Members of City Council and local boards may not accept a fee, advance, gift or personal benefit that is connected directly or indirectly with the performance of their duties unless permitted by one of the exceptions noted in Section 5 of the City of Guelph Code of Conduct for Council and Local Boards. For the specific exemptions noted below, members of Council and local boards must declare gifts they receive where the value of the gift is over $300.
Gift exemptions requiring disclosure where the value of the gift exceeds $300:
- such gifts or benefits that normally accompany the responsibilities of office and are received as an incident of protocol or social obligation.
- a suitable memento of a function honouring the member.
- food, lodging, transportation and entertainment provided by provincial, regional or local governments, or political subdivisions of them, by the federal government or a foreign country.
- food and beverages consumed at banquets, receptions or similar events, if:
- attendance serves a legitimate business purpose;
- the person extending the invitation or a representative of the organization is in attendance; and
- the value is reasonable and attendance at events sponsored by the same entity is infrequent.
- communication to the offices of a member, including subscriptions to newspapers and periodicals.