Protected Disclosure Policy Information

The University’s policy provides protection to any employee of the University who wishes to come forward and make a disclosure, in good faith, of wrongdoing as defined under the Act and this policy.

The Director of Audit Services is available to provide information to employees and discuss the nature of their concerns if the employee is uncertain of whether a disclosure should be made under the University’s Protected Disclosure Policy.

Any employee can request advice, either in writing or in person, from the Director of Audit Services.  This request will receive the same confidentiality and protection from retaliation that a formal disclosure receives.

An employee may report information that they reasonably believe shows a wrongdoing has been committed or is about to be committed.

Under the Act and this policy, a wrongdoing is:

1. An act or omission constituting an offence under an Act of the Legislature or the Parliament of Canada, or a regulation made under an Act;
2. 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 the duties or functions of an employee;
3. Gross mismanagement, including of public funds or a public asset;
4. Knowingly directing or counseling a person to commit a wrongdoing described in clauses (a) to (c);

Other concerns employees may have about improper activities that do not fall within this definition of wrongdoing may also be reported to the employee’s supervisor or Audit Services.  These disclosures will be dealt with professionally and confidentially but not necessarily within the Protected Disclosure Policy and procedures.

You may report the matter:

• To your supervisor (or other appropriate university administrator), who will report it to the University’s Director of Audit Services.
• Directly to the University’s Director of Audit Services. The reporting process is outlined under Make a Disclosure
• To the Province of Manitoba Ombudsman

EMERGENCY and SAFETY CONCERNS – An immediate threat to health or safety should be reported to Campus Security at 204.786.6666

Confidentiality of information collected in relation to disclosures and investigations will be respected, in particular the identity of persons involved in the disclosure process.

Employees are encouraged to provide disclosures as soon as possible in order to allow for a timely investigation process.  University policy requests that information be disclosed within 30 working days of coming into possession of the information or evidence of wrongdoing.

Supervisors that receive disclosures are required to document the disclosure and provide this information to the Director of Audit Services as soon as possible so that the procedures required by the Act and the Policy are conducted consistently by a single office.

Individuals will not be subject to reprisal of any kind for reporting allegations of wrongdoing in good faith. If you believe you have experienced a reprisal as a result of seeking advice about a disclosure, making a disclosure, or cooperating with an investigation, you should immediately inform the Director of Audit Services so that appropriate action may be taken.

As required by The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act, the Director of Audit Services will prepare an annual report with the number of reports received, the number acted and not acted on, the number of investigations started as a result of a disclosure, and the outcomes of the investigation. The report is submitted to the President & Vice-Chancellor of the University and the Audit & Risk Committee, and is also published on this website under Annual Reports.