Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

OTTAWA - After pressuring past governments for decades to provide real protection for whistleblowers, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is concerned the government’s new Accountability Act may not go far enough.

“On the surface it appears that this legislation will offer more protection against reprisals for all workers in the federal public sector who come forward to make a disclosure of wrongdoing,” said PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.

“We will be undertaking a thorough analysis of the proposed legislation,” Turmel added. PSAC has applied and is expected to be invited to testify to the House Committee that will hear presentations on the legislation.

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OTTAWA - The Conservatives may talk about transparency but the Speech from the Throne was far from clear on the details of the government’s plans for the upcoming session of Parliament according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada.

“The Speech was long on rhetoric but short on specifics,” says PSAC National President Nycole Turmel. “PSAC members will be waiting for the real news when the government tables its Accountability Act and its first budget.”

According to Turmel, “the Conservatives are promising ‘real protection for whistleblowers’, but we have yet to see just what that means. Real protection for our members means a guarantee of no reprisals and real penalties levied against anyone who breaks that guarantee.”

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OTTAWA - For the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), the largest union representing federal public sector workers, the Gomery report, if implemented, would represent a fundamental shift in the way government works. Increased power would go to the Secretary of the Treasury Board and the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee, with diminished power and responsibility for the Privy Council Office.

“This is an important report for all workers in the federal public sector” said PSAC National President Nycole Turmel.

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