Employers who’ve been accused of taking action against a whistleblower would be forced to prove their innocence, under proposed legislation introduced by the Manitoba government.
“Individuals who report wrongdoing should be protected,” said Public Service Minister Adrien Sala, who introduced Bill 14 last week.
Currently, people must prove they were laid off, demoted or otherwise punished because they’d reported wrongdoing.
Changes to Manitoba’s Public Interest Disclosure Act, which apply only to public-sector employees, would also enable workers who have signed non-disclosure agreements or other restrictive contracts to file whistleblower reports.
The law includes employees of the provincial government, government bureaus, health authorities and school divisions.
“The amendments will help to strengthen the framework so employees can come forward without fear of reprisal,” the minister said.
The changes are a result of recommendations contained in an independent review of the law conducted in 2023, which were published by the government in 2024.
Pamela Forward, president of the Whistleblowing Canada Research Society, said while the changes represent a positive start, the bill doesn’t go far enough.
“Most (Canadian disclosure legislation) only protects public servants. Why?” Forward said, adding the law must be broadened to include private-sector employees.
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