May 28, 2008
OTTAWA – Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet today released her first annual report to Parliament, covering the period from April 15, 2007 to March 31, 2008. The report is built around the theme of "Building Trust Together".
"Prevention and resolution of wrongdoing are everybody's business," said Commissioner Ouimet. "My role, as a new agent of Parliament, is to work with the public sector to help prevent wrongdoing and to help make sure it is properly addressed when it occurs."
The Annual Report provides details of the activities of the new Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner. It includes a description of the history behind the establishment of the Office, an explanation of the role and mandate of the Commissioner, a discussion of the investigations and inquiries over the past year, a look at the importance of prevention and prevention activities, some best practices within the public sector, and a look ahead to the coming years.
"We have received more than 200 inquiries, the vast majority of which did not fall within our jurisdiction," said Commissioner Ouimet. "That tells us we need to continue our strong focus on educating and informing the public sector and the public about who we are and what we do, with a view to making this office as effective as possible."
The Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner was created under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act to establish a safe, confidential mechanism for public servants or members of the public to bring forward their concerns about serious wrongdoing in the public sector, as well as to protect public servants from reprisal for making such disclosures or participating in investigations. The Office also provides guidance to those who have concerns about wrongdoing as well as to the chief executives of organizations where wrongdoing is found.
Responsibility for promotion of integrity and investigation of wrongdoing under the Act is shared among Deputy Ministers, Heads of Agencies and Crown Corporations, the President of the Treasury Board and the Head of the Public Service Agency.
For more information about the Office and the Annual Report, please see the attached backgrounder or visit the Public Sector Integrity Canada web site: www.psic-ispc.gc.ca.
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For more information contact:
Christina Van Loon
Senior Communications Advisor
613-946-2138
1-866-941-6400
vanloon.christina@psic-ispc.gc.ca
Public Sector Integrity Canada is online at www.psic-ispc.gc.ca.
