Thanks very much.
I am in support of this. I am quite concerned about the issue around retribution against the whistle-blowers, having been on the OGGO committee for over eight years, where we've been pushing for whistle-blower protection, with no action from this government.
I am extremely concerned, especially about some of the details of this case, specifically. Here we had the president of the CBSA telling us she did not provide documentation to the CRA or PHAC that led to the suspension of Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Utano. It was apparently a mere phone call to these departments.
You'd think they would have provided a whole document and package and investigated. No. It was a mere phone call, and then immediately these gentlemen were stripped of their security status and, therefore, despite both being on medical leave, basically constructively dismissed and put on suspension without pay and without any investigation into it.
It is a very clear sign of a government exacting its revenge on whistle-blowers.
We saw this before with the CRA, when it famously went after whistle-blowers. The case came out about two years ago. It actually went to court. We had whistle-blowers who had brought forward issues of sexual assault, harassment and abuse, and the CRA fired people.
This is ongoing issue with this government.