Conflict of Interest (as per Community Charter) Section 100 (disclosure of conflict) of the Community Charter requires a council member to declare a conflict of interest if he or she has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter under consideration. A member must also declare a conflict if he or she has some other, non-pecuniary type of interest that places the person in a conflict position (e.g., bias). This could include any benefit obtained by relations, close friends, or associates of a member who is in conflict. Examples may include a rezoning application by a relative or close personal friend or a business license decision involving a competitor business to one operated by a close friend. The facts of each situation will be unique and will need to be considered when determining if a member is in a non-pecuniary conflict of interest situation. Section 101 (restrictions on participation if in conflict) sets out the basic rules that, if a council member has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a matter, the member must not: * remain or attend any part of a meeting during which the matter is under consideration; * participate in any discussion of the matter; or * vote on the matter or attempt in any way to influence the voting of the matter, whether before, during or after a meeting. These rules apply at all times, not just when a person makes a declaration of conflict under section 100. Once a declaration has been made, the member of council must not do any of the things referred to in section 101 (e.g., remain or attend any part of the meeting during which the matter is under consideration, participate in any discussions of the matter, vote on the matter or attempt in any way to influence the voting of the matter whether before, during or after a meeting). These rules are in effect for council members in relation to meetings of councils, boards, committees and any other body created by the municipality or established pursuant to legislation.A member of council who determines, after declaring a conflict of interest, that he or she is, in fact, not in a conflict position, may withdraw the original declaration and participate in subsequent discussions and vote on the matter being considered. The member must, however, obtain legal advice on the question of conflict before withdrawing the declaration. 
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