External Whistleblowing in the Public Service: A Necessarily Messy Practice
Keywords:
WhistleblowingAbstract
Whistleblowing in the Canadian public service is a complex problem and poses a dilemma: while disclosures can increase organizational effectiveness, they challenge the authority of an organization and cause moral and legal complications. This paper provides an examination of whistleblowing and three reasons why external whistleblowing should not be practiced, namely because of the existence of internal mechanisms, disruptions in ministerial responsibility, and conflicting ideas of loyalty and the public interest. Through this analysis, the paper recommends the strengthening of internal reporting mechanisms to limit external disclosures made in the public service.
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