OTTAWA—An advocacy group for those who reveal wrongdoing says it cannot support a new task force looking at the federal whistleblowing regime because it lacks someone with “lived experience” as an actual whistleblower.
In a letter to Treasury Board President Mona Fortier, Whistleblowing Canada Research Society president Pamela Forward calls the absence a “shocking omission.”
The group, which works to advance education and understanding of the whistleblowing phenomenon, also raises concerns about the independence of the task force, given that four of the nine members are current or former employees of various levels of government.
Cochair Suzanne Craig is the integrity commissioner for the City of Vaughan in Ontario, while fellow cochair Mary McFadyen served as ombudsman and public interest disclosure commissioner for Saskatchewan.
Fortier appointed the task force in late November to look at opportunities to improve the federal disclosure process and strengthen protections and supports for public servants who come forward to disclose wrongdoing.
The Treasury Board Secretariat says many of the task force members, who also include academics and union representatives, were chosen through consultations with experts in the field and bring diverse expertise to the role.
“The review is expected to consult a range of stakeholders, and we look forward to hearing their views as this important work proceeds,” said Rola Salem, a spokesperson for the secretariat.
The review will also...
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