New law protects provincial 'whistleblowers'

Employees who report wrongdoings in the province's public sector would be protected under wide-ranging new "whistleblower" legislation introduced in the legislature Monday.

The public interest disclosure act would protect whistleblowers in all departments, as well as Crown corporations, regional health authorities, child and family services agencies, and independent offices of the legislative assembly.

The law would apply to employees who report law-breaking, mismanagement and actions or lack of action that endanger safety, public health or the environment.

The Manitoba Labour Board would deal with complaints about reprisals.

"This gives the labour board more power to deal with whistleblowers who feel that somehow, that has hurt their career," said Manitoba Finance Minister Greg Selinger.

"If the labour board accepts that evidence [of wrongdoing] is accurate, the labour board can put a remedy in place."

Anyone found to have taken a reprisal against an employee for reporting wrongdoing could face a fine of $10,000 under the act.

While the bill isn't retroactive, Selinger believes some whistleblowers will come forward with concerns they may not have felt comfortable bringing forward in the past.

Selinger also said his government is also ready to increase funding to the provincial ombudsman's office, if the office requires it to deal with complaints or investigations.