Whistleblowers who tattle on the taxman need cabinet protection, Conservative MP Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West) told the Commons government operations committee Tuesday..Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) executives are accused of manipulating tax rulings for corporate lobbyists and other misconduct..“Will they be protected?” asked McCauley..“The Government of Canada outed them.”.“Will you commit to them they will be protected from retribution from the Canada Revenue Agency and from the government for exposing corruption and wrongdoing within the CRA? These brave whistleblowers deserve our protection. Will you guarantee them they will be protected?”.“It is our government’s intention,” replied Treasury Board President Mona Fortier. “We believe those who disclose serious wrongdoing must be protected.”.“Will they be protected?” asked McCauley..“We are continuing to make sure those who disclose serious wrongdoing must be protected,” replied Fortier..The names, addresses and phone numbers of CRA whistleblowers were detailed in 2,324 pages of unsealed records mistakenly filed with the Federal Court. The filing was by the Integrity Commissioner in violation of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act which states investigators “shall not disclose any information that comes to their knowledge.”.“That man exposed whistleblowers,” said McCauley..“The very person meant to protect whistleblowers exposed them. They have no protection.”.“This sums up the Canadian whistleblower experience. Whistleblowers were actually outed by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. The very gentleman who is supposed to protect whistleblowers outed whistleblowers.”.Records included confidential memos, human resources reports, investigators’ notes, emails and correspondence. All were mistakenly placed on the public record in a federal lawsuit. The documents for four months were available for public viewing. They have since been withdrawn and censored..Documents detailed whistleblowers’ allegations CRA executives went for drinks during business hours and hired Facebook friends. Senior managers were accused of lavish spending on junkets including a $20,000 flight to Paris to attend an OECD meeting by Zoom..Documents referenced at least 29 whistleblower complaints at the agency, including an allegation of discrimination against Revenue Commissioner Bob Hamilton. Other senior executives were accused of improperly arranging a million-dollar tax waiver for a corporate lobbyist with offshore accounts.
Whistleblowers who tattle on the taxman need cabinet protection, Conservative MP Kelly McCauley (Edmonton West) told the Commons government operations committee Tuesday..Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) executives are accused of manipulating tax rulings for corporate lobbyists and other misconduct..“Will they be protected?” asked McCauley..“The Government of Canada outed them.”.“Will you commit to them they will be protected from retribution from the Canada Revenue Agency and from the government for exposing corruption and wrongdoing within the CRA? These brave whistleblowers deserve our protection. Will you guarantee them they will be protected?”.“It is our government’s intention,” replied Treasury Board President Mona Fortier. “We believe those who disclose serious wrongdoing must be protected.”.“Will they be protected?” asked McCauley..“We are continuing to make sure those who disclose serious wrongdoing must be protected,” replied Fortier..The names, addresses and phone numbers of CRA whistleblowers were detailed in 2,324 pages of unsealed records mistakenly filed with the Federal Court. The filing was by the Integrity Commissioner in violation of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act which states investigators “shall not disclose any information that comes to their knowledge.”.“That man exposed whistleblowers,” said McCauley..“The very person meant to protect whistleblowers exposed them. They have no protection.”.“This sums up the Canadian whistleblower experience. Whistleblowers were actually outed by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. The very gentleman who is supposed to protect whistleblowers outed whistleblowers.”.Records included confidential memos, human resources reports, investigators’ notes, emails and correspondence. All were mistakenly placed on the public record in a federal lawsuit. The documents for four months were available for public viewing. They have since been withdrawn and censored..Documents detailed whistleblowers’ allegations CRA executives went for drinks during business hours and hired Facebook friends. Senior managers were accused of lavish spending on junkets including a $20,000 flight to Paris to attend an OECD meeting by Zoom..Documents referenced at least 29 whistleblower complaints at the agency, including an allegation of discrimination against Revenue Commissioner Bob Hamilton. Other senior executives were accused of improperly arranging a million-dollar tax waiver for a corporate lobbyist with offshore accounts.
