Accountability & Transparency

In 2007, the City of Markham created an Accountability & Transparency Policy for City Council.
Auditor General & Integrity Commissioner
Auditor General
On December 11, 2015 the City of Markham hired its Auditor General. The Auditor General reviews public spending and ensures that residents are getting value from their programs and services. The Auditor General reports directly to Council through the General Committee.
In December 2015, the City appointed a company called MNP LLP to a four-year Auditor General term. MNP is the fifth-largest business advisory and chartered accountancy firm in Canada. Geoff Rodrigues, a Partner with MNP, will be the new Auditor General for the City. Mr. Rodrigues brings over 15 years of experience to his new role and has led a wide range of audit and management consulting assignments. These include:
- Compliance and value-for-money audits
- Operational reviews and financial control audits for:
- Federal governments
- Provincial and municipal governments
- The private sector
- Not-for-profit organizations
The Auditor General
- Can access all records and documents
- Can speak to all staff, the Mayor, and Members of Council
- Set the timing, subject, and details of audit work
- Get any help needed from staff
Related Documents:
- Media Release - Markham Council Appoints New Auditor General - December 11, 2015 (offline)
- Presentation to General Committee, April 13, 2015
- Report to General Committee, June 1, 2015
- Presentation & Report to General Committee, November 9, 2015
- Presentation to General Committee, December 7, 2015
Integrity Commissioner
On June 26, 2013, Markham Council approved the appointment of ADR Chambers Inc. to provide Integrity Commissioner services for the City of Markham. The Integrity Commissioner helps the City be accountable and transparent to the residents of Markham. The Integrity Commissioner investigates complaints about the conduct of Members of Council. It also looks into whether there have been violations in the Code of Conduct. Right now, this is a part time position. Right now, this is a part-time position.
Ombudsman
The City of Markham uses the services of the Provincial Ombudsman. This ombudsman can look into a municipality's:
- Decisions
- Recommendations
- Omitted acts
On December 11, 2014, the Ontario Legislature gave Royal Assent to Bill 8, the Public Sector and MPP Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014. This Bill lets the Provincial Ombudsman help Ontario municipalities.
The Bill doesn’t stop municipalities from choosing their own Ombudsman. However, the Provincial Ombudsman is the default Municipal Ombudsman for municipalities that don’t choose their own ombudsman.
Resolving Complaints
The City of Markham wants to resolve complaints:
- Fairly
- Respectfully
- Transparently
- Quickly
If you have a complaint, make a service request to the appropriate Department. You can track your service request using the number you get when you make your online request.
If, you’re not happy with the outcome of your complaint, you can make a request with the Provincial Ombudsman’s Office.
Related Documents
- February 16, 2016 — General Committee Report
- February 16, 2016 — Council Resolution
- 2015 OMLET Annual Report
- Bill 8
- Ministry's Myths & Facts Chart
- Provincial Ombudsman’s Brochure
- Provincial Ombudsman’s Website
Contact Information
If you need more information, please contact:
Kimberley Kitteringham
City Clerk
City of Markham
101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham ON, L3R 9W3
Phone: 905-477-7000 extension 4729
E-mail: kkitteringham@markham.ca
The City of Markham values your privacy. We also want you to be able to access our information!
The Legislative Services Department processes all requests for information under the Municipal Freedom of Informationand Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), which gives the public the right to request access to government held information. MFIPPA also protects personal information held by government organizations and provides individuals with a right of access to their own personal information.
You can make an online request, or complete an Freedom of Information (FOI) request form [PDF], and print it, and submit this with the required $5.00 request fee, payable to the City of Markham. It is important that requests be clear, specific and as detailed as possible. Send the form and fee to City of Markham, Legislative Services Department, 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, Ontario L3R 9W3.
For further information call Alida Tari at 905-477-7000 extension 2082 or e-mail: atari@markham.ca.
For more information, visit the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner.