Disclosure of wrongdoing – Information for the general public

What does disclosure involve?

It is communicating with the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada to provide any information that you believe could show that a wrongdoing was committed or is about to be committed in the federal public sector.

It is bringing to light wrongdoing in order to have it effectively addressed.

It is sharing information that supports your allegations. This information, when validated, could lead to a finding of wrongdoing.

Why disclose?

Because we all rely on our federal public institutions and we all have a stake in making them as strong as possible for the benefit of all Canadians.

Types of disclosure we can investigate

• a contravention of any Act of Parliament or of the legislature of a province or any regulations made under any such act;
• a misuse of public funds or a public asset;
• a gross mismanagement in the federal public sector;
• an act or omission that creates a substantial and specific danger to the life, health or safety of persons, or to the environment, other than a danger that is inherent in the performance of the duties or functions of a public servant;
• a serious breach of a code of conduct (established by Treasury Board or by an organization, as required by the Public Servants Protection Disclosure Act (the Act);
• knowingly directing or counselling a person to commit a wrongdoing as defined above.

How to make a disclosure with the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner

Complete the form below and bring it in person to our Office, mail it or fax it to 613-946-2151 (secure transmission). Please make sure to include any supporting documentation you may have in your possession that is relevant to your disclosure.

Microsoft Word Format

Disclosure – general public

Help us to help you

Before contacting us to disclose wrongdoing, take the time to consider the following points. Do not feel you have to have all the answers to these questions before contacting us. We are here to help.

• Does the situation you want to report seem to be an important problem from a public interest perspective or a systemic problem? Does it seem to fit within the definition of wrongdoing in the Act?
• Do you have information or documentation that might support your allegations so that we can fully review and assess them? There is no need to look for additional information yourself, only to provide us with whatever you already have in your possession.
• We keep your identity confidential, to the extent possible. It is also important for you to respect the confidentiality of the process.
• What are your expectations? What do you hope to achieve by your disclosure?

Protection of identity

Confidentiality is a priority for the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. In accordance with the Act, our Office must protect to the extent possible the identity of persons making disclosures, witnesses, and persons alleged to have committed a wrongdoing, subject to any other Act of Parliament, procedural fairness and natural justice.

There is however, no absolute guarantee of protection of the identity of a discloser. Some factors may lead to the identity of the discloser being revealed.

Protection of the confidentiality of information

Our Office must also ensure the confidentiality of the information obtained and created during an investigation into a disclosure. This information will remain confidential and will not be disclosed, even after the investigation is over. Amendments to the Privacy Act, the Access to Information Act and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act were made to protect information related to a disclosure.

Unless required by law or permitted by the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, the Commissioner and every person acting on his behalf or under his direction must not disclose any information that comes to their knowledge in the performance of their duties.

Steps for handling disclosures at the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada

1. Receipt of the disclosure and initial assessment – All disclosures are received and reviewed by our Office's Manager of Case Analysis. The discloser may be contacted for clarification or additional information required to thoroughly review the disclosure. It is possible that the discloser will be advised of another mechanism that might address the issue more appropriately.

2. Review of the admissibility of the disclosure – An analyst/investigator, with the support of a legal advisor, will review the information presented to determine if further action is required. This review could include consultation with subject-matter experts and research on relevant issues of policy and law. A detailed admissibility report is submitted to the Commissioner, with a recommendation to either proceed or to take no further action.

3. Commissioner's decision – The Commissioner reviews the disclosure file and admissibility report to determine if further action is needed, including launching an investigation