Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I would not think the Americans have more confidence in their politicians because of their experience with their politicians. Their politicians are very isolated from their public, as you probably know, because of the vast populations. You're lucky if you ever meet your senator or House representative.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  That's a hard one for me to answer. The fact is that there is nothing in place right now. I'm pragmatic and a bit of a realist, and I would rather see a bill that will do something go into power than keep waiting for it forever and hoping that it gets improved. The other part of it is that every delay could mean it goes down in defeat--it doesn't get passed, and it starts all over again.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  An ethical government is the best way to go. If you have an ethical government, you will have a lot fewer problems, and that goes for management on down. The problem that faces everybody is that government is a huge organization and there are always going to be pockets. The whistle-blower must have the prerogative to decide whether to go to management or to go elsewhere.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I'll give you a point-blank recommendation for a management situation. It is that you have one set of rules, one set of ethical rules, a code of conduct, from the politicians to the ministerial staff to the civil servants all the way down, all the way through the crown corporations.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I would appreciate it.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  It would have made a difference, but the one issue that I have addressed would still have been there, because that is exactly what happened to me. One day I was reporting the problem and the next day I was being told I was being fired and the management said the two cases were totally unrelated.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Oh, okay, then--

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I'll only take two more minutes then. On page 128, proposed subsection 19(2), 60 days is the time period. I think you should allow one year--a good long time for the whistle-blower to realize what's going on. In proposed section 20.3, the words used by the legal people who drafted this are “as soon as possible”, which my training says is an absolutely meaningless phrase.

Bill C-2 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm not going to go into a long history of my experience. Suffice it to say that Joanna and I have talked many times. We have a very similar experience, and we know the isolation. We both bear the battle scars, even though you don't visibly see them. One of the things I'd like to state is that I'm also here on behalf of the Civil Liberties Association.