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Simpson’s private member’s bill gives protection to those working for government bodies seeking to inform public employers, government and the public of wrongdoing, gross government mismanagement, illegal acts and threats to the health and safety of people or the environment.

This legislation protects employees who have the courage to take a personal risk to improve workplace safety, government accountability and security. We are asking Premier Campbell to have the courage to protect public employees who do the right thing,” says Barry O’Neill, president of the B.C. division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

In B.C., this would potentially affect tens of thousands of CUPE members working in a variety of areas, including the education system from kindergarten to university, in health care, and in community social services.”

Before being elected to government, the Liberal Party pledged to be the most open, transparent and accountable government in Canada. It is difficult to be that when the government does not protect its own employees from demotions, firings and other reprisals.”

In recent years, Vancouver’s city council, as well as Richmond and Surrey, have recognized the role that whistleblowers play in the public interest by pursuing whistleblower protection for municipal employees.

Contact:  Barry O’Neill, CUPE BC president 604.340.6768
Roseanne Moran, CUPE Communications 778.835.7537