Whistleblower Protections in British Columbia: Understanding the Federal and Provincial Framework for Disclosures

Whistleblowing can expose serious wrongdoing, protect public funds, and prevent harm. The difficult question is not only whether the concern is serious, but whether the person reporting it is protected and whether the chosen reporting channel is lawful.

British Columbia does not have a single law that protects every whistleblower. Instead, protection comes from a patchwork of federal and provincial statutes, employment law, criminal law, human rights legislation, workplace policies, collective agreements, and the common law.

In this article, Seth Gordon and Andrew W. Schleichkorn examine the federal and provincial framework for whistleblower disclosures, including British Columbia’s Public Interest Disclosure Act, the gaps affecting municipal employees and officials, and narrower protections available under other laws. They also discuss confidentiality and anonymity, the importance of choosing an appropriate reporting channel, and some of the legal risks that can arise when confidential information or allegations are disclosed publicly.

The full article, Whistleblower Protections in British Columbia: Understanding the Federal and Provincial Framework for Disclosures, is available below.