News release

March 10, 2004

Public service union wary of toothless whistleblowing bill

OTTAWA – The Public Service Alliance of Canada, which has been advocating for whistleblower protection for more than 20 years, fears a bill about to be tabled by the Martin government will fall short of what is really needed to protect whistleblowers and public interest.

From the union's point of view, in order to provide adequate protection to public service staff who report wrongdoing in government, legislation must:

allow a whistleblower to go outside formal departmental structures and have an initial conversation with a responsible third party on an absolutely confidential basis;

ensure that allegations are investigated by an independent agency, and where possible and where the allegation can be independently verified, protect the identity of the whistleblower;

ensure that no penalty is imposed where an allegation is determined to be “frivolous” or “vexatious,” otherwise any vindictive retaliation by the government can create a chilling effect on other potential whistleblowers;

provide whistleblowers with recourse through the grievance procedure, the courts and the agency that is established to facilitate whistleblowing and whistleblower protection; and

cover the entire public sector, including government departments and agencies, Crown Corporations, organizations like Canadian Museums and a host of quasi-independent tribunals and commissions.

“Legislation is important, but it's not the only protection that we are seeking for our members in the interest of the public,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. “We also want a cultural change in government where it is possible to question the motives and actions of the higher ups without recrimination. The government continues to be a paternalistic organization that stifles individual initiative.”

The PSAC is also calling for an education program so that people with information to disclose know their rights and can make an informed decision.

“Whistleblowers need protection now,” Turmel adds. “We want protection entrenched in a collective agreement that allows whistleblowers to grieve if they believe that they have been subjected to reprisals, however subtle.”

The PSAC has a demand at the bargaining table that will protect whistleblowers but the government refuses to agree to it or to propose any other solution.

“When the sponsorship scandal broke I thought the government was serious, but with each passing day, their actions say otherwise,” says Turmel.

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For information:       Joselito Calugay, PSAC Communications,

(613) 560-4235

14-100304