C-290Public Sector Integrity Act
An Act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act and to make a consequential amendment to the Conflict of Interest Act
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 16, 2022
- Status
- Defeated at second reading in the Senate
What it does
Expands whistleblower protections for federal public servants, adds support duties, and gives complainants more ways and more time to pursue reprisal complaints.
What it does
- Expands the list of wrongdoings that can be reported to include abuse of authority, mismanagement, political or foreign interference, danger to life, health, safety or the environment, code of conduct breaches, and directing someone to commit a wrongdoing.
- Allows a public servant to make a protected disclosure to a supervisor, a higher-level manager, the senior officer, or another person the chief executive designates.
- Requires chief executives to designate one or more people to receive disclosures and lets the Treasury Board set policies for receiving disclosures and for support and identity protection.
- Requires public bodies to provide, on request, non-financial support, including information on resources and complaint options, and to protect the identities of people involved in the disclosure process.
- Extends the reprisal complaint deadline to one year, lets a designated person file the complaint, and sends complaints about the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner’s office to the Auditor General of Canada.
- Lets a complainant apply to the Tribunal for a ruling on whether a reprisal happened and, if so, for a remedy and disciplinary action, and sets a 60-day filing deadline.
Who it affects
- Federal public servants
- Former public servants
- Federal public sector employers
- Chief executives
- Designated disclosure officers
- Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
- Auditor General of Canada
- Contractors with government
Background
It amends the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act and makes a related change to the Conflict of Interest Act.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Completed.
Committee
Completed.
Report stage
Completed.
Third reading
Completed.
Senate
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Defeated here. Defeated
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-290, An Act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act and to make a consequential amendment to the Conflict of Interest Act
Vote 621,
Passed
328 yeato0 nay · 2 paired
Party breakdown for vote 621 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 153 0 4 Conservative Yea 114 0 3 Bloc Yea 31 0 1 NDP Yea 25 0 0 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 3 0 0 Total 328 0 2nd reading of Bill C-290, An Act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act
Vote 260,
Passed
172 yeato0 nay · 6 paired
Party breakdown for vote 260 Party Position Yea Nay Did not vote Liberal Yea 1 0 157 Conservative Yea 114 0 2 Bloc Yea 29 0 3 NDP Yea 24 0 1 Green Yea 2 0 0 Independent Yea 2 0 0 Total 172 0
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
LiberalGreg Fergus· November 2, 2022
“Bill C-290 offers some potential steps forward, but it also poses some important legal and operational challenges. Today I am going to speak about what has been done to better protect whistle-blowers, the upcoming comprehensive review of the act and what needs to be fixed in Bill C-290 to help it create the positive change I know my hon. colleague certainly intends.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caConservativeStephanie Kusie· November 2, 2022
“I thank my colleague from Mirabel for introducing this bill. This legislation is very dear to my heart.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caBlocJean-Denis Garon· June 16, 2022
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-290, An Act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act. Today it is with great pride that I introduce the public sector integrity act, which puts some teeth into the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.caNDPGord Johns· November 2, 2022
“As pleased as I am to join the debate this evening to speak on Bill C-290, an act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, I am sad I have to be doing it from my home.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: At second reading in the Senate. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.