Ethics Commissioner of Canada:
2004 to 2007
About Bernard Shapiro:
After a distinguished career as a university academic and senior public servant in the Ontario provincial government, Bernard Shapiro was appointed the first independent Ethics Commissioner of Canada in 2004. In that role, Bernard Shapiro was responsible for the administration of the code of conduct for Members of the House of Commons as well as the Prime Minister’s ethical guidelines for Cabinet Ministers and other public office holders.
Intelligent and serious, Bernard Shapiro was constantly under attack from politicians of all parties, depending on which MP was being investigated at the time. Bernard Shapiro clearly did not have the support of Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and the Conservatives used the Federal Accountability Act to create the new position of Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner requiring a judicial or quasi-judicial background, which Bernard Shapiro does not have. Bernard Shapiro quietly resigned in March 2007.
Birth:
June 8, 1935 in Montreal
Education:
- BA - McGill University
- Ed.D. - Harvard University
Academic Career of Bernard Shapiro:
Bernard Shapiro has had a distinguished career in university education:
- Professor, Boston University
- Associate Dean of Education, Boston University
- Dean of Education, University of Western Ontario
- Vice-President Academic and Provost, University of Western Ontario
- Director of Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
- Professor of Education and Public Policy, University of Toronto
- Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University 1994-2002
Public Service of Bernard Shapiro:
Bernard Shapiro has held a wide variety of senior level positions in the Ontario public service:
- Deputy Minister of Education, Province of Ontario
- Deputy Minister of Skills Development
- Deputy Secretary of Cabinet
- Deputy Minister and Secretary of Management Board
- Deputy Minister of Colleges and Universities.
Bernard Shapiro retired from the Ontario Public Service in 1992.
Bernard Shapiro was appointed Ethics Commissioner of Canada in 2004.
Bernard Shapiro resigned as Ethics Commissioner in March 2007.
