Whistleblower Awareness Day
March 24, 2021
March 24, 2021, is Whistleblower Awareness Day – a day to highlight and recognize the important role whistleblowers play in strengthening the integrity of public institutions.
The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act is intended to assist employees in identifying and correcting wrongdoing within an organization, and in doing so, promote public confidence in the administration of an organization.
The legislation has multiple purposes which it strives to keep in balance:
- It is intended to encourage employees to come forward with facts alleging serious matters within the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) believed to be unlawful, dangerous to the public or injurious to the public interest with a view to correcting the underlying problem.
- To provide such employees with an effective remedy from reprisals by the employer stemming from the making of the allegation.
- To afford the party complained of the right to hear the facts alleged against him or her and respond to them.
- To provide a mechanism to manage, investigate and make recommendations respecting the allegations of wrongdoings and reprisals. To provide for the determination of appropriate remedies concerning reprisals.
- To promote public confidence in the administration of or services provided by the AUC.
The AUC recognizes the importance of promoting a workplace culture where whistleblowers are supported and protected, and where employees and management share a common goal of detecting and remedying wrongdoing.
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