Brampton could have new integrity commissioner by the end of the week

Brampton | Caledon | Mississauga | Latest News | Politics |

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Published April 5, 2022 at 3:42 pm

Brampton could strike a deal with a new integrity commissioner after the city parted ways with its former commissioner last month.

Muneeza Sheikh was removed as Brampton’s integrity commissioner (IC) by council during a closed-door meeting on March 11 following revelations Sheikh had billed more than $500,000 to the city in less than three years.

Before her contract was terminated by the city, Sheikh threatened legal action if she was fired after some councillors questioned her billing practices. While the Region of Peel and some other municipalities charge a flat rate for their integrity commissioner duties, Sheikh charged by the hour.

Council asked city staff to explore recruiting the Region of Peel’s IC provider to take over the Brampton office, and according to a report and proposed bylaw amendments going to council, Principles Integrity could take over the city’s office as soon as Wednesday.

If approved, the agreement could start as soon as April 6 and would run until at least July 2023, which was when Sheikh’s original contract was set to expire.

The report says the city’s operating budget for an IC and Lobbyist Registrar services is already incorporated into the City’s annual budget.

If council does not wish to proceed with Principle Integrity, the report says staff will “reach out to other municipal Integrity Commissioners to explore retention of their services.”

Principles Integrity currently serves as the Region of Peel’s Integrity Commissioner as well as more than 40 municipalities and other public sector organisations across Ontario.

Principles also serves as Lobbyist Registrar for some of those municipalities, including the Region.

In correspondence with the city, Principles said it has “over 35 years of experience in municipal law and governance.”

“Our unique perspective enhances our ability to provide context-relevant guidance that focuses on the things that matter,” Principles Integrity said in a response to the city’s expression of interest.

Principles Integrity is operated by lawyers Jeffrey Abrams and Janice AtwoodPetkovski and was established in 2017.

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