DESIGNATED OFFICER TOOLKIT - FOR PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURE ACT INVESTIGATIONS - October 2023

Availability of the Office of the Ombudsperson for consultation The Office of the Ombudsperson welcomes public sector organizations covered by PIDA to contact us for advice on the implementation of public interest disclosure programs or policy, to request assistance with an investigation, or to consult with us about the management of a report of wrongdoing. [...] (b) the name(s) of the person alleged Since employees can make disclosures to their (i) to have committed the wrongdoing, or supervisor or a DO by email or mail, employees should be strongly encouraged to note that they (ii) to be about to commit the wrongdoing; are making a public interest disclosure and to (c) the date(s) of the wrongdoing; ensure that their disclosure includes the required info. [...] The interview is also intended to inform the DO’s assessment Managing information of the urgency of the matter, as well as an initial Start by making a secure investigation file consideration of the risk of reprisal to the discloser. [...] assessing whether to refer a disclosure to another party, consider the following: Report to law enforcement • the relationship between that public body and The DO may report an alleged offence relating the matter of the disclosure to a request for advice, a disclosure or a reprisal complaint under the Act to a law enforcement • the resources required to conduct the agency if they have reason to be. [...] The offence may be • the expertise required and available reported regardless of whether the disclosure is • the level and position of the alleged determined to meet the threshold for wrongdoing wrongdoer(s) or whether the DO decides to investigate the al- • potential conflicts of interest or perceptions of legations.