ARTICLE · 24 AUGUST 2016

The "Wells Report" On Municipal Ethics Systems: Window Dressing Or Institutional Fabric?

Cox & Palmer

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The ultimate goal of the Wells Report was to provide guidance on how to best ensure that the personnel of the City of St. John's meet high ethical standards.

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The Honourable Clyde K. Wells, Q.C., released his "Report to St. John's City Council on Recommended Adjustments to The City's Existing Ethical Conduct Legislation" (the "Report") in September of last year. It marked the first phase in a two part study designed to advise St. John's City Council on the adequacy of its existing ethical legislation.

The Report emphasizes an overarching obligation for all municipalities to not only have ethics systems that articulate what is expected but, more importantly, that also provide a means to promote and enforce those ethical standards. The Wells Report shows that if we want our municipal officials in Nova Scotia to be accountable, our ethics systems need to be potent.

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