We thought about the issue and discussed the following scenario. Should the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act be enacted, shortly followed by Bill C-2, we have to know what we are going to tell public servants who come and see us. What we will tell them is that redress may be obtained through the Public Service Labour Relations Board and that a tribunal will eventually be set up. That is more or less along the lines of Dr. Keyserlingk's answer: we cannot give a clear answer to public servant whistleblowers concerning the protection we are able to give them. All we can tell them is that section 19 is in force and that legal protection exists against reprisal, a legal prohibition which is in itself a lot stronger than the current policy. It would be beneficial, in this way, but the public servant may then lodge a complaint with the Public Service Labour Relations Board, which would have to establish its own due process. We would no longer be involved at that point.
If you go back and take a look at our office, at Dr. Keyserlingk's annual reports, you will note that we have always said the Integrity Commissioner should deal with everything that comes under our jurisdiction: acts of wrongdoing and reprisals.