MEDIA RELEASE: 15 February 2023 – R0014

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is under criticism for having real estate developers attend a stag and doe event where they made monetary gifts to his daughter and future son-in-law.

Paul Dunn, Professor of Business Ethics in Brock University’s Goodman School of Business, says the optics of the situation must be considered alongside what is legal.

“Adhering to the letter of the law is rarely sufficient,” says Dunn. “Integrity means following its spirit.”

Dunn says the standards held by professional accountants are an example for others when considering the optics of their decisions.

When an accountant conducts an audit, if there is not independence, the audit opinion lacks credibility, he says.

“Consequently, if accountants think there may be the appearance of impropriety, then they should walk away, even from lucrative audits.”

While the Office of the Integrity Commissioner cleared the Premier of any wrongdoing, Dunn says Ford created the appearance of impropriety because government officials must be seen to be independent in “both fact and appearance.”

“He shattered the spirit of the law by including at his daughter’s stag and doe the developers who have a vested interest in currying the goodwill of the Premier,” says Dunn. “He was tried in the court of public opinion and found wanting.”

As the government attempts to recover from the incident, Dunn has a piece of advice for those wishing to maintain integrity in their corporate decisions.

“Integrity has a price, and the price is that it can’t be bought,” he says.

Brock University Professor of Business Ethics Paul Dunn is available for media interviews on the topic.

For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

* Doug Hunt, Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Brock University dhunt2@brocku.ca or 905-941-6209

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