Senior Officer for Internal Disclosure

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Senior Officer for Internal Disclosure

• Presentation to FMI
• November 28, 2006

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Internal Disclosure - Policy

• Internal Disclosure of Information Concerning
  Wrongdoing in the Workplace Policy Nov. 2001
• Disclosure defined as information raised within
  the organization in good faith, based on
  reasonable belief, by one or more employees
  concerning a wrongdoing that someone has
  committed or intends to commit.
• Wrongdoing is defined as an act or omission
  concerning
• a violation of any law or regulation
• a breach of the Values and Ethics Code for the
  Public Service
• misuse of public funds or assets
• gross mismanagement and
• a substantial and specific danger to the life,
  health and safety of Canadians or the environment.

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Policy

• The Policy requires departments to put in place a
  safe and constructive process to permit all
  employees to disclose any concerns about
  wrongdoing in the workplace without fear of
  reprisal.
• The policy is designed to allow employees to
  bring forward information concerning wrongdoing,
  and to ensure that they are treated fairly and
  are protected from reprisal when they do so in a
  manner consistent with the policy.
• The policy was revised to expand the definition
  of wrongdoing by including breaches to the Values
  and Ethics Code for the Public Service, effective
  September 1, 2003.

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Appointment and Reporting

• Deputy Ministers are to establish internal
  mechanisms to manage the disclosure of
  wrongdoing, including at a minimum a
  designated Senior Officer, who will be
  responsible for receiving and acting on such
  disclosures.
• Senior Officer reports directly to the deputy
  head on matters related to this policy.

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Responsibilities

• The Senior Officer is responsible for
• Disseminating information on the policy on
  Internal Disclosure of Information Concerning
  Wrongdoing in the Workplace, providing
  interpretation and related advice
• Receiving, recording and reviewing disclosures of
  information concerning wrongdoing
• Establishing if there are sufficient grounds for
  further action
• Assisting, as required, in the process for
  setting cases (through Alternative Dispute
  Resolution (ADR) or discussion with the parties)
• Initiating investigations when required and
  reporting the results and making recommendations
  to the Deputy Minister
• Gathering and maintaining information as per TBS
  requirements and
• Preparing an annual report to the DM.

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Communications

• Dedicated Email account (Internal disclosure)
• Dedicated phone line (613 946-1735)
• Message from DM
• Departmental Intranet site
• Further communication required in context of
  amendments to Public Servants Disclosure
  Protection Act and the Federal Accountability Act.

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Key Contacts

• Departmental Security Officer
• Human Resources / Staff Relations
• Comptrollers Office
• Legal Services