The City of Regina has expanded the authority of its integrity commissioner to investigate potential conflicts of interest involving city councillors, following a series of updates to the municipal Code of Ethics Bylaw.
Council votes 8-1 to amend ethics bylaw
Regina city council voted 8-1 on Wednesday to approve changes to 17 sections of the bylaw, which outlines the standards of conduct for elected officials. The amendments stem from a jurisdictional review commissioned by the previous council in 2024 to modernize the city's ethics framework.
The new provisions allow Integrity Commissioner Patricia Farnese to probe conflict of interest complaints against council members, a power previously held by the provincial ombudsman or handled through inquiries by the Ministry of Government Relations.
Alignment with other cities
City staff noted that the proposed changes bring Regina's bylaw in line with similar provisions in 20 other Canadian municipalities, including Saskatoon and Edmonton. The updates also incorporate recommendations made by Farnese in 2020.
Mayor Chad Bachynski said the changes aim to create a "robust bylaw for council to be accountable" and represent a commitment to high standards of governance.
Mandatory diversity training sparks debate
The most discussed change was the introduction of mandatory diversity training for councillors as part of post-election onboarding. The training covers LGBTQ+, anti-racism, Indigenous relations, and accessibility, along with ethical conduct, conflict of interest rules, and privacy laws.
Ward 1 Coun. Dan Rashovich questioned the necessity of the training, arguing that Saskatchewan's human rights provisions already hold councillors accountable. "For us to get granular and focus on certain segments of the population, I don't believe that's necessary," he said.
The bylaw updates also empower Farnese to handle complaints about councillor behaviour at public meetings, a role previously filled by the meeting chair under the Procedure Bylaw.
