The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act is in place to protect public sector employees and political staff from punishment if they:
- disclose wrongdoing that is conducted against the public’s interest
- seek advice or information about disclosing a wrongdoing from:
- their supervisor,
- the Designated Officer, or
- the Public Interest Commissioner
- co-operate in an investigation into wrongdoing
- decline to participate in suspected wrongdoing
The Act provides a process that protects Alberta public servants by ensuring:
- confidentiality for those who seek advice about or make a disclosure*,
- a clear process and set of timelines to guide employees when they disclose wrongdoing
- a transparent process in place to support investigations
- a strict set of penalties for those who commit a reprisal (punishment for reporting wrongdoing), obstruct an investigation, destroy records, or make false or misleading statements as part of an investigation, and
- a broad range of remedies for employees who have experienced reprisal
**Some information gathered from the Government of Alberta website.