Coun. Shila Sharps is seeking to make enhancements to current systems that allow anonymous third-party reporting and add mechanisms to increase public confidence at city hall. Sharps is hoping Medicine Hat will follow in the footsteps of other Alberta municipalities like Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie which have adopted whistleblower systems that extend eligibility beyond employees to contractors and, in many cases, the public. “Introduce an independent third-party reporting mechanism that allows for anonymous disclosure,” said Sharps. “Strengthen anti-retaliation protection for whistleblowers, provide annual anonymized reporting on the number and types of disclosures received and outcomes to the new council.” Changes to the current whistleblower policy which will be seeking approval by council by the end of 2025 include: Extend eligibility for whistleblower reporting to include contractors, suppliers and members of the public. Introduce an independent, third-party reporting mechanism that allows for anonymous disclosures. Strengthen anti-retaliation protections for whistleblowers. Provide annual, anonymized reporting on the number and types of disclosures received and outcomes to council. These changes have been identified as “best practices” in municipal government and aim to improve transparency, accountability and protection for people who disclose wrongdoings. Currently the city’s whistleblower policy only applies for city staffers and volunteers, but Sharps...
Aussie cricket coach Andrew McDonald has rejected suggestions from England that Scott Boland could be a major weakness for the Australians in the Ashes. Boland looks set to play a huge role in the ...