AG Marin-Young Gives Update on Status of Protected Disclosures Bill
Magali Marin-Young
Another one of those good governance measures that the government introduced back in May is the Protected Disclosures Bill of 2021. Popularly known as the Whistleblower’s legislation, it seeks to protect whistleblowers from being reprimanded when they disclose or reveal corrupt acts committed by public officers or elected officials. Attorney General Magali Marin-Young says the joint unions have sent in written recommendations that will be taken into consideration.
Magali Marin-Young, Attorney General
“The unions have written to the committee and there will be further consultations with them on that particular bill. So, that bill is subject to review right now. My ministry has been asked to look at the recommendations from the unions and to report back to cabinet on the matter.”
Reporter
“You aren’t able to discuss any opinions on that document right?”
Magali Marin-Young
“Well, I think some of the comments from the unions were policy oriented and I don’t want to speak ahead of cabinet decision on those because that will be a decision of cabinet. Some of it, I mean there is a list.”
Reporter
“What about the recommendation from the unions that they would want to see wider consultation with the public – do you think the government would be minded to allow that on this particular bill?”
Magali Marin-Young
“Well, yes, let me just say that I have indicated to you that the Ministry is understaffed in the legal drafting unit but as a measure of good faith, the government wanted to show the unions that it was serious about good governance and so it asked us to prioritized the good governance bills and the protected disclosures is one of them. So, we didn’t have much chance. The crowns tried to do a comparative review in the region and that draft was based on that review and what they felt could work within the domestic legal framework but the unions have put forward their comments and we will study them and cabinet will be deciding on those.”
