What is the role of the Criminal Code in protecting whistleblowers?

The Criminal Code plays a pivotal role in safeguarding whistleblowers by criminalizing harassment and detrimental treatment directed at employees who report unlawful activities. This legal protection is essential because it helps create a safe environment where individuals can come forward with information about wrongdoing without fear of retaliation, such as job loss, workplace harassment, or other negative repercussions.

The provisions within the Criminal Code that address these issues are designed to deter employers and individuals from engaging in retaliatory behavior against whistleblowers. By establishing that acts of harassment related to whistleblowing are punishable under the law, the Criminal Code reinforces the important societal role that whistleblowers play in exposing illegal or unethical behavior, thereby promoting accountability and transparency within organizations.

In contrast, financial incentives, bonuses, or tax benefits that might support whistleblowing activities are not part of the Criminal Code's framework. These elements, while they may exist in other forms of legislation or policy initiatives, do not fall under the scope of the Criminal Code's protections for whistleblowers.