Ethics officer for Nunavut civil service set to start work April 1

Nunavut finance minister Keith Peterson describes the government’s plan to appoint an ethics officer for civil servants, March 9 in the legislative assembly. (PHOTO BY PETER VARGA)

Nunavut Finance minister Keith Peterson confirmed March 9 that the territorial government is set to announce the appointment this month of an independent ethics officer who will handle complaints of wrong-doing in the civil service.

“We’re looking very much forward to this office opening on April 1,” Peterson said in the legislative assembly.

The appointment is part of a series of amendments to the Nunavut’s Public Service Act, which the government drafted in 2013. The changes come onto force this year.

Section 6 of the act, under the heading “Disclosure of Wrong-Doing,” defines wrong-doing and the course of action a member of the public service would take to report it.

The section also describes the ethics officer as an independent investigator of complaints, who makes recommendations to ministers responsible for departments where complaints occur.

“This section of the legislation deals with protection for public servants who disclose wrong-doing in the workplace,” Joe Enook, MLA for Tununiq, said during question period.

“Mr. Speaker, I have not been alone in raising concerns about public servants who feel muzzled or intimidated when they attempt to bring forward concerns to the appropriate authorities, including elected members of this assembly,” Enook said in questions to Peterson.

“Can the minister describe what actions his department is taking to ensure all levels of the public service are clearly aware of the rights and responsibilities of employees and managers,” the MLA said.

Peterson replied that the government of Nunavut has “an extensive set of human resource manual directives.”

“It’s incumbent upon managers, supervisors, to be very familiar with those policies,” the minister said. “It’s also incumbent upon employees to educate themselves about the policies. They’re there to protect individuals.”

Enook then asked what information the government is providing to civil service employees about the new ethics office.

A new GN human resources manual “will spell out the various steps that employees may follow to report an internal wrong-doing,” Peterson replied.

“We encourage employees to look through those steps,” he said. “But if they feel there’s safety issues, or health issues, or there may be reprisals against them, they can go directly to the ethics officer with their complaint.”

“For supervisors, managers and anybody else who mistreats their employees during (the complaints) process, there can be some very serious consequences,” Peterson said.

The government will provide information on the ethics office to GN employees as the amendments to the public service act come into force, he said.