Help For Whistleblowers

We are a volunteer-run charity with very slender resources and a very big mandate, and we don't charge fees: so we can only give limited time to individual cases. However we will talk to you, and we try to respond to all emails and to take all calls.

If we judge that yours is a public interest whistleblower case, we will discuss it with you sufficiently to get the gist of the story. We should usually able to help you to clarify your thoughts about your current situation; identify the key issues at stake and what options you may have; and suggest some recommended reading for further information and guidance. We will also record your case in our database, which might become very important later.

For most people that is all that we can do: from there on, it will be up to them. However, most people find even this brief consultation valuable, and many tell us that it was a great relief and very helpful just to talk to someone who seems to grasp what is going on.

We cannot help if we don't hear from you!

When you call we can provide some assistance as described above, but we may be able to help again in the future. We are frequently approached by investigative journalists looking for information on a given topic, and we then use our database to identify suitable whistleblowers. If your story seems to match the journalist's needs, we will contact you to find out whether you are willing to be interviewed. Throughout this process we keep your identity confidential.

In addition, we often hear from several people with similar concerns, or from within the same department, and when this happens it may be possible for your story to be supported and validated by others. When there are multiple witnesses the case is much more likely to be addressed, whether through official channels or in the media.

Whistleblowers are people who put themselves at risk, often when they didn't have to, in order to protect the public interest. Typical examples might be a scientist trying to stop drugs of questionable safety from being approved, or an auditor trying to halt the misuse of tax dollars.

Ask yourself the question: "How is the public interest harmed by... [whatever wrongdoing you have observed]...? If there isn't an obvious answer, you are probably not a whistleblower by our definition, and unfortunately we probably cannot help you.

You may have no choice, ethically and legally, but to go through the 'official channels' in raising your concerns, but you would be foolish to assume that this will work. Whistleblower protection in Canada is virtually non-existent at present, so following official procedures rarely helps and often makes things worse.

You should therefore work on the assumption that you will eventually have to resort to other methods in order to expose the wrongdoing and to protect yourself. This is where the media and investigative journalists can be extremely valuable. Going to the media is not a magic bullet: the press is not your ally, your story may not be considered newsworthy, and inappropriate publicity can make things much worse for you.

However, a trustworthy investigative journalist can be your best possible ally, and in some cases we can act as 'matchmakers', putting the whistleblower in touch with the right journalist.

We may sometimes be able to help you identify and get in touch with others who may support you: people who are in a similar predicament, or who have a shared interest in exposing the wrongdoing – there is strength in numbers, and moral support to be found.

You may want some expert legal advice, and perhaps even to engage a lawyer. It's up to you to find someone suitable, but if you run into difficulties we can often arrange for a referral, provided by a firm that we trust.

Recommended Books

Workplace Bullying and Mobbing

External Resources for Whistleblowers

Many whistleblowers become committed activists, by continuing to pursue their own cause, or by getting involved in helping others -- which can be very therapeutic. But being an activist can also become an all-consuming obsession, leading to isolation, depression and even suicide. Frank Faulk's CBC Radio documentary "Burning Bright" is a cautionary tale about activist burnout, and provides wise counsel. Highly recommended.
Listen to the broadcast by clicking on the play button below: