OTTAWA -- A member of Ottawa city council is under investigation by Ontario Provincial Police.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, the OPP confirmed an investigation is underway, but did not identify the elected official or the reason for the investigation.

"In October 2020, the Ottawa police requested the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police to conduct an investigation into the conduct of a member of Ottawa city council," said OPP spokesperson Bill Dickson in an email Thursday evening.

"An investigation has commenced and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

The Ottawa Citizen first reported the investigation on Thursday afternoon.

The City of Ottawa provided a statement to CTV News Ottawa on Friday about the OPP investigation into a member of Ottawa city council.

"The City of Ottawa cannot confirm or deny whether or not the police or OPP have made inquiries into Councillor Rick Chiarelli," said City Clerk Rick O'Connor in an email statement.

"Subsection 223.5(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, regarding the 'Duty of Confidentiality' expressly mandates that, ‘every person acting under the instructions of the (Integrity) Commissioner shall preserve secrecy with respect to all matters that come to his or her knowledge in the course of his or her duties under the part."

CTV News Ottawa did not specifically mention Chiarelli in its inquiry to the city Thursday evening.