Government Operations committee  I think I've learned overall that integrity matters, that it's important for each of us to speak up lest others be harmed. When I was in the midst of the difficulties at Health Canada, with senior people who were quite willing to let other people die, I really felt that it was probably time for me to leave.

Government Operations committee  It's the wrong question. The real question is, does the disclosure serve the public interest? Is the information valuable in the public interest? Thank you.

Government Operations committee  That's it.

Government Operations committee  Yes. The main thrust of my concerns is exactly that the committee understand the nature of the public service and the many constraints under which public servants work on a daily basis. What is really required is to realize that unless there are legislative sanctions on retaliation against speaking up, then whistle-blowers are in jeopardy in a system that, in a broad sense, requires loyalty and adherence to the overall thrust and overall quest of the public service to serve the government.

Government Operations committee  Yes, I am just about to do that. The deeply ingrained principle operates even at the very highest levels, so what must we do? Only legislated sanctions applied overtly on high officials will do the two essential things, and here I stop: First, create a safe space for truth-tellers, free of retaliation, and second, signal to all public servants an authentic new era of transparency, not just more blah, blah, blah.

Government Operations committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm Dr. Michèle Brill-Edwards, a pediatrician and clinical pharmacologist. I recently retired from clinical practice and from teaching in pediatric emergency medicine at CHEO and the faculty of medicine at the University of Ottawa.

Government Operations committee  Yes. As a former senior public servant turned truth-teller on two occasions, one internal and one external, I'm here to offer my perspective on improving whistle-blower protections. I joined Health Canada's drug regulation unit in 1980 and led the unit from 1988 to 1992 as Canada's senior physician responsible for prescription drug regulation.