S-232Can’t Buy Silence Act

What it does

• Requires the President of the Treasury Board to table an annual report on non-disclosure agreements in the federal public sector, including how many were used and their total dollar value.
• Bans federal officials who award grants and contributions from using public money to fund settlements for harassment, violence or discrimination if the settlement includes a non-disclosure agreement, or to fight complainants over non-disclosure agreements.
• Requires organisations that receive federal grants or contributions to report each year to the President of the Treasury Board on their use of non-disclosure agreements.
• Allows federal departments, Crown corporations, and some parliamentary bodies to use a non-disclosure agreement only if the complainant asks for it in writing, voluntarily, after having the chance to get independent legal advice.
• Prohibits public money from being used to litigate non-disclosure agreements against complainants, and keeps certain disclosures allowed, including required disclosures, artistic expression, and communication with lawyers, health workers, and support people.
• Requires Parliament to review the Act two years after it starts and every two years after that.