Whistleblowing in Canada

Abstract

Whistleblowing has only been utilized in the fight against corruption effectively the past couple of decades. Today, while many public sector employees enjoy sweeping legislative protections, a significant portion of the 12 million Canadians working in the private sector remain inadequately protected. This paper will explore the shortcomings associated with the present Canadian system and examine how our whistleblower protections can be strengthened by incorporating world leading measures from countries like the U.S., U.K., Japan, as well as others. A case for the enactment of uniform legislation aimed at protecting all whistleblowers in Canada will ultimately be made. Even though the beneficial consequences of such an act will be multifaceted and profound, chiefly because it will put an end to the unequal rights public and private sector workers are afforded, the scope of this essay will be largely limited to exploring how expanding whistleblowing protections will allow Canada to better fulfill its international anti-corruption obligations under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act.