News

This January marks Kevin Brezinski’s one-year anniversary in office since he began as Alberta Ombudsman and Public Interest Commissioner. We sat down with the Commissioner to ask about his time in these two important roles and his plans for the future. “Serving the public and conducting investigations was integral throughout my career in policing. Early on, I…

The Public Interest Commissioner’s office provides a safe avenue for Alberta’s public sector employees to submit complaints of wrongdoing and reprisal occurring in their workplace. Under the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (Act), the Commissioner’s office operates independently of government and is legislated to investigate allegations of wrongdoing or reprisal and make the appropriate recommendations.…

The Alberta Public Interest Commissioner concludes an investigation into allegations of medical mistreatment of seven individuals incarcerated in a provincial correctional centre. The identity and confidentiality of public sector employees wishing to report wrongdoing remains protected under Alberta’s Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act. A whistleblower, concerned for the health and safety of individuals incarcerated…

On June 1, 2023, we mark an important milestone in whistleblower protection as the office of the Public Interest Commissioner turns 10 years old! Since the office opened its doors, the Commissioner has been entrusted to provide an avenue for public sector employees to safely report serious wrongdoings that may cause harm to the public…

This March 24, we hope you join us in celebrating Whistleblower Awareness Day! On Whistleblower Awareness Day, participating organizations across the country will raise awareness of the important role whistleblowers play in strengthening the integrity of public institutions. This initiative acknowledges the courage of public sector employees who choose to speak up and tell the…

A swearing-in ceremony for the leader of two independent offices of the Alberta Legislative Assembly took place today. Kevin Brezinski is Alberta’s tenth Ombudsman and third Public Interest Commissioner, accepting a five-year appointment to the dual roles. As an independent Officer of the Legislative Assembly, Brezinski will lead investigative operations for both offices. “Hearing I…

The office’s ninth annual report was tabled before the Legislative Assembly today. New this year, the 2021-22 annual report features articles including one titled Explaining “Reprisal”. Here, we provide a summary of the office’s experience and perspective on handling complaints of reprisal since our office opened in 2013. Another article, Risks of Conflating Whistleblower Procedures…

The Alberta Ombudsman and Public Interest Commissioner’s offices welcomed distinguished guests from Nigeria this week. The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, is a special committee of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with powers of oversight functions and mandate to consider all petitions from Nigerians, both public and private. The…

For a second year, the offices will close daily operations on September 30 to enable staff to commemorate the day with study, reflection and community activities dedicated to further both personal and collective reconciliation. “Acknowledging the traumatic intergenerational impact the residential school system had, and continues to have, on thousands of Indigenous children and their…

Join us in celebrating Journée des lanceurs d’alerte / Whistleblower Awareness Day on March 24, 2022. “Last year, public integrity offices across Canada recognized Whistleblower Awareness Day for the first time. By continuing to recognize this national initiative, we highlight the important role whistleblowers play in our society. Further, it reminds public entities under Alberta’s…

PEI becomes the latest province to appoint an independent officer responsible for ensuring fairness and providing a safe avenue for whistleblower complaints in the public service. Next week, Sandy Hermiston will become the province’s first Ombudsperson and Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner. The Canadian Council of Parliamentary Ombudsman (CCPO) warmly welcomes the news. “On behalf of…

Edmonton – On November 4, 2021, the 8th annual report generated by the office since it opened in 2013 was tabled in the Alberta Legislature.   Under the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act, the Public Interest Commissioner has the authority to investigate disclosures of wrongdoing and complaints of reprisals from public sector employees. The…

The Alberta Ombudsman and Public Interest Commissioner’s offices will be taking time this September 30, 2021, to reflect on the tragic history of residential schools and all those affected.   Marianne Ryan, the Alberta Ombudsman and Public Interest Commissioner will be closing her offices on September 30th in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Her staff will be encouraged to commemorate the day and reflect on how the offices may continually…

The Alberta Public Interest Commissioner releases her report into an investigation of wrongdoing involving the former President and CEO of Keyano College. The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act gives public sector employees within provincial public institutions the ability to report wrongdoing confidentially, and to be protected from reprisal for doing so. Using the Act,…

On March 24, 2021, organizations in various Canadian provinces working to achieve greater integrity in public services are proud to announce the creation of Whistleblower Awareness Day in order to raise public awareness of the role of whistleblowers in our society, as well as the awareness of the staff of government departments and agencies. The…

22 Recommendations Made to Substantially Improve Alberta’s Whistleblower Protection Act The following document is a Review of the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act. It is a submission of Alberta’s Public Interest Commissioner to the Standing Committee on Resource Stewardship, the committee assigned responsibility to review the  Whistleblower Protection Act and prepare a report including…

This open letter by Public Interest Commissioner, Marianne Ryan first appeared in the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald on December 18, 2020. Marianne Ryan accepted a five-year appointment as Alberta’s second Public Interest Commissioner and ninth Ombudsman in the summer of 2017.    Whistleblowing legislation can only work when public servants have confidence they may…

The second scheduled review of the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (the Act) is underway in accordance with the mandate of the Alberta Legislature to ensure the law continues to meet the evolving needs of Albertans. The general purpose of whistleblower protection legislation is to create safe environments for employees to bring forth allegations…

Like all organizations in Alberta, the impact to our business from the ongoing situation with COVID-19 has been significant. For the health and well-being of our staff, and to continue to meet our statutory obligations, we have adapted our business practices to serve the public sector remotely. We are confident that the change in how…

A public health emergency was declared on March 17, 2020, as a result of pandemic COVID-19. Designated officers may receive complaints relating to the public health emergency which may fit into a category of “wrongdoing” under PIDA; however, the complaint reporting and investigation process under PIDA was not intended to be a mechanism for reporting…

Whistleblowing: The Right Stuff Whistleblowing has been defined as a disclosure by an employee (current or former) of illegal, immoral or illegitimate wrongdoing within an organization.[1]  A whistleblower under Alberta’s Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (the Act) makes a disclosure of wrongdoing in good faith in relation to one of the five wrongdoings defined…

Severance agreements are contracts sometimes used to reach an amicable conclusion to an individual’s employment with their employer. Usually a severance agreement provides extended compensation or benefits to the employee beyond the end of their employment, and in exchange, the employer receives a release whereby the employee agrees not to pursue any claims they have…

Mismanagement of Employees Inappropriate workplace behavior such as bullying, harassment and intimidation adversely affects the wellbeing of individuals, and can have detrimental effects on overall employee morale and productivity. The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (the Act) has been amended so that as of March 1, 2018, the definition of wrongdoing now includes the gross mismanagement of employees through bullying,…