Organization Profile - Office of the Senate Ethics Officer

Office of the Senate Ethics Officer

The information presented on the following pages is for reference purposes only and should not be considered or relied on as an authoritative or exhaustive source of all Governor in Council appointments or positions.

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Minister Responsible

Prime Minister

Mandate

The mandate of the Senate Ethics Officer is to administer and interpret the Conflict of Interest Code for Senators adopted by the Senate on May 18, 2005. The Code sets out acceptable standards of conduct for all Members of the Senate.

Head Office

Ottawa, Ontario

Appointment Provisions

Parliament of Canada Act
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/P-1/page-7.html#h-15

The Governor in Council shall, by commission under the Great Seal, appoint a Senate Ethics Officer after consultation with the leader of every recognized party in the Senate and after approval of the appointment by resolution of the Senate. The Senate Ethics Officer has the rank of a deputy head of a department of the Government of Canada and has the control and management of the office of the Senate Ethics Officer.

The Senate Ethics Officer holds office during good behaviour for a term of seven years and may be removed for cause by the Governor in Council on address of the Senate. The Senate Ethics Officer may be reappointed for one or more terms of up to seven years each.

In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Senate Ethics Officer, or if that office is vacant, the Governor in Council may appoint a qualified person to hold that office in the interim for a term of up to six months.

In the case of a part-time appointment, the Senate Ethics Officer may not accept or hold any office or employment - or carry on any activity - inconsistent with his or her duties and functions under this Act. In the case of a full-time appointment, the Senate Ethics Officer shall engage exclusively in the duties and functions of the Senate Ethics Officer and may not hold any other office under Her Majesty or engage in any other employment for reward.

Eligibility/Conflicts

Must be able to speak and understand clearly both official languages at the time of his or her appointment.

(Language Skills Act - http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-6.2/index.html)

Consultation

The Governor in Council shall, by commission under the Great Seal, appoint a Senate Ethics Officer after consultation with the leader of every recognized party in the Senate and after approval of the appointment by resolution of the Senate.

Remuneration

Senate Ethics Officer

  • Fixed by GiC

Appointments

Appt/Expiry
Date
Senate Ethics Officer 
Legault, Pierre
Ottawa, Ontario
Part-Time Appointment
During Good Behaviour
2017-07-10
2025-01-09