PSIC

Whistleblower watchdog leashes itself

Topics: 
PSIC, Mario Dion, Watchdogs
Rating: 
0

David Hutton – April 9, 2013

Mario Dion is the public sector integrity commissioner, responsible for the agency charged with protecting federal government whistleblowers. For the past six years the agency’s “desired strategic outcome” has been defined as follows:

“Wrongdoing in the federal public sector is detected, resolved and reported, while public servants are protected from reprisal, resulting in a greater integrity in the workplace.”

Whistleblower watchdog emasculates own mandate

Topics: 
Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion, PSIC
Rating: 
5

David Hutton – April 8, 2013

Our public interest charity (FAIR) used to serve on the Advisory Committee of the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner (PSIC), the agency charged with protecting government whistleblowers.

We often wondered about the value of taking part in this committee, since it seemed that commissioner Mario Dion largely ignored our advice. In turns out that we were wrong: he was paying attention after all—but doing the opposite of what we recommended.

Integrity commissioner finds more wrongdoing, but is it enough?

Topics: 
PSIC, Integrity Commissioner
Rating: 
5

Allan Cutler, Ian Bron – March 18, 2013

After reading with interest the March 2013 report of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion, regarding misconduct at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), I would like to congratulate him for finding and substantiating a whistleblowing situation.

On the positive side, Dion’s office received the report on May 11, 2012 and initiated an investigation four months later on Sept. 5, 2012. It was concluded on Nov. 9, 2012. This proves that when the commissioner wants to, that investigations can be done in a timely fashion. Furthermore, there was a clear-cut finding of wrongdoing.

Former high-ranking CIDA official takes aim at reports he was target of federal watchdog

Topics: 
PSIC, Integrity Commissioner, CIDA
Rating: 
5
Naresh Singh

Lee Berthiaume – March 15, 2013

A former federal bureaucrat was about to be named the deputy head of a major international organization in the Caribbean until he was linked to a public service watchdog’s finding of “gross mismanagement” last month.

Now, former Canadian International Development Agency director-general Naresh Singh says he is considering legal action to combat what he believes is an unfair undermining of his personal and professional reputation.

Federal Integrity Office to expose more rule-breaking public servants in coming weeks

Topics: 
PSIC, Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion, CIDA
Rating: 
5

Jessica Bruno – February 11, 2013

Expect more reports exposing rule-breaking public servants as early as March, says Canada’s Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion, who tabled a report on a CIDA manager last week who broke conflict-of-interest rules by conducting a private consulting business with CIDA time and resources.

There are 40 investigations into allegations of wrongdoing by public servants on the go, and Mr. Dion told The Hill Times last week that he expects to release a number of reports this spring, the next one expected out sometime in March.

CIDA exec conducted private business on the job: watchdog report

Topics: 
PSIC, Mario Dion
Rating: 
5

Sonya Bell – February 5, 2013

A Canadian International Development Agency official who used the department’s time, resources and administrative staff to conduct private business dealings has been found in serious breach of the public service’s code of conduct by the federal watchdog.

Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion tabled his third report of wrongdoing on Tuesday with the House of Commons and the Senate. He concluded the unnamed director general had committed several violations: misusing public assets, breaching the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service, and gross mismanagement in the public sector.

Watchdog groups say integrity commissioner muzzling critics

Topics: 
Mario Dion, Integrity Commissioner, Democracy Watch, Allan Cutler, PSIC
Rating: 
4
Mario Dion

Andrew Duffy – October 23, 2012

Two public interest groups have resigned from the federal integrity commissioner’s advisory panel in an act of protest. Democracy Watch and Canadians for Accountability contend that Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion is trying to squelch criticism of his agency, which was created to assist and protect federal whistleblowers.

The resignations follow the commissioner’s decision to remove a high-profile critic of his agency from the same advisory panel. “He’s trying to keep criticism of his office behind closed doors,” Tyler Sommers, co-ordinator of Democracy Watch, charged Tuesday.

Whistleblower groups protest Integrity Commissioners action

Topics: 
Democracy Watch, Mario Dion, PSIC
Rating: 
0

Groups resign in protest from whistleblower watchdog committee after Integrity Commissioner removes another group for no good reason

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

OTTAWA – Today, Democracy Watch and Canadians for Accountability announced that they have resigned from the Advisory Committee for the federal Integrity Commissioner (PSIC) because Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion kicked a member off the Committee for no good reason and has refused to reinstate him.

Commissioner Dion removed David Hutton, Executive Director of  Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR), from the Committee last week in response to a critical letter by him published in the Ottawa Citizen on October 13th.

Whistleblower groups resign in protest from whistleblower watchdog committee

Topics: 
Democracy Watch, Allan Cutler, Mario Dion, Integrity Commissioner, PSIC
Rating: 
0

October 23, 2012

Press Release: Whistleblower groups resign in protest from whistleblower watchdog committee after Integrity Commissioner removes group for critical comments

OTTAWA – Today, Canadians for Accountability and Democracy Watch announced that they have resigned from the Advisory Committee for the federal Integrity Commissioner (PSIC) because Integrity Commissioner Mario Dion kicked a member off the Committee for making comments critical of his actions and track record. Despite requests, he has refused to reinstate the member.

Commissioner Dion removed David Hutton, Executive Director of  Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR), from the Committee last week in response to a critical letter by him published in the Ottawa Citizen on October 13th.

Has anything changed at the Integrity Commissioner’s Office?

Topics: 
PSIC, Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion
Rating: 
0

Allan Cutler – October 22, 2012

It appears that the more things change, the more they remain the same. When Christine Ouimet was replaced as Canada’s integrity commissioner under a cloud of scandal, Mario Dion was brought in as interim commissioner.

A change of culture and approach were promised. Dion repeatedly made assurances that his office was doing work to the highest standard. He has also said that if he had any limitations on his powers, they were the result of the law that created the office.

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