"We actually need a watchdog of the watchdogs," said Dax D'Orazio, a political scientist who's been monitoring integrity commissioner matters across the province. Experts recognize the existing system's deficiencies, emphasizing the necessity for reforms to ensure integrity commissioners' accountability and independence.
D'Orazio further expressed concerns regarding the current 'oligopoly' of integrity commissioners, stating, "That's not necessarily a problem in and of itself, but symptomatic of a relatively unregulated space. The system has become a 'cash cow' for certain lawyers and firms, resulting in potentially excessive billing and conflict of interest issues."
Robert Marleau, the former City of Ottawa integrity commissioner, underscored the need for reform, indicating, "The province should centralize the system for municipalities to ensure consistency and tackle the escalating problems arising from questionable appointments and the lack of standardized processes for integrity commissioners across regions."
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