Whistleblower legislation on the way, says P.E.I. premier

The P.E.I. government will introduce whistleblower legislation in response to the auditor general's report on a failed e-gaming initiative from 2009-12.

• 'Lack of due regard for transparency' in e-gaming file says P.E.I. auditor general

Premier Wade MacLauchlan made the commitment in an interview with CBC News following the release of the report Wednesday. One of Auditor General Jane MacAdam's 15 recommendations was for whistleblower legislation.

"I'll take her advice, and we will introduce legislation to reinforce our policy," said MacLauchlan.

MacLauchlan said his government would study carefully all 15 recommendations, and that some action is already underway.

"Islanders are going to see this acted on with the highest priority," he said.

"It's going to get our full attention."

'A policy document is not law'

MacAdam noted in her report that she found senior officials at Innovation PEI and Island Investment Development Inc. expressed concerns about a loan provided to the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of P.E.I. in relation to the project.

In particular, the officials were concerned about

• The need to obtain Treasury Board or Executive Council approval for the loan guarantee.
• The need to maintain first priority on the loan security.
• The need to prepare formal documents and not rely on email documentation.

MacAdam said it is not possible to know if these concerns might have been escalated to action if employees felt protected by legislation, but that they should have that protection.

"The policy falls short in providing the kind of environment that would ensure that employees of government could disclose wrongdoing without fear or reprisal," she wrote.

The government created an ethics and integrity commissioner in April of 2015, but MacAdam questioned whether employees were adequately protected, because that commissioner is responsible for implementing policy only.

"A policy document is not law," MacAdam wrote.

"Policy does not provide the same level of protection."

MacAdam said most other provinces have whistleblower legislation.

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