Whistleblower protection policy for Sudbury workers moves ahead

With several candidates in the upcoming municipal election promising to bring in a whistleblower policy, Sudbury city council directed staff to research the idea.

The idea of making it easier for city workers to speak out about wrongdoing has been around for a few years.
Auditor General Brian Bigger, who is now running for mayor, did suggest that council bring in such a policy several times in the last term.

Another mayoral candidate, Dan Melanson, has made it a key part of his platform.

But city councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, who tabled the motion that council voted in at its Tuesday night meeting, said this wasn't a political decision.

"If staff is going to go through the whole exercise of establishing an accountability framework, why wouldn't you look at that?" Landry-Altmann said.

A report on a new "accountability framework" for the city of Greater Sudbury, including the possibility of hiring an integrity commissioner, is expected to come before the new city council early in 2015.

Landry-Altmann said she has heard from employees who would benefit from this kind of protection, including those who make "anonymous calls, [write] letters that aren't signed, [and] people who'd rather remain quiet."

Asked how council vote might impact those candidates who are already campaigning on a whistleblower policy, Landry-Altmann said this gives them "one less thing to do" if they get elected.