Government Operations committee  Right. I haven't put my mind to that specific issue, but it hasn't proven to be that negative or deleterious to an investigation.

Government Operations committee  I don't remember. It's now gone.

Government Operations committee  We contributed on a voluntary basis to the deficit reduction plan.

Government Operations committee  At that time, we were able to do that. A constant focus on our part is cutting back-office expenses and trying to plough as much of our budget as we can into our operational focus. For example, when Madam Duquette was appointed deputy commissioner, we eliminated a previous executive position that she had occupied so that we could have that money to put into operations.

Government Operations committee  Our process is actually a two-step process. When someone makes a disclosure to our office, it immediately goes to a case analyst. That case analyst deals only and directly with the whistle-blower, no one else, to get as much information as they can about the nature of the allegations.

Government Operations committee  Yes. Every chief executive is required to give us access to premises, information, and employees. When we ask to speak to someone or ask to have information, it's a legal obligation to comply. I can issue a subpoena if I need to. We have had an extremely high level of co-operation throughout the history of our investigative processes.

Government Operations committee  I don't know if I am in a position to identify someone. I don't know if I would be comfortable doing so. I think that one starting point for me and my office is the respect for the confidentiality of a whistle-blower who comes forward. For example, when we were trying to think who might be appropriate to come to speak about their experience here before this committee, we realized how difficult it is to suggest that someone come forward.

Government Operations committee  We talked earlier on in our office about having a whistle-blowing award, and we've spoken to our American counterparts about their program for public recognition. We haven't put our minds to how we might do that in any detail recently. I don't think it's without its significant challenges and potential problems.

Government Operations committee  Right.

Government Operations committee  It would simply be the private or confidential nature of whistle-blowing. I think it's important to remember that we are a neutral, investigative, independent agent of Parliament; we're not an advocacy group. As I said, we don't represent a whistle-blower. As I often say, I don't advocate on behalf of a whistle-blower; I advocate on behalf of the act of whistle-blowing.

Government Operations committee  First of all, Mr. Chair, as a former litigator I fully understand where you're coming from. You raise an interesting question—one that I've spent a lot of time thinking about and have actually spoken about as well, most recently at the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws Conference in New Orleans, and at the OECD—and that question is, how do we define success?

Government Operations committee  Yes, but a large part of cases are rejected for other reasons, when they file a grievance, for instance. Those cases are already settled through a different process under a different piece of legislation. We are not a court of appeal.

Government Operations committee  With most of the complaints we received, there was no disclosure. The problem is that all the reprisals happen in the workplace. But not all labour relations problems are reprisals. All reprisals are a way of getting revenge, but all cases of revenge are not reprisals under the act.

Government Operations committee  Fifty per cent of cases are outside our jurisdiction. I don't have the jurisdiction to handle 50% of the cases that are submitted to me.

Government Operations committee  For instance, the act doesn't allow me to process grievances. There are also complaints from provincial public servants, which don't fall under my jurisdiction.