Whistleblowers pay high price for trying to sue government
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 | 12:23 PM ET
CBC News
John Guenette and Joanna Gualtieri attempted to sue the government for harassment they claim to have suffered after speaking out about wasteful spending in the department.
But five months ago, an Ontario judge ruled that Guenette and Gualtieri couldn't sue.
As part of the ruling, the two have to pay the government for its legal costs.
Axworthy's lawyers, and lawyers in the Justice Department, demanded a reimbursement from the whistleblowers of about $400,000.
But Justice James Chadwick settled on just under $80,000.
"I simply am not in a position to support these kinds of legal costs," says Gualtieri. "I mean, I had to hire my own lawyer."
Louis Clark speaks for a Washington-based advocacy group for whistleblowers.
He says forcing the two whistleblowers to pay such fees is "outrageous" and will prevent others from speaking out about alleged corruption and wasteful spending.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- B.C. police shooting video sparks calls for new probe
- Amateur video of the shooting of a mentally ill Vancouver man five years ago has prompted calls for B.C.'s police complaint commissioner and Crown prosecutors to take another look at the case. more »
- 'Engine shutdown' forced Air Canada jet to land
- A Japan-bound Air Canada Boeing 777 jet had to make an emergency landing at Toronto's Pearson airport on Monday, after one of its engines failed. more »
- CP Rail union, Tories battle over collective bargaining
- The federal Conservatives defended their plan to force striking Canadian Pacific Railway employees back to work as a way to keep the economy on track, while the union representing 4,800 workers said their collective bargaining rights are under attack. more »
- Quebec resumes student talks as protests ebb
- A new round of negotiations between student leaders and Quebec's Liberal government over the province's tuition-fee crisis end at night, as hundreds of people take to the streets in protest. more »
- 'Engine shutdown' forced Air Canada jet to land
- Missing Winnipeg kids found in Mexico are back with mom
- Thunder Bay flooding causes state of emergency
- Canadian Everest climber's body recovered
- Vatican denies cardinal suspected in leaks scandal
- Evolution skeptics will soon be silenced by science: Richard Leakey
- Man, woman shot dead in Burnaby restaurant
- CP Rail union, Tories battle over collective bargaining
- Wacky weather mix across Canada
