Whistleblower Protection

By IAN BRON - Harriet Solloway’s first report as integrity commissioner is encouraging in its strong findings, which should serve as a warning to other managers in the public service.

In this submission to the Task Force reviewing the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, Canada’s whistleblower protection legislation, the Centre for Free Expression puts forward a small number of changes to the legislation that are essential if it is to afford any real protections to those who speak out about problems and wrongdoing.  CFE points out the urgent need for change given that in the 17 years since the law came into effect, during which time more than 500 people have submitted formal complaints of reprisal, not one has received any remedy.

Michèle Brill-Edwards has been appointed a senior fellow at the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) at Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Brill-Edwards is a pediatrician and clinical pharmacologist and a prominent Canadian whistleblower.

The Centre for Free Expression joins in the world-wide call for an end to the persecution of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange facing a 175-year prison term in the United States if extradited by Britain. In a letter today to President Joe Biden, sent jointly with Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, CFE called on the American President to drop his government’s pursuit of Mr. Assange.

The Centre for Free Expression joins with 15 other national and international organizations in calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the leaders of the opposition parties to pass Bill C-290 which would take important steps to strengthening Canada’s very weak whistleblower protection legislation.

Initial list prepared by David Hutton, Senior Fellow, Centre for Free Expression and Former Executive Director, FAIR