BackMr. Peter Hourihan, Ombudsman for the Canadian province of Alberta, was recently appointed the province’s first Public Interest Commissioner. The office was formally launched 1 June, 2013 after new legislation, the Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower) Act, came into force. In the weeks following Mr. Hourihan's appointment as Commissioner, he was been working to set up the Public Interest Commissioner's office, hiring staff and developing an interactive and informative website.
The Act provides Alberta's public servants with an avenue to speak out about wrongdoings in their workplace - and provides them with protection from reprisals for speaking out. The Public Interest Commissioner is independent from government and government institutions, and is an officer of the Legislative Assembly.
Among his duties in this role, Mr. Hourihan will provide the oversight of disclosures and investigations in the public sector. The Commissioner can also provide advice to public servants regarding wrongdoings, resolve complaints, and investigate matters and make recommendations to government.
Mr. Hourihan, an experienced mediator and 35 year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, will be responsible for an organization that includes eight new positions, oversees about 270 public entities and 185,000 public sector employees.
Source: Office of the Ombudsman of Alberta
