Public sector integrity commissioner retires amid AG probe UPDATED

Federal Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet's office released two statements within moments of each other announcing it is now being audited by  Auditor-General Sheila Fraser, and that Ouimet has retired, effective two days ago.

It comes after Radio-Canada first reported the office was being audited and obtained a copy of a complaint filed by a former employee, which mentioned the departure of 18 of the 22 employees of the office in less than a year.

One of the employees, Normand Desjardins, who was the head of investigations, told Radio-Canada he retired in haste in 2008 after he determined his professional relationship with the commissioner "deteriorated dramatically and instantaneously."

"She was not asking for advice, she had no bilateral talks," Desjardins was quoted as saying. "She spoke, we listened. "

Several former employees, who wish to remain anonymous because they still work at the federal level, spoke to Radio-Canada about the "difficult" climate that prevailed at the office.

The Conservative government created the office in 2007 to give public servants and members of the public an independent, confidential place to blow the whistle on potential wrongdoing in the federal public sector.

But as colleague Crawford pointed out last week, Ouimet's annual report contained zero findings of wrongdoing -- for the fourth year running.

UPDATE: A spokesman at OAG has this to say: "We have received complaints against the Commissioner of Public Sector Integrity and we are conducting an audit. However, we are not providing any further details about this."

The commissioner's office says it's co-operating with the AG's audit, and deputy commissioner Joe Friday will taking over as deputy head:

2010-10-20 Statement from the Office

As referenced in recent media reports, we can confirm that the Office of the Auditor General is currently conducting an audit. Our Office has been cooperating fully with the OAG and will continue to do so. We cannot comment further until the audit is completed. The dedicated team of professionals at the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner remain able and committed to fulfilling the important mandate that Parliament has entrusted to this Office.

Retirement of Public Sector Integrity Commissioner

After a long and distinguished career in the federal public service, Madame Christiane Ouimet retired as Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada, effective October 18, 2010.

The Office wishes her well in her future endeavours, and thanks her for her dedication, vision, and commitment to the implementation of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

As Canada's first Public Sector Integrity Commissioner, Madame Ouimet laid a strong and solid foundation for the Office, which will continue to carry out its important mandate as entrusted to it by Parliament.

Mr. Joe Friday, currently Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel, will be acting Deputy Head of the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.