The Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner administers the Conflict of Interest Act, which applies to the approximately 2,800 full- and part-time appointees of the Government of Canada.

All appointees are considered public office holders under the Act and are subject to its general rules on avoiding conflict of interest.

Full-time appointees, who number about 1,100, are also subject to the Act’s requirements relating to the disclosure and divestment of controlled assets. These "reporting public office holders" include ministers, parliamentary secretaries, ministerial staff, senior public servants and all full-time Governor in Council appointees. The Act requires reporting public office holders to file detailed, confidential declarations of their assets and liabilities with the Office, restricts their outside activities, and prohibits them from holding controlled assets such as publicly traded securities. It also includes post-employment rules that come into effect after they leave office.

The main activities of the Office under the Conflict of Interest Act include: