Whistleblowers-the last line of defense

"One of the biggest failures of the law is that it requires the whistleblower first seek resolution within their own department. Such a provision is absolutely laughable. For example, it would have done nothing to protect the Sponsorship’s whistleblower, Allan Cutler.

Cutler worked with the infamous bureaucrat Chuck Guite in 1994. They both handled advertising and public opinion research in Public Works. Guite- who allegedly had the vanity license plate “gravy”-- began to interfere with some files and contracts. Cutler noted several contracting irregularities and refused to sign off on them. He submitted his concerns to both his department supervisor and to the internal audit branch. Cutler was demoted while Guite continued to move up and eventually headed what we now know as the Sponsorship program.

The new law would have done nothing to protect Allan Cutler who did report problems to his department head only to be punished with a demotion. In fact, the new law includes a provision that prevents such disclosures be made public. So, taxpayers would have never known the name Alan Cutler or the wrongdoing he tried to expose. The legislation will do nothing to change the current culture in Ottawa and it will not protect those civil servants concerned with the public interest. It is nothing more than a paper tiger. And that’s not good enough."