Stronger protection coming for Alberta whistleblowers

In a Canadian first, ordinary citizens will be able to blow the whistle on Alberta MLAs and the premier following changes to the province’s Whistleblower Protection Act.

Whether Albertans will ever find out about wrongdoings will be in the hands of a commissioner, who will ultimately determine whether public interest outweighs the potential harm to an individual by releasing details.

Labour Minister Christina Gray introduced the changes Tuesday.

If approved, Gray said, it will be some of the most comprehensive whistleblower legislation in Canada, and she hopes it encourages more people to come forward.

“I don’t want to see someone losing their job and not having recourse when they’re trying to do the right thing,” she said.

Instead, the changes see greater protections for workers who cry foul, and they will be able to report wrongdoing directly to the commissioner’s office. Protection kicks in for complainants as soon as they tell their boss about an issue.

The changes also allow for restitution to workers who are fired, have their duties changed or experience reprisals as a result of whistle-blowing.

Bill 11 stems from a report last year by the legislature’s special ethics committee, which started reviewing whistleblower protection in September 2015.

The committee proposed 21 changes to broaden the powers of the act, one of which was deferred.

The government is looking for a new public interest commissioner after Peter Hourihan stepped down earlier this year. Ted Miles took the reins as acting commissioner.