News release

September 15, 2003

PSAC applauds Integrity Officer’s report

OTTAWA – The federal Integrity Officer has hit the nail on the head with his recommendation that there is an urgent need for a more robust institution to deal with whistleblowing according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

“Integrity Officer Dr. Edward Keyserlingk clearly indicates that legislation rather than policy is required,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel, “and we couldn’t agree more. He recommends that the legislation should focus exclusively on a framework to deal with the disclosure of wrongdoing and the protection of whistleblowers, rather than being tacked on to existing legislation.”

“Keyserlingk’s report makes some other important issues that have the PSAC’s wholehearted support,” explains Turmel. “We are in full agreement with the proposal that workers employed by separate employers, Crown Corporations and other agencies be protected in the same way as direct employees of the federal government.”

“We fully endorse his recommendation that the agency designated to deal with whistleblowing should report to Parliament and function at arms-length from the responsible Minister.  

“We also applaud his suggestions that the Office of Integrity Officer or its succcessor be removed from Treasury Board’s sphere and the human resource, employment and management context, and that workers not be required to use departmental procedures.”

Turmel indicates that the union concurs with the notion that having given the whistleblowing policy a chance, it is clear that it doesn’t work.   Keyserlingk reports that skepticism persists and the policy doesn’t have the confidence of the workers it should be protecting.

“The evidence keeps mounting that separate legislation with strong provisions for enforcement of the law and protection of whistleblowers is what is needed. The time for study is over and the time for Parliament to consider legislation is overdue,” concludes Turmel.

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For information:      Pierre Lebel, PSAC Communications, (613) 560-5482