The Alberta #whistleblowing law review is under way. Given that this government ignored those of the last review in 2021, I'm not optimistic that the Commissioner's modest recommendations will be accepted this time
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Is the "he' you refer to Duff Connacher? If so, it seems a like comparing apples and oranges. Connacher is an activist who is pretty transparent about his goals, whereas the CTF is... less so. This isn't the right place for an in-depth discussion but I am curious about the source of animosity.
4/4 The Committee appeared receptive. Whether the government will be is another question - they ignored the recommendations of the last review five years ago. A transcript of the meeting is available here:
docs.assembly.ab.ca/LADDAR_files...
3/4 Instead, it favours management's control of the disclosure process. While there is some confidentiality, it is flawed and does more to protect wrongdoers and the government.
2/4 We told them that the law contained critical shortcomings that meant it could not achieve its objectives. It treats the protection of whistleblowers almost as an afterthought. For a full report on Alberta's whistleblower protection, follow the link:
cfe.torontomu.ca/publications...
Two weeks ago, David Hutton and I provided expert testimony to the #Alberta Legislature Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship. We were providing an assessment of the Public Interest Disclosure (#Whistleblower Protection) Act. 🧵1/4
www.assembly.ab.ca/assembly-bus...
2/2 The data suggests that it is already failing inside departments, which have their own integrity officials. More and more employees go straight to the Commissioner rather than trust the internal systems
Canada's federal Integrity Commissioner, who investigates #whistleblowing reports and complaints, has put out an urgent call for more funding. She argues that the system may collapse without it (1/2)
psic-ispc.gc.ca/en/funding-w...
You have to wonder how insulated these man-children must be to think that this kind of conduct can still fly. But if it's going to happen anywhere, it seems the tech sector is still the place
#whistleblowing #harassment
www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
It appears the federal government didn't want to get involved in an internal Indigenous band matter, so it was up to the courts to enforce transparency. I am curious about why the government is appealing, though, given that this seems unambiguous
#FOI
www.todayville.com/federal-cour...
Ontario Premier Doug Ford decides to waste some more taxpayer money on a case he will lose. I mean, nothing about this situation or case is novel #FOI
globalnews.ca/news/1159987...
Congrats to Dr. Brooks Fallis and Paul Champ
#ontfoi #ontpoli #cdnfoi
In 2024, CBC lost its FOI case at the Supreme Court of Cda. Cabinet secrecy was affirmed in a ruling protecting Premier Ford's mandate letters. This month, CBC paid the Ford gov't $14,427.55 in court costs.
scc-csc.ca/cases-dossie...
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/cabinet-se... #cdnfoi #ontfoi #ontpoli
Is there anything less surprising than a politician breaking a promise to strengthen freedom of information laws after election? #FOI #nspoli
www.barrietoday.com/national-new...
#Ontario's Ford government has been performatively folksy since day one. It wins elections despite a steady stream of corruption scandals and the sad state of health care. For that reason, I doubt Piccini will face any consequences
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Interesting post (and quick read) by #FOI journalist Dean Beeby. Seems that the Gov't of Canada's freedom of info / access to info system is working so badly that fewer people are trying to use it. Which was, I'm sure, the plan
deanbeeby.substack.com/p/a-shrinkin...
5/5 The full report can be found here:
psic-ispc.gc.ca/en/results/c...
4/5 The delay and continued paucity of results raises the question of how many other investigations are being held up. Whistleblowers are unlikely to trust a system that takes so long, given that reprisals may be ongoing in the interim
3/5 Such an investigation should not take more than six months, though. The Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, which oversees the Integrity Commissioner's office, should investigate the reasons for the delay
2/5 It took two and a half years from the initial disclosure to the final report. It is also the first new report in 18 months. Whether the delay was due to a shortage of staff, obstruction by implicated officials, or some other reason is not explained
Canada's Integrity Commissioner has issued her office's 22nd finding of wrongdoing (over 18 years). This was another case of abusive management, with the chief executive at the Canadian Museum of Immigration resigning as a result 🧵1/5 #whistleblowing
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
The leaders of any government that seeks to weaken or dismantle #whistleblowing protections, or otherwise attack the system, are not only laying out the red carpet for corruption but likely hope to benefit from it www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/world/slovak...
5/5 In this case, the public has a right to know if their hospitals are being properly managed. NDAs prevent this. On the other hand, sometimes it's the only way out for individuals fighting powerful organizations. There needs to be a better way
4/5 Thus, settlements and the NDAs that came with them generally help organizations more than the "victim" - the whistleblower in this case. In addition, the public never learns of a matter in which they have an interest
3/5 Organizations, on the other hand, will generally only settle when they are concerned about losing in court. That carries financial and reputational costs
2/5 Whistleblowers may only settle because they're at the end of their own resources - not because they think they got an offer that compensates them appropriately
Dr. Stockton got a settlement from her former employer, though we'll never know what the terms were or whether she's truly satisfied with it. Her non-disclosure agreement prevents that. I'm happy for her, but this is a problem 🧵 1/5
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
3/3 What I found most troubling was the inconsistent reasoning of several judges. My reading of the case led me to conclude that they did not like him and were willing to use tortured reasoning to justify what seem to have been predetermined decisions
2/3 Besides contributing to theory about responses to #whistleblowing, the case is a troubling one on a practical level. If such a sophisticated and persistent whistleblower cannot succeed, who could?
My case study on #whistleblower Yacine Agnaou has been published in Éthique publique. Agnaou was a federal Crown prosecutor at the Public Prosecution Service of Canada who objected to interference in his decision to charge a company 🧵1/3
journals.openedition.org/ethiquepubli...
