File a Code of Conduct By-Law complaint about a City Councillor or an Advisory Board member by sending an email to IntegrityCommissioner@Vancouver.ca. Include, at a minimum, the following information:
Your name
Your telephone number and email address
The name of the person you are complaining about (otherwise known as the respondent), along with their title and which body they are appointed to (example: Council, Parks Board)
Your relationship to the respondent (example: you are a member of the public or you work at City Hall)
Details of your complaint:
How do you know about this incident? (example: it happened to you, you were there as a witness, you were told about it by a friend)
Where did the incident take place?
When (date and time if you have it) did the incident take place?
What happened? (Describe in detail what took place, specifying the role of the respondent in the incident.)
Were there any witnesses? If yes, please include their names and contact details if you have them.
What conduct do you think is inconsistent with the respondent’s role and/or the Code of Conduct By-Law? (Review parts 3 and 4 of the Code of Conduct By-Law for details.)
Breach of communications
Disclosure of confidential information
Conflict of interest
Improper use of municipal assets and services
Improper use of influence
Improper election activities
Improper acceptance of gifts or personal benefits
Other
How would you like the matter settled? Are you willing to participate in an informal resolution (such as mediation)?
Attach any supporting documents (example: photos, copies of emails, or text messages) to your email.
After receiving a complaint, the Integrity Commissioner conducts a preliminary assessment to see if the complaint should proceed to the next steps, or if it should not proceed and thus be dismissed or closed (due to any of the reasons set out in section 6.15 of the Code of Conduct By-Law).
If the Integrity Commissioner decides the complaint should be dismissed or closed, they will notify the complainant and the respondent with written reasons for the decision.
When the Integrity Commissioner decides to proceed with a complaint, they then determine whether the complaint requires a formal investigation or whether the complaint may be resolved informally.
Informal resolution
Informal resolutions can be resolved in two ways. The Integrity Commissioner can:
Decide to resolve the complaint directly, or
Refer the complaint to the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, or City Manager for resolution
If a complaint is not dismissed, closed, or resolved informally, the Integrity Commissioner must proceed with a formal investigation, which follows a timeline and a set process that “complies with the rules of procedural fairness and natural justice.”
Results of the investigation (adjudicating and reporting)
The Integrity Commissioner determines if the respondent has breached the Code of Conduct By-Law and prepares a written investigation report providing reasons for their determination.
If the respondent has breached the By-Law, the Integrity Commissioner includes recommendations as to the appropriate sanction for the violation. The report is distributed according to the process described in sections 6.31 and 6.32.
Code of Conduct By-Law Complaint (No. 12886): The Integrity Commissioner has jurisdiction over a Code of Conduct By-Law complaint. This code is applicable to the Mayor, Councillors, and Advisory Board members, and includes complaints made by the public about those individuals.
Complainant: A person submitting a complaint; it can be a member of the public, an employee of the City, a City Councillor, or an Advisory Board member.
Respondent: A City Councillor or an Advisory Board member whose conduct is the subject of a complaint.
Other complaints: The Integrity Commissioner does not have jurisdiction over a complaint that, upon initial review, is not a Code of Conduct By-Law complaint. Examples of ‘other complaints’ that would be referred elsewhere include if the complaint is:
Of a criminal nature consistent with the Criminal Code
Ms Southern’s practice focuses on work as a neutral third party for both public and private sector organizations. She has conducted investigations in all areas of workplace conflict, including those involving privacy issues, human rights, harassment, and workplace health and safety. She is frequently appointed as a mediator and arbitrates labour disputes.
Ms Southern received her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in 1996. She was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1997 after articling at Russell and DuMoulin. Her initial practice focused on labour and employment work, particularly in the forestry sector.
In 2009, she returned to private practice and created Southern Law, which grew into Southern Butler Price LLP External website, opens in new tab in 2019. It is the largest firm in Western Canada that focuses on neutral services that support a positive workplace environment.
Ms Southern is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, the Arbitrators Association of British Columbia, the Law Society of British Columbia, and the Law Society of the Northwest Territories.
In 2003, Ms Southern was appointed to the British Columbia Labour Relations Board, first as a Vice Chair, and then as Registrar and Vice Chair.
In 2017, Ms Southern was appointed as the Registrar for the British Columbia Nurses’ Union and the Health Employers Association of British Columbia, assisting them to resolve grievances efficiently and fairly. Her work as Registrar was noted in the “Recommendations for Amendments to the Labour Relations Code,” submitted August 31, 2018 (at page 29).
In 2019, Ms Southern was appointed by the British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General to the 2019 Judicial Compensation Commission, where she served as a member of the Commission responsible for reviewing the compensation for provincial court judges and judicial justices and delivering recommendations to the Attorney General and Chief Judge.
In March 2021, Ms Southern was appointed as the first ad hoc Integrity Commissioner for the City of Vancouver under the Code of Conduct By-Law No. 12886. Ms Southern was appointed to a two-year term in January 2022.
Ms Southern is committed to serving her community. She has worked as a director on several non-profit boards, including six years with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia and Yukon.
Ms Rusnak is an experienced lawyer and investigator with expertise in all areas of workplace law. A long-time resident of the Lower Mainland, Debra works to promote healthy, safe, respectful, and productive workplaces. She conducts investigations in a neutral, fair, and timely manner, and brings a calm and thoughtful approach to addressing all issues affecting the workplace.
Ms Rusnak earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of British Columbia before obtaining her law degree from the University of Victoria. Debra was called to the bar in British Columbia in 2010.
Prior to joining Southern Butler Price, Debra was senior in-house legal counsel for a large federal crown corporation where she was a trusted advisor in all areas of employment, labour, human rights, and privacy law, including workplace investigations for both unionized and non-unionized employees. Most recently, Debra practiced with a leading municipal law firm where she advised local government clients on a wide range of workplace and governance matters, and regularly oversaw and conducted workplace investigations.
In her spare time, you can find Ms Rusnak exploring the North Shore mountains with her family or running on the seawall with friends.
Ms Cruickshank is an experienced lawyer and investigator with expertise across a range of subject areas, including public sector governance, privacy law, administrative law, and all aspects of workplace law. She is recognized by clients for her warmth and authenticity, as well as the practical and creative approach that she brings to dispute resolution.
Ms Cruickshank was called to the bar of British Columbia in 2010 after completing her law degree at the University of Victoria and clerking at the BC Court of Appeal.
Prior to joining Southern Butler Price, Ms Cruickshank spent over 14 years at a leading local government law firm. She has represented clients in matters before the courts, the Human Rights Tribunal, labour arbitrators, the Labour Relations Board, and the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner.
Ms Cruickshank assists in the preparation of workplace policies and corporate governance policies, including codes of conduct. She also provides education and training on workplace health and safety matters, governance matters, conflicts of interest, and privacy obligations for public bodies under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Appointed January 1, 2022
