ll be helping to rebuild the trust that PEC Council will need as it navigates some of the most consequential decisions in its history.