Public Service Watchdog Sounds Alarm Over Whistleblower Protection Crisis
Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Harriet Solloway has issued an urgent call for substantial funding increases to address what she describes as a critical threat to Canada's whistleblower protection system. In a formal letter to Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali, Solloway requested a one-time injection of $6.7 million alongside ongoing annual funding of $14.3 million to prevent what she warns could be the collapse of accountability mechanisms within the federal government.
Mounting Complaints Overwhelm Watchdog Office
The commissioner's office has experienced a dramatic surge in complaints in recent years, creating an unsustainable backlog that threatens its credibility with whistleblowers. In 2025 alone, the office received 638 complaints, representing a significant increase from 419 in 2024, 313 in 2023, and 245 in 2022. This exponential growth has severely strained the office's capacity to conduct timely investigations.
"We need to shore up the whistleblower and accountability regime and avert collapse," Solloway emphasized in her funding request, highlighting the critical nature of the situation.
Investigation Capacity Struggles to Keep Pace
The office's ability to process complaints has failed to match the rising tide of allegations. Last year, the watchdog launched 37 investigations but completed only 17. This follows a pattern from previous years: in 2024, the office launched 46 investigations and completed 22, while in 2023, it launched 24 and completed 20.
Solloway explained to the Ottawa Citizen that the requested funding would enable her office to increase staffing significantly and provide essential infrastructure improvements. Currently, the office operates with just one interview room, creating practical challenges for confidential discussions with whistleblowers.
"We need space for interview rooms, space for offices, and we need an adequate fit up so that we minimize the risks of people being seen," Solloway stated, outlining the practical constraints hampering her office's work.
Funding Breakdown and Strategic Allocation
The proposed $6.7 million one-time funding would support a comprehensive "fit-up" of the current office space and the procurement of additional facilities to accommodate planned growth. Meanwhile, the ongoing $14.3 million annual allocation would finance the hiring of 58 new full-time equivalent positions, dramatically expanding the office's capacity to investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the public service.
This request comes at a particularly challenging time, as numerous federal departments and agencies face operational budget reductions of up to 15 percent over three years. Although Solloway's office was not required to undergo similar cuts as an independent watchdog, she must justify the substantial funding increase amid broader government austerity measures.
Defending Accountability Amid Government Cuts
When questioned about seeking increased funding while thousands of public servants face potential job losses, Solloway emphasized the fundamental value of maintaining robust integrity mechanisms. She framed the investment as essential for preserving public trust in government institutions.
"If looked in the context of the government budget, and one looks at what is accountability worth in the context of the overall government budget, I really think public servants as well as Canadians would think that this is a bargain," Solloway argued.
The commissioner pointed to recent statements by Michael Sabia, Clerk of the Privy Council, who has publicly advocated for enhanced accountability measures within the public service. Solloway expressed confidence that Canadians broadly support strengthening whistleblower protections and government transparency.
"I really doubt that Canadians would disagree with that, I think Canadians want to see accountability," she asserted, adding that supporting whistleblowers and maintaining government operations should not be viewed as mutually exclusive priorities.
Historical Context and Institutional Mandate
The Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner was established following the sponsorship scandal that affected the governments of former prime ministers Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin. Created to investigate allegations of wrongdoing within the federal public service, the office represents a cornerstone of Canada's accountability framework.
Solloway's urgent appeal underscores the growing tension between fiscal restraint and maintaining essential oversight functions. As complaint volumes continue to rise exponentially, the commissioner warns that without immediate investment, Canada's whistleblower protection system risks becoming ineffective, potentially allowing misconduct to go unchecked and undermining public confidence in government institutions.
