SWIFT CURRENT, Sask.The Senate Standing Committee on Finance meets today to consider Bill S-13, the Public Service Whistleblowing Act. The meeting is at 5:45 PM in the Victoria Building in Ottawa.

NFU members have seen several cases where courageous employees of government departments and agencies step forward to reveal wrongdoing and mismanagement that could damage the public interest. Sadly, these employees are often disciplined, suspended, or fired.

When Health Canada reviewed the genetically-modified hormone rBGH for use on dairy cows, six scientists in the Bureau of Veterinary Drugs refused to approve it, citing serious animal health problems and unresolved human safety concerns. Health Canada managers harassed and pressured these scientists, slapped a gag order on them, and suspended one for five days without pay after they testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee. Two scientists were forced to challenge the gag order in court because they were not protected by whistleblower-protection legislation. The NFU is an intervenor in that court action.

On March 23, 2000, the Canadian Grain Commission suspended Dave Lewicki, a Thunder Bay grain inspector. Lewicki had talked openly to farmers organizations about proposed cuts and regulatory changes at the CGC that would increase farmers costs and erode the effectiveness of the CGC as a grain-industry regulator. The CGC suspended Lewicki for 20 days and informed him in a letter that he will be fired if he ever talks to anyone about CGC policies or programs ever again.

"These are just two cases of conscientious public employees stepping forward to reveal information in an attempt to alert the public to serious threats. These employees put the public interest ahead of their own careers. Canadians, and their government, cannot sit back while these men and women are punished by senior managers", said NFU Ontario Coordinator Peter Dowling.

"The National Farmers Union strongly supports whistleblower legislation which protects employees of private corporations and government departments and agencies. Canadians must be free to speak up when they see industry interference in our drug approval system, regulatory changes which disadvantage farmers, a chemical spill, or other actions which hurt Canadian citizens. We will be examining Bill S-13 to see that it goes far enough in providing the needed protection for these employees", said NFU Saskatchewan Board member Stewart Wells.

For More Information:

Peter Dowling, NFU Ontario Coordinator: (613) 546-0869

Stewart Wells, NFU Sask. Board Member: (306) 773-6852

Darrin Qualman, Executive Secretary: (306) 652-9465