Whistleblower laws extend beyond Alberta public service

The province has introduced new legislation to protect public servants and employees of boards, agencies and commission from losing their jobs or facing bullying at work for reporting government misconduct.

The Public Interest Disclosure Act will cover employees of the Alberta public service, school boards, health organizations and academic institutions and provincial agencies, boards and commissions.

An independent agency called the Office of the Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner will be created to accept and investigate complaints from employees. The act also levies fines for anyone who impedes an investigation.

"This is a historic milestone on our road to changing the way government does business," said Service Alberta Minister Manmeet Bhullar.

Bhullar says that the law protects those who "speak up against the abuse of taxpayer dollars, threats to public health and safety and the environment and allows for the ethical disclosure of information from anyone."

In 2002, Calgary Liberal MLA David Swann was fired as the medical officer of health for the Palliser Health Region after speaking in favour of the Kyoto Protocol.

Swann said that in its present form, the new legislation would not have prevented him from losing his job.

"It only applies to employees," Swann said. "I was a contracted physician for the Palliser Health Region. I think it needs to be broadened if we're really serious about trying to protect everybody."

The new law is expected to take effect next June.