Finding of wrongdoing by two officials of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority

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Public Sector Integrity Commissioner makes a finding of wrongdoing by two officials of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority

 

Ottawa, October 18, 2012 – The Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, Mario Dion, tabled a Case Report of wrongdoing today in both Houses of Parliament. This report concluded that wrongdoing was committed by two Senior Officials of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA), a crown corporation. Commissioner Dion made one recommendation to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the LPA in an effort to prevent this wrongdoing from recurring.

The Commissioner found that two apprentice pilot permits were issued to individuals who did not meet all the required criteria, as outlined in the Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regulations, by two senior officials who acknowledged doing so in order to meet their mandate under the Pilotage Act. Following unsuccessful recruitment efforts, the senior officials evaluated both candidates and found the lack of conformity with the Regulations to be marginal. These permits were issued knowing that the apprentice pilots would not be given the responsibility to navigate ships alone before successfully completing their apprenticeships, during the course of which they would receive training by certified LPA pilots.

“Our investigation found that the health or safety of persons was not compromised as a result of this wrongdoing”, states Commissioner Dion in the report, “nonetheless, the contravention of any Act of Parliament or of any regulations made under any such Act, does constitute wrongdoing as defined by the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.”

The purpose of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (the Act) is to provide employees of the federal public sector and members of the public with a safe means to disclose information that they believe could constitute a wrongdoing as defined by the Act. It also provides protection from reprisal for those who disclose or who participate in an investigation. Reprisal complaints are investigated by the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner and referred to the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Tribunal when there are reasonable grounds to believe that reprisal has taken place. The Tribunal has the power to order appropriate corrective measures and proper disciplinary sanctions.

Please consult the report for further details.

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For more information, contact:

Edith Lachapelle
Manager, Communications
Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada
Telephone: 613.946.2138
Email: Lachapelle.Edith@psic-ispc.gc.ca
Twitter: @PSIC_ISPC