moved for leave to introduce Bill C-239, an act respecting the protection of whistle blowers and to amend the Auditor General Act, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Public Service Staff Relations Act.
Mr. Speaker, the bill seeks to protect workers who may blow the whistle on some issue they find in their workplace, for instance, the misuse of funds, the employer polluting some stream or whatever. We want workers to feel comfortable and free to blow the whistle on these illegal, immoral or unethical things without worrying about losing their job.
Within the bill, the whistle blower would go to the auditor general who would then investigate and find out if it was made in good faith. If it was, he would go to the minister in charge and cause an investigation to take place.
We believe this is long overdue. Too many workers have been frightened about turning in things that they know to be wrong for fear of discipline in the workplace. The bill would look after those workers.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)