Christiane Ouimet
Encyclopedia
Christiane Ouimet was the first Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
of Canada
.
She left the post on an early retirement on October 18, 2010, four years before her term was due and after an investigation by the auditor general Sheila Fraser
was underway.
Canada's Auditor General report released on December 9, 2010, revealed that the former watchdog commissioner intimidated employees and engaged in "retaliatory actions" and may have breached the Privacy Act,. During her tenure, of the 228 complaints filed, only five investigations were launched and not one instance of wrongdoing was discovered.
The Auditor General report calls for the reopening of all cases that were ever sent to Ouimet's office.
, Ouimet has an Honours degree and two Bachelors Degrees in Law (Civil Law and Common Law). A member of the Law Society of Upper Canada
since 1982, Ouimet has worked for the federal government for 25 years, in eight different departments and agencies, primarily in the areas of audit, regulatory affairs, policing and enforcement, quasi-judicial functions and machinery of government. She held the position of Executive Director of the Immigration and Refugee Board, the largest administrative tribunal in Canada. She also served as Associate Deputy Minister at Public Works and Government Services Canada
and at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
.
Ouimet was appointed by unanimous resolution of the Senate and House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament and took office in August 2007. As an Agent of Parliament, Ouimet reported directly to Parliament. She was responsible for the administration of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act
, which establishes a procedure for the disclosure of wrongdoings in the public sector, including the protection of persons who disclose wrongdoing. However, during her three year term in office, not one case of wrongdoing was found.
In October 2010 it was announced that the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner was being investigated by the office of the Auditor General of Canada
. At the same time, it was announced that Ouimet was retiring. Subsequent reports revealed that 19 out of 22 of her staff had left in the previous year and that complaints from some of them triggered the investigation. The report released in December 2010 found Ouimet's actions to be "inappropriate and unacceptable" citing also that she had failed to meet her mandated functions.After failing to appear before the Public Accounts Committee, in February 2011, Ouimet was again summoned to appear before the Committee. She appeared before the Committee to provide sworn testimony on March 10, 2011.
Public Sector Integrity Commissioner
The office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner was one of the Independent Oversight Offices created as part of the Canadian Federal Accountability Act. The purpose of this office is to investigate mismanagement in the public sector...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
She left the post on an early retirement on October 18, 2010, four years before her term was due and after an investigation by the auditor general Sheila Fraser
Sheila Fraser
Sheila Fraser served as Auditor General of Canada from 2001 to 2011.Ms. Fraser was born in Dundee, Quebec, Canada. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University in 1972. She then became a chartered accountant in 1974 and FCA in 1994...
was underway.
Canada's Auditor General report released on December 9, 2010, revealed that the former watchdog commissioner intimidated employees and engaged in "retaliatory actions" and may have breached the Privacy Act,. During her tenure, of the 228 complaints filed, only five investigations were launched and not one instance of wrongdoing was discovered.
The Auditor General report calls for the reopening of all cases that were ever sent to Ouimet's office.
Career
A graduate of the University of OttawaUniversity of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
, Ouimet has an Honours degree and two Bachelors Degrees in Law (Civil Law and Common Law). A member of the Law Society of Upper Canada
Law Society of Upper Canada
The Law Society of Upper Canada is responsible for the self-regulation of lawyers and paralegals in the Canadian province of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1797, it is known in French as "Le Barreau du Haut-Canada"...
since 1982, Ouimet has worked for the federal government for 25 years, in eight different departments and agencies, primarily in the areas of audit, regulatory affairs, policing and enforcement, quasi-judicial functions and machinery of government. She held the position of Executive Director of the Immigration and Refugee Board, the largest administrative tribunal in Canada. She also served as Associate Deputy Minister at Public Works and Government Services Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada
Public Works and Government Services Canada is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for the government's internal servicing and administration....
and at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also referred to as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada , is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for policies governing agriculture production, farming income, research and development, inspection, and the regulation of animals...
.
Ouimet was appointed by unanimous resolution of the Senate and House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament and took office in August 2007. As an Agent of Parliament, Ouimet reported directly to Parliament. She was responsible for the administration of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act
Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (Canada)
- The Act :The Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act came into force on April 15, 2007. The Act creates two distinct processes: a disclosure process; and a reprisal complaints process...
, which establishes a procedure for the disclosure of wrongdoings in the public sector, including the protection of persons who disclose wrongdoing. However, during her three year term in office, not one case of wrongdoing was found.
In October 2010 it was announced that the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner was being investigated by the office of the Auditor General of Canada
Auditor General of Canada
The role of the Auditor General of Canada is to aid accountability by conducting independent audits of federal government operations. The Auditor General reports to the House of Commons, not to the government...
. At the same time, it was announced that Ouimet was retiring. Subsequent reports revealed that 19 out of 22 of her staff had left in the previous year and that complaints from some of them triggered the investigation. The report released in December 2010 found Ouimet's actions to be "inappropriate and unacceptable" citing also that she had failed to meet her mandated functions.After failing to appear before the Public Accounts Committee, in February 2011, Ouimet was again summoned to appear before the Committee. She appeared before the Committee to provide sworn testimony on March 10, 2011.
External links
- Force disgraced ex-watchdog to appear before Parliament: MP
- http://pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=1&id=1693
- Whistleblower system 'dysfunctional'
- Canadian Government Expenses for Christiane Ouimet
- CPAC - Pierre Donais speaks with Christiane Ouimet
- Federal watchdog resigns 4 years early
- The watchdogs who never bite
- Former integrity watchdog ‘berated, intimidated’ staff, report concludes