Mario Dion, Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, finds wrongdoing by a Director General at the Canadian International Development Agency

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Ottawa, February 5, 2013 – Another founded case of wrongdoing was tabled by the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion, in both Houses of Parliament today. This report found that the actions of a Director General (DG) at the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) constitute wrongdoing under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

“The DG demonstrated a serious lack of judgment and disregard for government policies and rules,” the Commissioner concluded.  “Public servants at all levels are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector and their organizational codes.”

The DG in this report breached a code of conduct on several occasions by engaging in private business activities and not disclosing them to the appropriate supervisor. Government property and assets were misused and the DG’s administrative staff were instructed to complete tasks related to these private business activities.

Policies were in place at CIDA and known by the DG who chose simply not to comply with them.  The report contains recommendations by the Commissioner to help prevent this type of wrongdoing from happening again. Commissioner Dion is satisfied with the responses from the President of CIDA included at the end of the report.

“Speaking up about matters that involve wrongdoing by upper management can often be difficult. It is encouraging that public servants are trusting the system and coming forward to my office with these types of disclosures,” said Commissioner Dion.  

The purpose of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (the Act) is to provide employees of the federal public sector with a safe means to disclose information that they believe could constitute a wrongdoing as defined in the Act. It also provides those who disclose or who participate in an investigation protection from reprisal.

Please consult the report for further details. The generic masculine is used in the report to
protect the identity of those concerned.

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For more information, contact:

Edith Lachapelle
Manager, Communications
Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada
Telephone: 613-946-2138

Email: Lachapelle.Edith@psic-ispc.gc.ca