Red boxes higlight protection frameworks that are exact matches to your search. Results also include other protection frameworks (in grey boxes) that might apply due to their federal jurisdiction or unrestricted scope.
Quebec Unrestricted
The Act respecting Labour Relations, Vocational Training and Workforce Management in the Construction Industry (CQLR c R-20) protects any person who has disclosed a contravention of the Act to the Commission. The Act prohibits any reprisal taken against a person for making a disclosure or cooperating in an investigation.
Construction
The Act respecting the Autorité des Marchés Publics (CQLR c A-33.2.1) protects any person with an interest in the tendering or awarding process of a public contract who discloses information regarding a non-compliance with the normative framework. The Act prohibits any reprisals against a person who has made a protected disclosure.
Finance
The Act respecting the Regulation of the Financial Sector (CQLR c E-6.1) protects any person who discloses information regarding a contravention of the Act. The Act prohibits any reprisals against a person who has made a protected disclosure.
Quebec Public sector
The Act to Combat Maltreatment of Seniors and Other Persons of Full Age in Vulnerable Situations (CQLR c L-6.3) protects any person who has disclosed cases of maltreatment in an institution to the local service quality and complaints Commissioner. The Act also protects against any reprisal.
Health
In Quebec, the Act to facilitate the Disclosure of Wrongdoings Relating to Public Bodies (CQLR, c. D-11.1), applies to provincial departments, as well as the National Assembly, Government-appointed bodies, public agencies, school boards, publicly funded childcare and daycare centres, universities and organizations within the public health and social services network. Under the Act, any person—public servant or not—may disclose wrongdoings by a public servant to the Protecteur des citoyens. Reprisals against a person that has cooperated or made a disclosure in good faith are prohibited and subject to fines.
Unrestricted
The Anti-Corruption Act (CQLR 2016, c. L-6.1) prohibits any reprisal against a person who has reported any wrongdoing covered by the Act to the Anti-Corruption Commissioner. The Commissioner must take all necessary steps to preserve the anonymity of the whistleblower, though the whistleblower’s name may be provided to the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions.
Privacy and Data Protection
Canada Unrestricted
The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (SC 1999, c. 22) allows for a person to disclose information about the release, or likely release, of a substance into the environment that is in violation of a regulation. These disclosures should be made to an enforcement officer or to a designated person. This Act also prohibits employers from disciplining employees who have made these reports.
Environment
In Quebec, the Civil Code (CQLR, c. CCQ-1991, art. 1472) provides for the exoneration of liability to anyone who discloses a trade secret for “considerations of general interest” and, particularly, for “reasons of public health or safety.” This provision appears much broader than other provincial and federal statutes, especially as it does not restrict protected disclosure to those made to a public authority. It does not, however, apply to labour relations (Villa d'Argenteuil 1996 c. UEES 800, 2002 QC SAT G/01/242P).
The Competition Act (LRC 1985, c. C-34) provides protection for employees who disclose information to the Commissioner of Competition regarding a past or potential offence of the Act. Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed or intends to commit an offence under the Act, may notify the Commissioner of the particulars of the matter and may request that his or her identity be kept confidential with respect to the notification.
British Columbia Unrestricted
The E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act (SBC 2008, c. 38) protects public and private sector employees who have disclosed or will disclose a contravention of the Act to an administrator, the Minister of Health or the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Any reprisal is subject to a fine under the Act.
The Educational Childcare Act (CQLR c S-4.1.1) protects any person who has disclosed a wrongdoing to the Minister of Education. The Act also protects against reprisals for making a disclosure, seeking advice or cooperating with the Minister.
Childcare
New Brunswick Unrestricted
The Employment Standards Act (SNB, c. E-7.2) protects employees who have disclosed information regarding a contravention of the Act to the Director of the Employment Standards. The Act also prohibits any reprisals against any employee who disclosed information regarding a violation of the Act.
Unrestricted • Workplace conditions
Prince Edward Island Public sector
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSPEI 1988, c F-15.01) protects public sector employees who have disclosed information, in writing, regarding a risk of significant harm to the environment or to the health or safety of the public. The Act protects employees against reprisals for making a protected disclosure.
Privacy and Data Protection • Unrestricted
British Columbia Public sector
The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (RSBC 1996 c 165) protects public servants who have disclosed a wrongdoing regarding citizen privacy and data management to the Information and Privacy Commissioner. The Act also protects against any reprisal.
Alberta Unrestricted
The Health Information Act (RSA 2000, c. H-5) protects affiliates of a custodian of health data for disclosing a contravention to the Act. To be protected, a disclosure must be made to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, be made in good faith, and must be regarding the collection use, or disclosure by a custodian of health information in violation of the Act. Under the Act, any retaliation taken towards the affiliate is considered an offence and is subject to a fine.
Health • Privacy and Data Protection
Ontario Unrestricted
The Personal Health Information Protection Act (SO 2004, c.3, Sch. A) prohibits any retaliation against a person who has disclosed an actual or foreseen contravention to the Act to the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Any retaliation is subject to a fine.
The Pharmaceutical Services Act (SBC 2012, c. 22) protects employees in the health sector who have disclosed a contravention of the Act to the Minister of Health, a provider, a data administrator, a professional health college, or the Information and Privacy Commissioner. Any reprisal taken against an employee is an offence, subject to a fine or imprisonment.
The Police Act (CQLR c P-13.1) protects a police officer who makes a disclosure regarding the criminal conduct of another officer to the director of police. Any reprisals made against a police officer who makes a protected disclosure is prohibited by the Act.
Law Enforcement
Manitoba Unrestricted
The Public Health Act (CCSM c P210) protects any person who discloses information regarding a health hazard to a medical officer, inspector, or other person specified in the regulations. Any reprisals made against a person who makes a protected disclosure is deemed to be an offence by the Act and is subject to fines.
In Alberta, the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (SA 2012, c. P-39.5) protects public service employees, as well as some from the private sector, for the disclosure of specific wrongdoings to their supervisor, some designated officers or the Alberta Public Interest Commissioner. The statute applies predominantly to the public service and provincial agencies, although the provisions also apply equally to some private organizations such as academic institutions, schools boards and public health organizations, as well as government service providers in the course of a business relationship with the government.
New Brunswick Public sector
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (RSNB 2012, c. 112) protects public sector employees who have disclosed wrongdoings to supervisors, designated officers within an organization, or to the New Brunswick Ombudsman. The Act prohibits reprisals against employees who have made a disclosure, sought advice about making a disclosure, or cooperated in an investigation under the Act.
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (SBC 2018, c 22) protects public sector employees who make a disclosure regarding a matter of public interest and serious wrongdoing in or relating to a ministry, office or government body. The Act prohibits any reprisals against an employee who has made a protected disclosure.
Newfoundland and Labrador Public sector
The Public Interest Disclosure and Whistleblower Protection Act (S.N.L. 2014, c. P-37.2) protects public sector employees who have disclosed a wrongdoing, in writing, to the Citizens Representative. The Act also protects employees against reprisals for making a disclosure, seeking advice, or cooperating with the Citizen’s Representative.
The Public Interest Disclosure and Whistleblower Protection Policy (RSPEI 1988, c P-31.01) provides an administrative framework for the disclosure of wrongdoings. Public servants can disclose, in writing, wrongdoings to a supervisor, a Deputy Head, or the Ethics and Integrity Commissioner. The Policy prohibits reprisals against an employee who makes a protected disclosure.
Yukon Public sector
The Public Interest Disclosure of Wrongdoing Act (SY 2014, c. 19) protects disclosures of wrongdoings made to a supervisor, a designated officer, or the Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner. Public servants who sought advice prior to a disclosure or collaborated in an investigation are protected from reprisals under the Act. The Act also protects public servants from reprisals for refusing to take part in a wrongdoing.
Nova Scotia Private sector (residual) • Public sector
The Public Interest Disclosure of Wrongdoing Act (SNS 2010, c. 42) protects public servants who disclose wrongdoings to a supervisor, a designated officer or the province’s Ombudsman in writing. If the wrongdoing constitutes an imminent risk of substantial and specific danger to the life, health or safety of an individual or to the environment and there is not enough time to follow internal procedures, the employee may make the disclosure to the public. However, that disclosure should be made to an appropriate law enforcement agency first. Alongside employees, corporations majorly owned by the Province and organizations that deliver services on behalf of the Provinces, and are substantially publicly funded, are also protected under the Act.
Canada Public sector
The Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (SC 2005, c. 46) provides civil protection for disclosure of wrongdoing made by public sector employees. The protection only covers disclosure made to specifically designated people and entities, except if the disclosure relates to a wrongdoing that is a serious offence or poses an imminent risk of danger to the life, health and safety of an individual, or to the environment. Members of law enforcement, military and intelligence communities are subject to specific derogatory regimes.
Ontario Public sector
Under the Public Service of Ontario Act (SO 2006, c. 35), a public servant is protected from reprisals for disclosing a wrongdoing to a designated officer or the Integrity Commissioner.
The Security of Information Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. O-5) provided for a “public interest defense” for people permanently bound to secrecy that would have disclosed special operation information in case where the public interest in the disclosure outweighs the public interest in non-disclosure. However, except when necessary to avoid grievous bodily harm or death, prior disclosure is required to some specifically designated authorities. The National Security Intelligence Review Agency, and other members of the national security and intelligence community, have highlighted the uncertainties and limitations of the framework calling for legislative reform.
National Security and Intelligence
The Whistleblower Protection Act (CCSM c P217) protects private and public sector employees who disclose wrongdoings, in writing, to their supervisor, a designated officer or to the Manitoba Ombudsman. An exception exists, however, in the case of a matter that constitutes an imminent risk to the life, health or safety of persons or the environment, where a public disclosure is possible if there is insufficient time to disclose through the internal procedure. The Act also prohibits any reprisal against an employee who has disclosed a wrongdoing.
Saskatchewan Public sector
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (SS 2011, c. P-38.1) protects public servants that disclose wrongdoings to designated officers within their organization or to the Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner. Any retaliation towards a public servant is deemed an offence by the Act and is subject to fines.
Saskatchewan Unrestricted
The Saskatchewan Employment Act (SS 2013, c. S-15.1) protects employees who report a contravention to the Act to a supervisor, a law enforcement agency or officials in charge of enforcing the Act. The Act also prohibits any reprisal against an employee who has made a protected disclosure.