Ian Bron

Senior fellow, researcher, consultant, advocate. Interested in management, accountability, integrity, and ethics.

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

The Ethics Practitioners' Association of Canada has a webinar Tuesday, 23 June, titled "New Directions for Whistleblower Protection." Registration is free. Visit the link below for more information:
https://t.co/Za6g415EnR

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

Kunnen jullie ons helpen om Nederlandse mkb-bedrijven te bereiken? De Universiteit Utrecht wil graag de perspectieven horen van organisaties met 1 tot 249 werknemers op de Wet bescherming klokkenluiders. Deel deze flyer gerust met je netwerk. #mkb #Nederland #Onderzoek

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

Can you help us reach Dutch SMEs?

Please share this flyer seeking participants for our Utrecht University research on internal reporting systems.

We want to understand what support smaller organizations need to implement the Dutch Whistleblower Protection Act #MKB #Research

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

To my last post, which linked @CFE_TMU Director Jim Turk's examination of the degradation of democracy in #Canada, I add the latest by @DeanBeeby on the undermining of Canada's Access to Information Act (#FOI)

https://t.co/88cK0N3cD9

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

#Canada has a reputation as an enlightened democracy with excellent rule of law. There was always a bit of hype and self-delusion in that, but - as Jim Turk of the Centre for Free Expression observes - it's now really being torn down

https://t.co/5AYS9HFWUV

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

2/2 Door deel te nemen aan deze enquête krijgen kleinere bedrijven en organisaties de kans om hun ervaringen en perspectieven te delen voordat de Nederlandse overheid de handhaving van deze verplichtingen verder vormgeeft.

Deel dit gerust via uw netwerken.

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

Uw aandacht, alstublieft: we hebben hulp nodig. Nederlandse organisaties met 1–249 medewerkers, de Universiteit Utrecht nodigt u uit om deel te nemen aan een anonieme enquête van 10 minuten over interne meldprocedures:
https://t.co/BpjBzoDNFR

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

3/3 The effect on trust in UPAC is also an issue. When an anti-corruption body investigates the source of such disclosures, it risks creating the impression that it is being used to deter or punish those who raise concerns.
That's a dangerous perception for any watchdog agency.

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

#UPAC, #Quebec's anti-corruption agency, is investigating leaks from the Ministère de l'Économie and whether they were a breach of trust. The key question is whether this was simply a leak or whether it could be considered #whistleblowing 🧵1/3
https://t.co/hGgUTxVBjA

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

2/3 If confidential information was released for personal or political reasons, an investigation may be appropriate. But if it was intended to reveal government mismanagement or wrongdoing, it is not. The Auditor General's report tends to support the latter argument

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

An interesting post by Dean Beaby on the abuse of cabinet confidences to frustrate access to info requests in the Government of #Canada. Scholars argue that it is likely unconstitutional, but given the deferential nature of Canadian courts I wonder if they would agree. #FOI

[Dean Beeby @DeanBeeby]

A new substack from me: The black hole devouring cabinet records
https://t.co/V0OMIlnBAH #cdnfoi #cdnpoli

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

Existing research suggests that big #whistleblowing awards are effective while small ones may deter speaking up. This may be because they promote a mental cost-benefit analysis. In the financial sector, this would be a small award #britishcolumbia

https://t.co/CvkmGa5k2I

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

The B.C. Health scandal, in which officials were wrongfully fired and one committed suicide, wrapped up almost a decade ago. The consequences of the gov't's negligence are still being unravelled, though
#whistleblowing
https://t.co/IkGFyGzNXL

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

2/2 The recording of the Centre For Free Expression presentation of the Peter Bryce Award can be found here:

https://t.co/Ni2pOGzC12

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

Here's some media coverage of Dr. Kaitlin Stockton's award for #whistleblowing. Dr. Stockton is a British Columbia doctor who spoke out about hospital overcrowding and patient care. I'll link the video to the actual award ceremony below (1/2)

https://t.co/voe8cK6XZz

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

2/2 In reprisal, she was fired, so she sued the Fraser Health Authority. She settled the case in December 2025. Here is a link to a media story on her experience:

https://t.co/2Of046tGBV

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

Tonight, the Toronto Metropolitan University Centre for Free Expression will be awarding its Peter Bryce Award (for #whistleblowing) to Dr. Kaitlin Stockton. Dr. Stockton raised concerns about unsafe working conditions and hospital overcrowding 🧵 1/2

https://t.co/Ni2pOGzC12

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

What the Integrity Commissioner politely omits to say is that internal departmental #whistleblowing is declining (per capita). This suggests that whistleblowers are going to her office because they don't trust their own departments #Canada #cdnpoli

https://t.co/4FD3HF4wBs

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

3/3 Still, media reports suggest he was respected, and his sidelining looks like reprisal - if it was linked to his objections. Definitions aside, his stand is admirable (if the facts are accurate)... although the tanking polls for the governing CAQ do add a bit of nuance

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

A #Quebec minister has resigned, and some are calling him a #whistleblower due to his objections about the safety of Quebecers' health information. This is a case which I would say has some ambiguity 🧵 1/3

https://t.co/mhAZ7RBH2Z

[Ian Bron @iangbron]

2/3 While his concerns do suggest dysfunction and misdirected priorities, whistleblowing usually relates to specifics acts of misconduct - this looks more like a policy dispute. Also, reprisals are usually more direct and focussed (and can be vicious)