It's hoped to bring higher standards to City Council. A Code of Ethics was recently approved by the members that will provide guidelines for behavior and procedures.

"It's just a guide, telling them what to respect and and their obligations when fulfilling their duties as a councillor," explained City Clerk Judy Pilloux.

"The benefit is actually for the residents, as it makes things more transparent. It speaks to honesty, objectivity, respect, transparency, accountability, confidentiality, leadership, public interest and responsibility."

She added that the end of the Code also outlines a procedure in the event that the standards are not being abided by.

"There's a contravention of the Code of Ethics and a process, if somebody does bring something forward and they aren't honest or transparent, of what could happen."

"All of this legislation is brand new," she noted.

Pilloux says it came about because of the recent incident of a RM of Sherwood Deputy Reeve facing Breach of Trust and Municipal Corruption charges. As a result, the provincial government introduced some new regulations.

"We had until February of this year to pass our own Code of Ethics, or we would be legislated under the Cities Act, and it would have been implemented anyway."

She expressed that it is up to the councillors to abide by the Code. 

You can read the Code of Ethics for yourself right here.