Question Period- Hansard excerpts- June 15/05- Whistleblower legislation

Whistleblower Legislation

Mr. Guy Lauzon (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, CPC): Mr. Speaker, for two years this government has dragged its feet on the need to protect public servants who expose corruption.

Bill C-11 is bogged down in committee because it ignores the recommendations of every expert and stakeholder. They all agree that an independent commissioner is an essential part of effective whistleblower legislation.

Will the minister commit here and now to creating a truly independent commissioner to investigate disclosures of corruption?

Hon. Reg Alcock (President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, perhaps if the member spent as much time focusing on the content of the bill as he does on his sound bite we would be further along with this.

As he knows, I will be at the committee tomorrow to discuss this very item. However, given that the bill is at first reading, he has had the opportunity to have this input for some time but has not chosen to take advantage of it.

[Translation]

Mr. Guy Lauzon (Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the agency responsible for investigating disclosures of corruption must be completely independent from government. If the minister continues to refuse to commit to creating an independent agency, it is because he has not resolved to protect whistleblowers.

Why does the minister not want to create an independent agency to investigate disclosures of corruption?

[English]

Hon. Reg Alcock (President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, if the member would spend some time in committee focusing on the content of the bill we could have this discussion. To try to negotiate legislation during question period is not the most effective way to do it.

The Prime Minister has taken the position from the beginning that we will have the most robust piece of whistleblowing legislation than any other country in this world.

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The USA has had effective Whistleblower legislation for years protecting employees and their jobs but apparently protecting Canadian whistleblowers who try to protect Canadians isn't important in Canada or effective whistleblower legislation would have been passed long ago.

They also have Qui Tam to help protect against fraud

Update:the culture of secrecy

Testimony from some Canadian whistleblowers who were trying to protect the interests of Canadians