To: Whom It May Concern

Date: May 17, 2013
Re: Whistleblower Incidence

Whistle-blowing is the activity of a person telling the general public or a person of authority something dishonest or illegal occurring within their organization. Many individuals end up facing severe consequences in the form of backlash from their organization.

Over fifteen years ago, Joanna Gualtieri, a former foreign affairs realty portfolio manager, spoke up about lavish spending in the form of accommodation abroad for staff that was a part of foreign affairs. Reports from the Inspector General and Auditor general evidenced her claims. Some of the spending she observed was an eighteen million dollar mansion in Tokyo which remained empty for several years. The individual who was supposed to stay in it rented luxury properties spending up to $350,000 of government money a year. Another instance was a million dollar condominium owned by the crown in which the Ambassador’s Japanese butler and chef lived.

At the time, she stated the bureau did not care and was reduced to a low-level job due to her claims. Her superiors ignored her and censored reports that described how the government’s multi-million dollar properties were being improperly used. She was harassed by three of her bosses and eventually ended up on unpaid medical leave. Some of the harassment she faced included: * Nay-saying of her concerns and claims * Ridicule to her dedication and stewardship * Forbiddance of travelling to her Canadian missions that she was responsible for * Telling her not to complete trip reports then accusing her of incompetence * Publically removing her from her position
She eventually filed a lawsuit in 1998 which lasted over twelve years, prolonged by defense lawyers. Joanna sued her superiors including the minister who she had also approached for help. In the midst legislation was put in place with a clause that would remove the right of public employees to sue their employers. The lawsuit was eventually settled although the terms of the settlement are unknown.
"Public revelations of corporate and government malfeasance have spawned an industry of consultants and speakers preaching to the boardrooms on the need for organizational integrity”. Situations like this cause individuals to avoid participating in such matters and it has increased distrust in the government and specific industries. Numbers of employees witness inappropriate actions but do not speak out in fear of consequences such as the ones Joanna had to face.
After her experience, Joanna founded the Federal Accountability Initiative for Reform (FAIR), a Canadian public interest organization. Her organization has played a substantial role in the formation of legislations within Canada regarding whistle-blowing. The organization brought the very first legislation of protecting whistleblowers to the Parliament of Canada. It eventually passed the Servants Disclosure Protection Act.
Without organizations such as Joanna’s, companies must collectively commit, implement and practice processes and procedures that protect whistleblowers “who through their individual acts of conscience serve the public interest and promote public trust”. Without public trust, the work of professionals in government, law and accounting for example would mean nothing.

References:
Althia Raj, Parliamentary Bureau, “Whistleblower Wins Case Against Feds” The Toronto Sun, April 07, 2010, http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/04/06/13489906-qmi.html\. Accessed on May 14th, 2013
Fair, “Protecting Whistleblowers who Protect the Public Interest”, http://fairwhistleblower.ca/cases/gualtieri.html. Accessed on May 13th, 2013
Gualtieri, Joanna, “When the Whistle Blows”CA Magazine, Chartered Accountants of Canada, August 2004, http://www.camagazine.com/archives/print-edition/2004/aug/regulars/camagazine21076.aspx. Accessed on May 15th, 2013

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[ 1 ]. Althia Raj, Parliamentary Bureau, “Whistleblower Wins Case Against Feds” The Toronto Sun, April 07, 2010
[ 2 ]. Gualtieri, Joanna, “When the Whistle Blows” CA Magazine, Chartered Accountants of Canada, August 2004
[ 3 ]. Gualtieri, Joanna, “When the Whistle Blows”CA Magazine, Chartered Accountants of Canada, August 2004