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Leaked report underscores need for public service whistleblower protection - BCGEU


A leaked 2014 report that exposes non-compliance by natural gas operations in northern B.C. exposes the need for adequate whistleblower protection for public service workers, the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) said today.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released a copy of a critical audit report on boreal caribou management measures that it says was suppressed by the Oil and Gas Commission for four years, with little or no action taken to address the issues raised in the report.

"The BCGEU believes that all audits and regulatory reports on industrial activity should be publicly available online, to increase public transparency," said BCGEU president Stephanie Smith. "That being said, we understand that management is responsible for releasing reports, and public service workers have little recourse in cases like this."

"The boreal caribou report is another example of why we need real whistleblower protection for public service workers who act in the public interest, to protect their jobs and careers. The NDP government passed legislation this spring to address this issue and we will be watching to make sure it provides adequate protection for our members."

B.C. Oil and Gas Commission staff are also placed in a difficult position by competing responsibilities in their mission statement, which tasks the commission with "conserving the environment" and "supporting resource development."

The dual roles of promotion and enforcement can create a conflict of interest for the agency. The BCGEU supports the concept of separating compliance and enforcement responsibilities from the resource permitting process, to maintain consistency and transparency for the public.

After 16 years of deregulation, corporate self-governance and cuts to enforcement under the BC Liberals, the new NDP government is making progress towards improving natural resource regulation with its professional reliance review process.

The BCGEU has warned about the effects of budget cuts to agencies that protect our environment and manage our natural resources. Planning, research, compliance and enforcement services cannot be effectively maintained when more than 28 per cent of staff positions in BC's 'dirt ministries' have been eliminated over the last 16 years.

The BCGEU also supports Indigenous rights and recognizes the need for government agencies to deal openly and honourably with First Nations. This boreal caribou report underscores the need for timely implementation of a new natural resource regulatory framework that provides a renewed focus on sustainable development.



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