Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA)
What is PIDA
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA or the Act) is BC’s whistleblower protection legislation. Its purpose is to provide a mechanism for employees within the school system to raise issues of serious or systemic wrongdoing without exposing those employees to any risk of retaliation.
qathet School Board Obligation
The qathet School District is committed to honesty, integrity, and accountability in its operations, and to promoting a culture of openness and transparency. The School District encourages and supports all personnel in bringing forward reports of unlawful acts and acts of wrongdoing in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Act. It is the qathet School Board’s obligation to receive, investigate and respond to complaints of wrongdoing that are made under the PIDA.
Who Can Make a Public Interest Disclosure under PIDA
- You are a qathet School District Employee.
- You were a qathet School District Employee in the past at the time you experienced or learned of the wrongdoing.
What Conduct Does PIDA Apply to?
The PIDA is intended to encourage transparency, accountability and ethical decision making by creating a process for employees to report serious wrongdoing within an organization.
- A serious act or omission that, if proven, would breach any laws of British Columbia or Canada.
- An act or omission that creates a substantial and specific danger to the life, health or safety of persons, or to the environment (other than a danger that is inherent in the performance of an employee’s duties or function).
- A serious misuse of public funds, or public assets.
- Gross or systemic management.
How does an employee make a Disclosure under PIDA?
An employee can make a report to their supervisor or the Designated Officer at the School District by completing the on-line disclosure form.
Reports can be made anonymously, but the qathet School Board may not be obliged to investigate an anonymous report made under the Act unless the report provides sufficient detail to conduct a fair investigation.
Employees are also permitted to make a report under the ACT directly to the Office of the Ombudsperson of British Columbia. The office of the Ombudsperson of British Columbia is an independent office of the legislature that has responsibility under the Act to receive and investigate complaints or reports that are made under the Act.
Employees have the right to make reports directly to the Ombudsperson and, in some circumstances, it may be necessary for the Designated Officer to refer reports under the Act to the Ombudsperson for investigation. Employees may also make complaints about reprisals to the Ombudsperson.
Who is responsible for compliance with PIDA?
PIDA vests responsibility for compliance with the “head” of the school district. All personal information that the qathet School District collects, uses or shares in connection with the disclosure shall be treated as confidential. Each year, the Superintendent shall prepare a report in accordance with the requirements of PIDA and make available to the public, an annual report concerning all disclosures received, any investigation undertaken and findings of wrongdoing.
Annual PIDA Reporting
The qathet School District will publish data related to PIDA annually. The annual report will include the number of disclosures received, the number of investigations initiated, details of the investigation if wrongdoing is confirmed and any information prescribed by the regulation.
No personal information will be disclosed as part of any public reports and the annual report will not contain any information that could lead to the identification of individuals who made the disclosure or participated in a PIDA investigation.
PIDA Policy & Administrative Procedure
- Policy 19 – Public Interest Disclosures
- Administrative Procedure 403 – Public Interest Disclosures by Employees
- Public Interest Disclosure Form
Training
- PIDA Training Video
- Speaking up Safely, developed by the Ombudsperson for public sector employees.
BC Ombudsperson Office
The BC Ombudsperson's Office investigates complaints from members of the public who feel they have been treated unfairly by a broad range of public bodies. Under PIDA, disclosers can report wrongdoing to ask advise from the Ombudsperson. The office will investigate reprisals.
The BC Ombudsperson Office can be reached in several ways:
Email: info@bcombudsperson.ca
Website: BC Ombudsperson
Phone: 1-800-567-3247 or 250-387-5855
Annual Reporting