Municipal ethics refers to standards of conduct governing how elected officials and staff must behave, including rules about conflicts of interest, use of public resources, acceptance of gifts, and proper decision-making. Provincial legislation establishes baseline ethical requirements, while municipalities may adopt additional codes of conduct. Common rules require disclosure of financial interests, recusal from decisions where personal interests conflict, restrictions on contracts with the municipality, and proper use of confidential information. Ethics commissioners or integrity officers may investigate complaints. Strong ethical standards protect public trust and ensure decisions serve community interests rather than private gain.