Whistleblowers

Some Canadian Whistleblowers

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The following individuals have all demonstrated the courage of their convictions by speaking up when they saw wrongdoing. Many helped exposed corruption that needed to be put right for the public good. A few have been recognized and publicly praised for their efforts -- but most have suffered from harsh retribution from their employers as a result of their actions. Their stories demonstrate the value of whistleblowers, and the absolute need for strong legal protection for these people.

The Joanna Gualtieri Case

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Joanna Gualtieri

Joanna Gualtieri ’s 18-year ordeal has all the hallmarks of abuse of office and abuse of institutional power: from the waste of public funds that she discovered in the course of her work at Foreign Affairs, to the years of harassment that she endured at the hands of her bosses when she spoke out about this, and then the endless and costly delay tactics employed by government lawyers in the lawsuit she brought against those responsible.

Book review: Beautiful Souls

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Beautiful Souls

Beautiful Souls

Saying No, Breaking Ranks, and Heeding the Voice of Conscience in Dark Times.

By Eyal Press.

You have a decent job and work hard. You keep your nose clean, respect authority and have never joined a protest march. Suddenly you have the bad luck to face a cruel and seemingly impossible choice. Your superiors tell you to do something outrageous or unacceptable. Do you obey or, at grave personal cost, refuse?

In “Beautiful Souls”, a subtle and thoughtful book, Eyal Press, an American journalist, tells the stories of four very ordinary people who, in widely different times, places and circumstances, surprised themselves by saying “no”.

Truth and Consequences: blowing the whistle is risky business

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Arnold Amber – May 2012

CJFE launched a new award last year to honour Canadians who, at great personal and professional risk, report wrongdoing in their workplaces. Called the CJFE Integrity Award, it recognizes whistleblowers who have attempted to correct behavior in the public or private sectors.

In creating the award, CJFE believes that whistleblowing is a right of free expression, and affirms its belief that there should be greater protection for whistleblowers in Canadian law and practice.

Canadian whistleblowers: out on a limb

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Canadian whistleblowers face great obstacles with little or no legal protection—just for doing the right thing

Arnold Amber – May 2012

When it comes to the protection of whistleblowers, Canada ranks near the bottom of western democracies that have taken up the issue. We are deficient when it comes to a strong legal framework and the development and administration of protection protocols in corporations and government.

There is also an extremely aggressive pushback by companies, governments and others against whistleblowers when their institutions are accused of wrongdoing.

Olympus whistleblower demands to know why he was fired as CEO

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Associated Press – April 20, 2012

Michael Woodford, who blew the whistle on an accounting scandal at Olympus Corp., took a stand at its shareholders’ meeting Friday, demanding to know why he was fired as chief executive.

The Japanese camera and medical-equipment maker was seeking shareholder approval for new management after executives behind a cover-up of massive investment losses were forced out.

Obama to Honor Deceased Holocaust Whistle Blower

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Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu – April 24, 2012

President Barack Obama will honor a deceased former Polish underground officer Jan Karski, one of the first people to expose Nazi atrocities.

Karski, a Catholic, reported to the Polish government in exile and the Western Allies on the situation in German-occupied Poland in 1942 and 1943, especially the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto and the existence of secretive Nazi extermination camps.

Recognition in the fight against corruption

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NewsWire – April 13, 2012

The Civic Action League (LDAC) holds its first Gala as part of its annual fundraising dinner, on Saturday, April 14. Three prizes will be awarded to individuals who, each in their own way, have promoted the good governance of our cities. The League salutes their courage and contribution to the fight against corruption.

Public figure of the year: Alain Gravel
Whistleblower of the year: Paul Sauvé
Elected official of the year: Sylvie Tardif

Joining the Whistleblowers' Club

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Peter Van Buren – April 9, 2012

People ask the question in various ways, sometimes hesitantly, often via a long digression, but my answer is always the same: no regrets.

In some 24 years of government service, I experienced my share of dissonance when it came to what was said in public and what the government did behind the public’s back. In most cases, the gap was filled with scared little men and women, and what was left unsaid just hid the mistakes and flaws of those anonymous functionaries.

Integrity Commissioner Dion refers a government whistleblower to the Tribunal

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Mario Dion

Paul Gaboury – April 4, 2012

The Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion, yesterday asked the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal to intervene in the case of Dr. Gerard Lambert, who was fired for insubordination in 2004 by Health Canada, along with scientists Shiv Chopra and Margaret Haydon. This is only the third case referred to the Tribunal since its inception in 2007.

Commissioner Dion stated that there were reasonable grounds to believe that the department had terminated Lambert's interim appointment in retaliation -- because he had made a protected disclosure of wrongdoing. He said he will ask the Tribunal to order remedies for Lambert.

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