Dear University Community,

Earlier this year, SFU introduced a new GP48 Public Interest Disclosure Policy for employees or former employees who wish to disclose or seek advice about serious wrongdoing occurring within the organization. The GP48 Public Interest Disclosure Policy ensures SFU’s compliance with the new BC Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) and is intended to work alongside SFU’s existing GP41 Safe Disclosure of Wrongdoing policy to provide additional rights and supports for members of the SFU community, agents and contractors.

GP 41 provides a mechanism by which members of the university community (Board of Governors, students, faculty, staff, temporary or sessional instructors, adjunct professors, any volunteer engaged in a sanctioned university activity) and agents and contractors can safely disclose wrongdoing committed by employees, agents, contractors and volunteers, to someone other than their supervisor, and provides protection to those who do so.

The new GP48 Public Interest Disclosure Policy (came into effect December 1, 2024) provides added protections, including allowing for anonymous disclosures of wrongdoing, ability to make public disclosures in circumstances of imminent risk or danger, and the ability to disclose wrongdoing directly to the provincial ombudsperson. 

Amendments are being proposed to GP41 to reflect the addition of the new GP48 Public Interest Disclosure Policy. 

We invite you to learn more about the proposed policy and provide your feedback by January 24, 2025. 

Key information about the proposed policy amendments:

• The Director, Internal Audit is the Designated Officer responsible for assessing each report of wrongdoing disclosed under both GP 41 Safe Disclosure of Wrongdoing and the new GP48 Public Interest Disclosure Policy. This provides community members with an additional level of support, ensuring that their report is forwarded to the university office(s) that manages related policies.
• In the event where the Designated Officer is away or if the disclosure is in respect to any person in the office of Internal Audit, the alternate Designated Officer is the General Counsel.
• In recognition of the sensitive nature of disclosures, FAQs to support the update of this policy will assist the community in understanding how complaints will be managed and routed through SFU’s responsible offices. 

Draft of GP41 Policy included here (PDF)

Draft of GP41 Procedures included here (PDF)

The proposed GP41 policy amendments are intended to reflect the addition of the new  GP48 Public Interest Disclosure Policy. SFU maintains a comprehensive policy structure that addresses inappropriate conduct and behaviour at SFU, such as policy S10.01 (Student Academic Integrity), S10.05 (Student Conduct), GP18 (Human Rights), GP44 (Sexualized Violence), and GP47 (Bullying and Harassment). Additional communication materials to support the community in navigating these policies will also be developed.

We invite you to review the proposed policy amendments posted here. Please submit your feedback to board_admin@sfu.ca by January 24, 2025.

Thank you for your participation.