Public service integrity watchdog asks feds for $1.4 million to clear backlog

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The office tasked with investigating wrongdoing in the federal public service is struggling to dig out from under a mountain of complaints.

Over the last year, the Office of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner (PSIC), which was created in 2007, has experienced an “unprecedented” increase in complaints, officials said. Last fiscal year, the office received 40 per cent more complaints than the previous year, and it’s on track to receive even more this year.

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The increase has led to a backlog that Harriet Solloway, the public sector integrity commissioner, said could damage the credibility of her office, which also protects whistleblowers from reprisal.

“Delays undermine our work, by putting at risk the quality of investigations, postponing the uncovering of serious wrongdoing, and damaging the credibility of the Office,” Solloway said in an emailed statement. “The federal whistleblowing regime is essential to preserve trust in the public service. Canada has a world-class public service, and my Office’s work helps to maintain confidence in it. I recognize that delays can be frustrating and discouraging to potential whistleblowers, who may already be in a difficult situation, and I thank those who choose to come forward.”

The integrity commissioner’s office handles complaints in two stages: an analysis to determine if they fall within the watchdog’s jurisdiction and then an actual investigation if found necessary. Many are getting bogged down in the analysis stage.

The watchdog currently has more than 200 active cases, 161 that are in the analysis stage and 50 that are being investigated.

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With the PSIC’s current staff of six case analysts, a caseload of 30 to 35 cases is manageable at any give time, said Bronwyn Johns-O’Hara, a spokesperson for the public sector integrity commissioner.

“Until last year, the number of cases coming in was manageable, the sharp increase has led to a backlog, which continues to grow,” Johns-O’Hara said.

The office also has eight investigators, but estimates it needs double the number of investigators and analysts to meet demand.

Solloway is now calling for almost $1.4 million in federal funding to tackle the backlog. The PSIC’s current annual budget is $6 million.

The backlog has gotten so bad that a pop up window on the watchdog’s website warns that it “is receiving an unprecedented number of disclosures of wrongdoing, reprisal complaints and general inquiries. As a result of increased submissions, delays in the analysis and investigation of files are expected.” 

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