News release

October 28, 2003

Canadians demand protection for whistle-blowers in government, according to survey

Ottawa —An overwhelming majority of Canadians agree that the government should bring in new laws so that “whistle-blowers” on government wrongdoings are protected from any reprisals, according to a recent survey.

“Canadians have spoken loudly and clearly,” said the National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Nycole Turmel who released the survey today. “They are demanding that the Liberals fulfill an old election promise and pass a law that will protect workers when they denounce government wrongdoings.”

The survey indicates that 89% of Canadians expect the government to bring in legislation so public sector workers who expose government wrong doing would be protected against any reprisals. Canadians of all ages, both genders, all political affiliations, religions and socio-economic profiles agree on that subject according to the poll conducted by the Environics Research Group.

Turmel was accompanied during her press conference by Senator Noël A. Kinsella who is presenting an amendment to Bill C-25, the Public Service Modernization Act, currently being debated in the Senate.

“We support Senator Kinsella's amendment to Bill C-25.” said Turmel. “A Senate amendment will not give our members all the protection they need in case of whistle-blowing, but it is a step in the right direction.”

For Turmel, the calls for legislative protection are now coming from all directions and the government can no longer ignore them. Last month the federal government's own Integrity Officer reported to Parliament that specific legislation was necessary to protect whistle-blowers within the government and two weeks ago, the Auditor General came out in support of the Integrity Officer's recommendation.

“This government cannot ignore any longer all these calls for whistle-blowing legislation,” Turmel said. “Canadians from all walks of life are now demanding legislation. It is time for the government to listen to what Canadians are saying.”

In 1993, during the election campaign, the Liberal party promised whistle-blower legislation in a letter to the PSAC.   “Ten years later, and on the eve of another federal election, we believe the government should live up to this promise and so do the vast majority of Canadians,” she concluded.

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For information:  Alain Cossette, PSAC Communications

                           (613) 560-4317    Cell no. (613) 293-9210

54-281003

Attachment to News Release no. 54-281003

PSAC

Focus Canada 2003-3

Protection for whistleblowers

Question

Right now in Canada , if a public service employee is a “whistle-blower” and exposes government corruption or wrong doing where they work, they can suffer reprisals such as being dismissed or demoted from their job.   Do you agree or disagree that federal and provincial governments across Canada should bring in new laws so that “whistle-blowers” on government wrong doing would be protected from any reprisals?   

89% – Agree

 9%  – Disagree

 2%  – DK/NA

Detailed results (PDF Format)

Note on the Survey

The Question was part of the Focus Canada National Omnibus survey conducted by Environics Research Group. This survey of 2,001 Canadians 18 years of age and over was carried out by telephone between September 18 and October 10, 2003 .   Results to a survey of this size can be considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percent, nineteen times out of twenty.