Wrongdoing within a municipality: how to blow the whistle

  • March 24, 2022
  • Disclosure
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Jeune professionnelle arborant un air inquiet en parlant au cellulaire
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Content updated on April 1, 2022.

Are you hesitant to speak out against wrongdoing within a municipality? You can do so in strictest confidence.

What is wrongdoing?

Wrongdoing occurs when a law, regulation, rule or code of ethics and professional conduct is broken. Whether voluntary or not, wrongdoing within a public body is serious. It harms the organization’s integrity and its mandate to serve people.

Here are a few examples of wrongdoing:

Have you witnessed wrongdoing within a municipality or a municipal body? Whether committed by an elected official, staff member or supplier, wrongdoing must be denounced. Contact the Commission municipale du Québec (CMQ).

The law protects whistleblowers

Someone who speaks out against wrongdoing is called a whistleblower. By disclosing wrongdoing, whistleblowers contribute to public institution integrity.

A disclosure is always confidential. The law protects the identity of whistleblowers or of people who cooperate in an investigation stemming from disclosure. The law also prohibits any form of reprisal against whistleblowers and collaborators.

Other public integrity recourse

In Québec, various organizations can investigate after receiving a disclosure:

Don’t know which organization to go to? Contact the Protecteur du citoyen. We will refer you to the right place.