Adam Johnson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 5, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Among the mountains of documentation produced by the outgoing legislative assembly is a report that could push the territorial government to become more open and accountable - depending on the response it gets.

During the last session of the 15th legislative assembly, Minster of Human Resources Charles Dent tabled a report on the feasibility of whistleblower protection for employees of the GNWT.

During his minister's statement, Dent said he was tabling the document to "ensure continued public confidence in the territorial public service."

He said the need for this protection comes directly from employee concerns.

"Employees have often expressed an unease about whether or not they're protected," he said.

According to the document, provisions for whistleblowing, by definition, provide a mechanism for employees to disclose wrongdoing, protect those employees from retribution and ensure proper action is taken on their concerns.

The report, meant as a "consultation discussion paper," states the NWT does not have whistleblower protection, "like several other Canadian jurisdictions."

Provinces that do have whistleblower protection include Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.

The report also points to the protection that exists for federal government workers, and existing legislation under the Criminal Code.

As a point of discussion, the report raises several options to see whistleblower protection put into place.

These include stand-alone legislation, modification of existing acts, or both.

"What we want to do is make sure our employees have a chance to see what the different options are," Dent said.

However, the legislation's future is not in Dent's hands, as he has indicated he will not be running in the next election.

"It's really going to be up to the next government," he said.

"At the end of the day, we want to make sure that government is doing things right."

Government employees, as well as other concerned parties - union contractors affiliated with the government, for example - are encouraged to comment.

Comments can be mailed, e-mailed or faxed to the GNWT's Department of Human Resources.