Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA)
What is PIDA
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) is BC’s whistleblower protection legislation for current and former employees of ministries and offices of the legislature. PIDA provides mechanisms for investigating allegations of wrongdoing and where wrongdoing is found, the means to address it. PIDA also provides protection for public sector employees who speak up about serious or systemic wrongdoing within a public body. As of December 1, 2023, school districts in British Columbia became subject to PIDA.
Types of Wrongdoing addressed under PIDA
The types of wrongdoing that can be reported under PIDA include:
1. A serious act or omission that constitutes an offence under an enactment in BC or Canada;
2. An act or omission giving rise to a substantial and specific danger to the life, health or safety of persons, or to the environment;
3. A serious misuse of public funds or public assets; and
4. Gross or systemic mismanagement.
Speak Up Culture
The Board of Education of the Pacific Rim School District is committed to honesty, integrity, and accountability in its operations, programs, and services. The school district promotes a “speak up culture” of openness and transparency, encouraging and supporting all employees in bringing forward reports of unlawful acts and acts of wrongdoing, in a manner consistent with the provisions of the British Columbia Public Interest Disclosure Act. It is the Pacific Rim School District’s obligation to receive, investigate and respond to complaints of wrongdoing that are made under the PIDA.
How does an employee make a Disclosure under PIDA?
An employee who reasonably believes that a wrongdoing has been committed, or is about to be committed, may make a Disclosure to their supervisor, the Superintendent, a Designated Officer other than the Superintendent, or the Ombudsperson. A disclosure should be submitted in writing using the PIDA Disclosure Form. A disclosure may be submitted to the school district on an anonymous basis but must contain sufficient information to permit the school district to conduct a full and fair investigation into the alleged wrongdoing. If a disclosure does not contain sufficient detail to permit investigation, the school district may take no action with respect to the disclosure. A discloser who is considering making a disclosure may request advice from their union representative or employee association representative, a lawyer, their supervisor, a Designated Officer, or the Ombudsperson. A discloser should not make a disclosure to a person if the allegations relate, in whole or in part, to the alleged wrongdoing by that person. Any person who receives a disclosure and reasonably believes that the allegations of wrongdoing relate to their own acts or omissions, must refer the allegations of wrongdoing to another person with responsibility for receiving a disclosure.
Who is responsible for compliance with PIDA?
Responsibility for compliance sits with the chief executive of the school district, or the person(s) appointed to the role of Designated Officer. All personal information that the Pacific Rim School District collects, uses or shares in connection with the disclosure shall be treated as confidential.
Annual PIDA Reporting
Each year, the chief executive, or the person(s) appointed to the role of Designated Officer, shall prepare a report in accordance with the requirements of PIDA and make available to the public, an annual report concerning all disclosures received, any investigation undertaken and findings of wrongdoing. No personal information will be disclosed as part of any public reports and the annual report will not contain any information that could lead to the identification of individuals who made the disclosure or participated in a PIDA investigation.
Annual PIDA Reports
2023/24 Annual PIDA Report
