Complaints about Windsor councillors can go to the Integrity Commissioner again

The election pause on council ethics complaints is over. From Aug. 21 to Oct. 26, Ontario law blocked new complaints to Windsor's Integrity Commissioner. Cases that were cut off in August can restart only if someone asks in writing by Dec. 7.

By Kyle L. Stewart | Published Nov. 2, 2026, 10:10 a.m. ET | Windsor, Ontario

Topics: Election 2026 Council and City Hall

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Windsor residents can once again file code of conduct complaints about members of City Council with the City's Integrity Commissioner. Ontario law paused new complaints from nomination day, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, until voting day, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. That pause is now over.

What the election pause did

Under the Municipal Act, between nomination day and voting day in a regular election, no one can file a code of conduct complaint with a municipal integrity commissioner. During that time, commissioners cannot report on alleged contraventions, and councils cannot consider penalties.

Any inquiry that was not finished by nomination day had to end that day.

The Dec. 7 deadline for cases that were cut off

An inquiry that ended on nomination day can only start again if the person who made the request, or the member it is about, asks the commissioner in writing within six weeks after voting day. Six weeks after Oct. 26 is Monday, Dec. 7, 2026.

Who handles complaints in Windsor

Principles Integrity, a Toronto-based firm, has been Windsor's Integrity Commissioner since July 1, 2022.

Windsor's complaint process and the sworn form to use are posted on the City's Integrity Commissioner page, linked below. For general questions, call 311.

What can happen

If the commissioner finds that a member broke the code of conduct, the commissioner can recommend a reprimand or a suspension of the member's pay for up to 90 days. Council decides whether to impose a penalty.

Rules are changing

Ontario's Municipal Accountability Act, 2026 (Bill 9) received Royal Assent on June 2, 2026. Once its parts take effect, it lets the province set one standard code of conduct for councils, and it creates a way for an integrity commissioner to recommend that a seat be declared vacant in serious cases. The province has consulted on the regulations that would carry it out. Windsor News will report on what changes once the rules are final.