Whistleblowing in Ontario: What Are Your Rights

Navigating the decision to blow the whistle can be challenging, whether you work in the public or private sector. In two insightful videos, Justin Villeneuve breaks down the rights of whistleblowers in Ontario, offering essential guidance and practical options. From understanding legal protections in the public sector to exploring the steps and safeguards available in the private sector, these resources aim to empower individuals to speak up while safeguarding their rights. If you’re considering whistleblowing, start here to gain the knowledge you need to make an informed decision. Should you wish to speak to a lawyer, click here to go to our Directory of lawyers for whistleblowers.

Whistleblowing in Ontario: What Are My Rights in the Public Sector? 

In this informative video, Justin A. Villeneuve sheds light on the rights of individuals considering whistleblowing in Ontario's public sector. 

Watch Justin A. Villeneuve speak to your rights in the Public Sector

Download the Transcript

 

Whistleblowing in Ontario: What Are My Rights in the Private Sector?

Considering whistleblowing in Ontario’s private sector? Justin A. Villeneuve dives into the protections available for those who choose to speak up. While Canada’s whistleblower-protection laws may have gaps, there are measures in place to shield individuals from being fired, demoted, or mistreated.

Watch Justin A. Villeneuve speak to your rights in the Private Sector

Download the Transcript

 

Whistleblowing in Ontario: A Guide to Relevant Laws

At Whistleblowing Canada, we are committed to fostering research and education around whistleblowing. Unfortunately, Canada’s legal framework for whistleblower protection remains unclear and inadequate, leaving many individuals vulnerable to retaliation.  This leads to silence and potential harm. To support your journey, we’ve compiled a list of laws that could be relevant for whistleblowers in Ontario depending on circumstances.

This resource complements the videos on this page, providing additional information to help you navigate your rights.

Click here to read the document

 

This work was made possible by a grant from The Law Foundation of Ontario

Access to Justice for Whistleblowers:  Results of a Survey of Ontario Lawyers

Whistleblowing Canada Research Society (WCRS) is dedicated to researching, educating, and communicating the vital role of whistleblowers in upholding democratic principles.  In line with this mission we conducted a survey of Ontario lawyers to provide key insights that will inform future research, educational initiatives, and the development of legal resources for whistleblowers.

This report provides the results of our survey.

 

  

Click here to read the Report

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  • Carmen Ciubotariu
    commented 2025-01-31 08:55:03 -0500
    I am searching for a job, anywhere outside the federal agencies, because PSPC revoked my security clearance after working as group leader for 5 days, appreciated for my work ethics-I’ll write the reason below.
    It looks like I went too far in my search for justice. I am punished very hard-too hard- for my …stupidity.
    2019 January- After a torture of about 3 months, while V creates a very negative and toxic work environment for and around me, I am fired, to her pleasure and satisfaction. LB, the Director at that time, encouraged V in a very cynical and villain way.
    I have asked for the support from the union – N – did attend some flash meetings for me and V. I lose all rights to appeal because I’m fired so early in the year.
    Many months later, MM-leader from the union- contacts me to say how awful I was treated by V and assigns the analysis of my “file” to J-same as below, but I do not hear from them anything likely due to the covid-19 period.
    On October the 24th 2018, there is an online training session about mental health and I felt somehow strongly that I should have my voice heard…by doing copy and paste of the three deeply negative testimonials collected by LB, for my termination file. I feel that many persons should read them in order to realize what torture I have [passed through from September 2018 to January 2019, while working on a CR-04 position, for business support of Workplace 2.0, under the management of Veronique McQuillan whi was recently arrived, transferred and promoted from Environment Canada to PSPC, following her recent marriage to a very influential man whose name I do not know.
    In May 2024 some miracle happened and I was hired by Prologic systems, for a ten-months contract, under the management of the same J (didn’t know initially, but he clarified this with me later, at the first attempt to “break-the-untold rules” at a mental health course available to employees of PSPC only, that I was able to attend because the SABACSPS system allowed the registration, without a NIP number.
    J was very kind with me and told me that there was nothing to do as I was promptly terminated by V and Lucie Boureau. He also explained that LB had made other victims like me and the union succeeded to oblige her go for retirement earlier than she wanted. J also thought that the union would recommend that V is transferred to another Federal department, however, he is surprised to find out, at my 2nd wrong gesture, that V was simply moved to another team within PSPC. My second wrong gesture was to sign up-again- for a course on SABA where…it turned out that V was the instructor-she finds this out the eve of the course session, as we were only two registered persons for her course- I didn’t know either that she was the instructor, until I received the meeting invite in OutLook.
    As soon as I confirmed attendance for the session next day, V triggers the security chain that messages/warns J that again Carmen is taking a SABA course without permission. That day, J called for a Teams online meeting, with VdR, me and himself where I had given my word that it wont ever happen again, to sign up for a course for employees-only. However, the course on Civility was the natural continuation of the mental health course that I attended 2 months before, and knowing that V complained for my termination file, that I demonstrated lack of civility during the team meetings and the ombudsman had encouraged her to claim this about my behavior I truly hoped that progress in terms of civility and respect for colleagues has made a great progress, after the covid period.
    Indeed, there was an excellent and well prepared session where situations similar to my torture events in 2018-19, were described in the group discussions of the course. So, I couldn’t resist, I became emotional and dared to only type in the chat that V and LB have deteriorated my mental health and life with behaviors very similar to those described during the session. This allowed me realize that I was not the only one that was tortured by employees that are expected to run a human and positive management rather than cynical and negative. The two instructors of the course have immediately requested that I delete my comment from the chat (I had given the two names and I shouldn’t) which I did as soon as I could, however, the course instructors have already reported my actions to security and to J and-or C-the highest level manager of the SPAC team where I was working.
    Thus, it turns out that I had accumulated too many non-allowed actions and my security clearance has been cancelled from all placement agencies and I was escorted to the door last Friday, because the current contract that I was so happy to obtain, requires NATO-level secret clearance. Thus, I will not be able to obtain any other agency-found contract with the government of Canada, the main possible employer for “new” Canadians like me, unable to become entrepreneurs.
  • Steph TEST MacGregor
    published this page 2024-11-15 14:38:04 -0500

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