Medicine Hat city council on Tuesday approved the new whistleblower policy. Tero Vesalainen/Dreamstime.com

By Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat city council approves new employee whistleblower policy

Jul 2, 2024 | 8:40 PM

Medicine Hat city employees will soon have access to a private external whistleblower phone line as part of an updated policy passed by city council on Tuesday.

Changes to the Whistleblower Policy and Procedures Bylaw trigger a request for proposal process to find a third party to run the initiative and start working on a robust employee code of conduct.

The new Bylaw #8046 brings Medicine Hat up to speed with other municipalities such as Calgary and Wetaskiwin that have similar programs.

Medicine Hat city council gave approval to the new whistleblower policy Tuesday. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

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The proposal came before council after approval by the Administrative Committee on June 19.

The original whistleblower policy was adopted by council in October 2014, according to a staff report.

Direction from council in February 2023 to approve amendments to the original policy was withdrawn.

Instead, council approved a motion directing administration to bring forward options to include investigations, timelines for reporting, provisions for training, requirements for investigators and to further consult with unions on the policy.

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Later, at its April 22 meeting in the spring, council supplied further direction to have the policy reflect an independent investigator and adjudicator and include the city’s fraud policy.

Now that the policy has been updated the city will launch the search for a third-party reporting system.

Any amendments necessitated by changes to the procedures can be later approved at the Administrative Committee, staff said.

For now, any whistleblower calls will be directed to the city’s People Services department.

Coun. Shila Sharps, who asked several questions about the new policy during Tuesday’s council meeting, said she wanted to make sure it was a safe process for employees.

“I want to make sure that the employees are hearing that’s not going to go back to the manager,” Sharps told CHAT News after the meeting.

“It’s providing that safe space for employees.”