The Act is intended to facilitate the disclosure and investigation of serious and significant wrongdoings occurring within our public service. These are not simple matters and require substantial time and resources to investigate.
The Commissioner’s office carefully reviews and assesses each disclosure and complaint to determine whether the subject matter is appropriately addressed under the Act, and whether an investigation is in the public interest.
Preliminary inquiries are a valuable tool to assist the Commissioner’s office with a thorough assessment of a disclosure. Employees who report wrongdoing may not be fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the issue they are reporting. For instance, they may be unaware that the issue they have reported is already being addressed. Preliminary inquiries help obtain information that may lend merit to the allegations or negate the need for a full and time-consuming investigation.
Several public sector organizations have recognized the value of preliminary inquiries and have been diligent in assisting the Commissioner’s office when asked. A collaborative approach has facilitated early, informal resolution, saving all parties involved both time and resources.
The relationship between the Commissioner’s office and the designated officer is an important one. Designated officers are invaluable in assisting the Commissioner’s office with preliminary work that may resolve a matter at an early stage. These inquiries may include requesting records—such as copies of prior internal investigations—seeking status updates of an ongoing internal investigation, or interviewing employees. Examples of the value of preliminary inquiries are included in our 2023-24 case summaries.
Preliminary inquiries allow the Commissioner’s office to fill in the information gaps when deciding whether an investigation serves the public interest. If contacted by the Commissioner’s office, we encourage designated officers to recognize the practicality of preliminary inquiries and provide support when appropriate.