Vancouver's first-ever integrity commissioner to make exit in December

Lisa Southern's tenure as Vancouver's first integrity commissioner will conclude on December 31, 2025, as the city commences the search for her successor. Throughout her four years in office, Southern's office managed complaints from two different city councils, underscoring the ambiguous nature of her role in overseeing ethical conduct versus scrutinizing political decisions. In her 2024 annual report, she expressed her commitment to facilitating a smooth transition to ensure the integrity office's continued success. In July 2024, the ABC Vancouver-led council voted to pause ongoing investigations, prompting speculation about the motivations behind this action amid concerns of protecting its members from scrutiny. An independent review conducted by lawyer Reece Harding recommended enhancing the structural independence of the integrity commissioner to better fulfill its oversight function.

Two months after the council's vote, Coun. Lenny Zhou sought to rescind the amendment but faced pushback from constituents and complaints from Green Party Coun. Pete Fry, which complicated the situation. Southern released reports indicating breaches of the code of conduct by park board commissioners and council members, which were dismissed by Mayor Ken Sim as normal political practice. The unfolding events highlight the complexities and challenges facing the integrity commissioner’s office in Vancouver.