David Boghosian has been appointed the County’s new Integrity Commissioner. Mr. Boghosian is the managing partner of Toronto-based firm Boghosian + Allen LLP. His practice focuses on municipal law, and he authored a textbook on municipal liability. 

He currently acts as Integrity Commissioner for fourteen municipalities, including Stratford, Caledon, and Hamilton. 

The appointment is for four years with an option to renew the contract for two additional two-year terms. 

In a comment at Committee of the Whole, Mr. Boghosian noted the County was “one of the most picturesque places in Ontario,” and thanked Council for “the honour of the appointment.”

Mr. Boghosian was unanimously recommended by the recruitment team, led by County Clerk Catalina Blumenberg, who praised Mr. Boghosian for understanding the “balance it takes to be Integrity Commissioner.”

“I feel confident he will serve this municipality well,” she added. 

The Clerk’s Office has allocated an annual budget of $60,000 for Integrity Commissioner fees. In her report, Ms. Blumenberg noted that Mr. Boghosian’s rates were among the lowest in the pool of applicants, and lower than those of the current firm. 

The new appointment ends the County’s contract with Aird and Berlis, the legal firm that stepped in following Council’s decision to end the eight-year term of Robert Swayze in October 2024.

Mr. Swayze’s longstanding post with the County ended with numerous complaints, among them that Councillors were dissatisfied with his investigation into potential leaked information about the Picton Terminals settlement from in-camera Council sessions.

Integrity Commissioners work on an as-needed basis. They oversee accountability in municipal governance by investigating complaints over actions that breach the Code of Conduct and the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. They also provide advice and general education to members of Council, local boards, and staff. 

New to the agreement is the expectation that the Integrity Commissioner will provide an annual report of any investigations, advice requests, or reflections from the year. 

The role doesn’t come without controversy. 

Around the same time this Council voted to replace Mr. Swayze, Mr. Boghosian was dismissed from his position as Integrity Commissioner for the City of Greater Sudbury, with councillors citing inconsistencies in his recommendations. 

“It’s no surprise that Mr. Boghosian has a history,” noted Councillor Phil St- Jean. “I think Councils have the ability to be extremely critical of Integrity Commissioners.”

“They are our watchdogs,” he said. 

Mayor Steve Ferguson welcomed Mr. Boghosian to the role, while noting, “I hope we don’t have to use his services too much.”