An investigation into the actions of the Citizens’ Representative after he acted on revelations from whistleblowers about a toxic work environment at Elections NL has resulted in calls for him to apologize to three people who perform different functions in the House of Assembly.
Bradley Moss is standing his ground and says to do so would undermine the entire office, which is legislated to protect those who come forward at great personal and professional risk to make public disclosures of wrongdoing in the public interest.
Executive Council released a redacted copy of a report on public interest disclosures from the acting Commissioner for Legislative Standards regarding the Citizens’ Representative and recommends that he apologize to Chief Electoral Officer Bruce Chaulk and to the Speaker and Clerk of the House of Assembly for the intentional disclosure of confidential information “that he had no authority to share.”
(Bruce Chaulk File Photo)
The report stems from the revelation that the Citizens’ Rep had released a whistleblower report on alleged mismanagement, bullying and harassment within the Chief Electoral Office.
The Commissioner who investigated recommends that Bradley Moss apologize in writing to Bruce Chaulk for providing information to two whistleblowers that caused damage to Chaulk’s “personal and professional standing in the workplace and the community.” She also recommends that Moss apologize in writing to the Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Assembly for providing information to two whistleblowers that “fueled actions that caused unnecessary stress, workload and accusations of conflict of interest and failure to act.”
Moss says there will be no apologies as his office is simply doing its job as per the legislation.
Earlier Story
Executive Council has released a redacted copy of a report on Public Interest Disclosures Regarding the Citizens’ Representative and is recommending that the Citizens’ Rep apologize to Chief Electoral Officer Bruce Chaulk and to the Speaker and Clerk of the House of Assembly for the intentional disclosure of confidential information “that he had no authority to share.”
The report stems from the revelation that the Citizens’ Rep had released a whistleblower report on alleged mismanagement, bullying and harassment within the Chief Electoral Office.
The Commissioner did not find gross mismanagement regarding the confidentiality and disclosure of particulars regarding the Chief Electoral Officer, but did find that the Citizens’ Representative failed to work within the provisions of the House of Assembly Accountability, Integrity and Administration Act when he “intentionally disclosed confidential information that he had no authority to share” and erred in judgment when he chose to rely on procedures followed in other jurisdictions.
The report recommends that Bradley Moss apologize in writing to Bruce Chaulk for providing information to two whistleblowers that caused damage to Chaulk’s “personal and professional standing in the workplace and the community.” It also recommends that Moss apologize in writing to the Speaker and the Clerk of the House of Assembly for providing information to two whistleblowers that “fueled actions that caused unnecessary stress, workload and accusations of conflict of interest and failure to act.”
(Bruce Chaulk File Photo)
Citizen Rep’s Response
Meanwhile, there’s a showdown in the offing.
The Office of the Citizen’s Representative has no intention of apologizing despite the recommendation to do so. Bradley Moss says if he were to apologize to the Chief Electoral Officer, the Speaker, or the Clerk of the House of Assembly, it would undermine the independence of the Citizen’s Representative as it runs contrary to the very purpose of the statutory office, and its statutory duty.
He says his legislated duty is to protect those who come forward at great personal and professional risk to make public disclosures of wrongdoing in the public interest. Moss says that’s what his office has done, and what it will continue to do.
