FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 13, 2000

Whistleblower protection a positive step, OPSEU says

TORONTO - A plan to change the Public Inquiries Act to protect employees who speak out about government wrongdoing is a step in the right direction, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says.

At Queen’s Park Monday, Ontario Attorney-General Jim Flaherty tabled amendments to the Act that would make it illegal to take “adverse employment action” against employees for disclosing information to a commission, or commission staff, of a public inquiry.

“We’re pleased that the government listened to the demands we’ve been making, and we’re thankful to the opposition parties for their support,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman. “Obviously we would have preferred to see the government proclaim Bill 117 [the NDP’s 1993 whistleblowing law] in its entirety, and we will continue to work towards that. But for the time being, this protects our members who might be involved in the inquiry around Ontario’s drinking water.”

OPSEU represents 1,100 employees at the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 580 at the Ontario Clean Water Agency, 85 at the Bruce Grey-Owen Sound Health Unit, over 700 at Grey Bruce Health Services, and over 100 at the South Bruce-Grey Health Centre, Walkerton’s hospital.

Casselman raised concerns about protection for non-union employees, including managers, who might be involved in the drinking water inquiry.

“We could see a situation where non-union employees who might be punished for providing information to the inquiry would have to engage in costly lawsuits to undo the damage,” said Casselman. “Hopefully the penalty provided under the act will stop this from occurring.”

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For more information: Randy Robinson (416) 315-2982